Title: The Wonders of Chemical Catalysis

Abstract

Most of us can recall verbatim the text book definition of a catalyst in the same way we remember old sayings from our childhood: “A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed“ is right up there with birds in hands, people in glass houses, black kettles and stable doors. However, how do these chemical compounds actually perform their magic? We will take a look at what constitutes a catalyst, specifically in relation to transition metals, and see how their properties can influence the mechanism of a chemical reaction.  Along the way we will also take closer look at some well know catalytic reactions and discuss such concepts as homogeneous verses heterogeneous catalysts in relation to selectivity, including chiral asymmetric synthesis.  Examples from the speaker’s research will be used to discuss these topics.  

Biographical Info

Dr. Anderson is currently an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Ramapo College of New Jersey.  He obtained his B.Sc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Warwick, U.K. in 1990 and his PhD in Inorganic/Organometallic Chemistry from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, in 1993, He then spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at Baylor University, working with Professor F. G. A. Stone, his research project involving the synthesis and reactions of ruthenium carborane complexes. After this time he returned to the UK as a BP-Postdoctoral fellow at The University of Sheffield (1996-1997) working with Professor P. M. Maitlis, undertaking mechanistic studies into the rhodium catalyzed BP-Monsanto acetic acid process. He then became a research associate at the Center for Applied Catalysis at Seton Hall University, New Jersey, working with Dr. R.L.Augustine. The research involved the synthesis of tethered “homogeneous” catalysts and their subsequent use in organic synthesis. During this time he also became an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). In the fall of 2001 he joined the faculty of Ramapo College. There he has established on going research programs with undergraduate students investigating potential hydroformylation catalysts and routes to inorganic materials. He is the author of over 20 academic publications in peer-reviewed journals.