Speakers Bios for the October 19, 2023
Process Chemistry Symposium

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Donna Blackmond, The Scripps Research Institute

Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis
In situ monitoring of reaction progress using modern experimental tools such as reaction calorimetry allows us to "ride" a complex catalytic reaction cycle as a surfer rides along the tube of a breaking wave. Following the global kinetics as the catalytic intermediates in a cycle enable the passage of reactants through to products provides a wealth of information that aids in the design and interpretation of further mechanistic experiments. Prof. Blackmond has pioneered the development of Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis (RPKA), a methodology combining highly accurate in-situ data collection with a rigorous mathematical analysis that permits rapid determination of concentration dependences of reactants. Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis offers a visual, graphical approach in which a critical minimum set of carefully designed experiments permits rapid extraction of kinetic information even as several concentration variables are changing at once. One of the most powerful aspects of the methodology is its ability to deconvolute rate processes occurring on the catalytic cycle from those occurring off the cycle. Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis finds important application in the pharmaceutical industry, where streamlining process R&D based on Blackmond’s kinetic analysis is becoming an industry-wide standard.

Read more:

https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/blackmond

https://www.scripps.edu/blackmond/
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Jason Hein, University of British Columbia

The Hein lab is dedicated to the development of automated reaction analysis technology in the realm of mechanistic organic chemistry. Our work combines advanced robotics with synthetic organic chemistry, paving the way for new and innovative solutions.
Our current focus includes understanding catalytic reaction mechanisms, establishing reliable chemical processes for manufacturing, and creating coupled preferential crystallization technologies for efficient chemical purification.
Central to our research is a set of prototype modular robotic tools and integrated analytical hardware, forming the first broadly applicable automated reaction profiling toolkit. Join us in our efforts to contribute to the advancement of organic chemistry and work towards a more effective and sustainable future.

https://www.chem.ubc.ca/jason-hein

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Elizabeth Jarvo, University of California, Irvine

Catalysts play a critical role in synthetic organic chemistry. The right catalyst can control a reaction's chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity, providing an efficient route to the required product. Many elegant syntheses of biologically active compounds rely on highly selective catalytic transformations for streamlined assembly of the required functional groups. The focus of our research interests is the development of new reactions using organometallic catalysts, and application of these transformations in complex target-oriented synthesis. In addition to providing valuable synthetic methods, these studies test and deepen our understanding of the fundamental principles that underlie reactivity.

Read more:

https://www.chem.uci.edu/people/elizabeth-r-jarvo
https://sites.uci.edu/jarvogroup/
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Alex Radosevich, MIT

Research in the Radosevich group centers on the invention of new homogeneous catalysts and reagents based on inexpensive and earth-abundant elements of the p-block. Specifically, the group has designed a class of phosphorus-based molecular catalysts with small frontier orbital energy gaps and dense spatial orbital array that make and break chemical bonds by catalytically cycling in the PIII
PV redox couple. Ongoing research pursuits are motivated by both a fundamental mechanistic interest in redox reactivity, as well as a practical need for new efficient and environmentally-friendly chemical processes.
Professor Radosevich’s research program spans the areas of inorganic, organometallic, and organic chemistry, with a focus on synthesis and catalysis. Students and postdoctoral researchers joining the group can expect to develop a range of synthetic skills spanning these subdisciplines. By coupling synthetic expertise with rigorous training in the characterization of new compounds (including NMR, UV-Vis, IR, EPR, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemistry), new molecular entities with exciting and useful reactivities are anticipated.


https://chemistry.mit.edu/profile/alexander-t-radosevich
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