Inorganic and Organic Chemistry; Synthetic and Mechanistic Organometallic Chemistry; Homogeneous Catalysis

Research Description

Research in the Zhao group focuses on mechanism-based development of transition metal catalysis. We seek to identify novel elementary (one-step) organometallic reactions through organometallic synthesis and mechanism studies. These results will provide insight into fundamentals of transition metal chemistry and guide our development of new methods in homogeneous catalysis. Current efforts are directed towards new carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions with the following aspects:

1. Eco-friendly strategies towards reactive organometallic intermediates.
2. Expanded scopes of organic substrates as readily available building blocks.
3. Synergy between multiple metal reagents (e.g. “bimetallic systems”).

Latest News from the Zhao Group

 

December 2009

Prof. Zhao is named as a recipient of the 2010 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award

 

January 2010

Zhongming and Jing’s paper on hydrodecarboxylation and decarboxylative Heck-Mizoroki reaction is accepted by Organic Letters. Congratulations!

Recent Publications

Sun, Z.-M.; Zhao, P. “Rhodium-Mediated Decarboxylative Conjugate Addition of
Fluorinated Benzoic Acids: Stoichiometric and Catalytic Transformations.” Angew. Cem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 6726-6730. DOI: 10.1002/anie.200901097

Sun, Z.-M.; Chen, S.-P.; Zhao, P. “Tertiary Carbinamine Synthesis via Rhodium-
Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation of N-Unsubstituted Aromatic Ketimines and Alkynes.” Chem. Eur. J. in press.

Sun, Z.-M.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, P. “Rh(I)-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Transformations of Arene-Carboxylic Acids: Ligand- and Reagent-Controlled Selectivity towards Hydrodecarboxylation or Heck-Mizoroki Products.” Org. Lett. 2010, accepted.

Selected Publications prior to NDSU

Zhao, P.; Incarvito, C. D.; Hartwig, J. F. “Directly Observed Transmetalation from Boron to Rhodium. b-Aryl Elimination from Rh(I) Arylboronates and Diarylborinates.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 1876-1877.

Zhao, P.; Incarvito, C. D.; Hartwig, J. F. “Carbon-Oxygen Bond Formation between a Terminal Alkoxo Ligand and a Coordinated Olefin. Evidence for Olefin Insertion into a Rhodium Alkoxide.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 9642-9643.

Zhao, P.; Incarvito, C. D.; Hartwig, J. F. “Direct Observation of b-Aryl Eliminations from Rh(I) Alkoxides.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 3124-3125.

Zhao, P.; Krug, C.; Hartwig, J. F. “Transfer of Amido Groups from Isolated Rhodium(I) Amides to Alkenes and Vinylarenes.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 12066-12073.

Zhao, P.; Hartwig, J. F. “b-Aryl Eliminations from Rh(I) Iminyl Complexes.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 11618-11619.

Zhao, P.; Condo, A.; Keresztes, I.; Collum, D. B. “Reaction of Ketones with Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide: Competitive Enolizations and Additions.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3113-3118.

Zhao, P.; Collum, D. B. “Ketone Enolization by Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide: Structural and Rate Studies of the Acceleration Effects of Trialkylamines.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 14411­-14424.

Zhao, P.; Collum, D. B. “Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide / Triethylamine-Mediated Ketone Enolization: Remarkable Rate Accelerations Stemming from a Dimer-Based Mechanism.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 4008-4009.