Chemistry Proposal Defense – Nicolas Fisher

About the event

Title: Investigating Catalytic Ester Hydrolysis Using Ruthenium Complexes Supported by PNNNP Pincer Ligands

Abstract: Esters are an important class of compounds due to their extensive uses in everyday life. The decomposition of esters through hydrolysis is a very slow kinetic process and requires extreme conditions to proceed at a reasonable rate. One catalyst system that shows promise of being able to catalyze this process are Ru complexes bearing tridente-bisphosphinoamino pincer ligands. These pincer complexes are utilized due to their ability to be functionalized at multiple positions to modulate the reactivity at the metal center. In this proposed work a (iPrPNNNP)Ru(OH)(PMe3)2 complex will be used to catalyze the hydrolysis of esters to form acids and alcohols. The work will begin by investigating the reactivity of alkoxides bound to (iPrPNNNP)Ru. In addition, the backbone pincer ligand will be functionalized in new ways to investigate the influence on the reactivity of alkoxides. Finally, the hydrolysis of esters will be investigated, and catalytic conditions will be optimized for formate esters, carboxylic esters and phosphate esters.