Martin Cowie, University of Alberta
Department of Chemistry
Professor
Edmonton, Alberta
martin.cowie@ualberta.ca
Office:
(780) 492-3622
(780) 492-5581
Expert In
Bio/Research
One aim of our research is to obtain an understanding of how adjacent metals interact with substrate molecules during catalysis and to this end we attempt to model catalytic reactions in order to characterize species which are analogous to proposed catalytic intermediates. Processes of concern to...
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Bio/Research
One aim of our research is to obtain an understanding of how adjacent metals interact with substrate molecules during catalysis and to this end we attempt to model catalytic reactions in order to characterize species which are analogous to proposed catalytic intermediates. Processes of concern to us include: Fischer-Tropsch chemistry, hydrogenation and hydroformylation reactions, CO and CO2 activation as related to their utilization as chemical feedstocks, and H2 production from non-conventional sources.
We also have ongoing interests in late-metal-hydride, alkyl, olefin, vinyl and carbene complexes, and in metal-promoted carbon-carbon, carbon-hydrogen and carbon-fluorine bond formation and cleavage. Currently we are modelling the involvement of adjacent metals in Fischer-Tropsch chemistry using a variety of methylene-bridged binuclear complexes containing either Rh or Ir together with different combinations of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ru or Os, and are investigating the use of adjacent metals to effect the activation of carbon-fluorine bonds. C-F bonds are extremely strong and their selective activation under mild conditions remains a challenge. We have recently succeeded in effecting the facile activation of C-F bonds in fluoroolefins and have clearly established the cooperative involvement of adjacent metals in the activation process.
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We also have ongoing interests in late-metal-hydride, alkyl, olefin, vinyl and carbene complexes, and in metal-promoted carbon-carbon, carbon-hydrogen and carbon-fluorine bond formation and cleavage. Currently we are modelling the involvement of adjacent metals in Fischer-Tropsch chemistry using a variety of methylene-bridged binuclear complexes containing either Rh or Ir together with different combinations of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ru or Os, and are investigating the use of adjacent metals to effect the activation of carbon-fluorine bonds. C-F bonds are extremely strong and their selective activation under mild conditions remains a challenge. We have recently succeeded in effecting the facile activation of C-F bonds in fluoroolefins and have clearly established the cooperative involvement of adjacent metals in the activation process.
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