About the Seminr: Our group kinetically traps reactive intermediates from group transfer catalysis or small molecule activation processes. Using molecular design, we can use steric confinement or Lewis acid coordination to stabilize reactive radicaloid ligands. We examine the electronic structure of the transition metal-element multiple bonds using a variety of spectroscopic and theoretical means. The electronic structure of the ensuing complexes will be examined for efficacy in group transfer catalysis. As the nuclearity of the reaction site expands, we examine how oxidation state and ligand field effects influence small molecule activation and redox distribution throughout the cluster cores.

About the Speaker: Betley graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering in 1999, but decided engineers make too much money. Chemists, it turns out, do not – so he completed his doctoral work with Jonas Peters at Caltech in 2005, and his postdoctoral work at MIT in the labs of Dan Nocera. He started his independent career at Harvard in 2007 studying small molecule activation processes using base metals. He was promoted to Full Professor in 2014 and is now the Erving Professor of Chemistry, Director of Graduate Studies, and, gratefully, no longer the Department Chair (sorry Matt).