Professor James M. Mayer of the University of Washington is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program to explore oxidation reactions utilizing high oxidation state metal complexes as reagents. Details of the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons with osmium tetraoxide as the oxidant are being probed to provide an understanding of oxidation reactions of organic substrates. Monomeric ruthenium and iridium complexes with four d electrons will be used as reagents with the goal of promoting ligand-based redox chemistry.
Oxidation reactions are essential to industrial chemistry, biochemistry and organic synthesis. The environmental impact of oxidation reactions is also an area of global importance. This project will generate mechanistic information that will guide the design of new oxidation reagents and catalysts. This project will develop metal complexes for use as more efficient and more selective oxidation reagents.
