9512730 Chuang This is a two year award proposed by Dr. Steven Chuang, the University of Akron and Professor Ivan Lin, the Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. This proposal requests funds to support a Ph.D. graduate student for one month at the Fu Jen University in Taiwan to work with Professor Ivan Lin, and for the P.I.'s travel to Taiwan. The investigators propose to use in situ infrared spectroscopic techniques to analyze reaction mechanisms of carbonylation. This is an important project for developing the highly active and selective catalysts for carbonylation of nitrocompounds. The chemical industry considers the carbonylation reaction the most promising environmentally benign process to replace the conventional method of isocynate synthesis from the reaction of phosgene. The development of environmentally benign chemical processes has been a priority area in the NSF. Furthermore, this project also provides opportunities for a U.S. graduate student to have international research experience at a university in Taiwan .
