Parisa Mehrkhodavandi
Parisa Mehrkhodavandi
Assistant Professor
Organometallic/Inorganic/Catalysis/Polymers: Development of homogeneous catalysts for formation of biodegradable polymers of defined structure; Synthesis and reactivity of novel organometallic complexes
Research/Teaching Interests
Research interests in our group encompass the areas of synthetic and catalytic organometallics chemistry, with a special focus on control of chirality and electronics via rational ligand design. In one major thrust of the project, we are developing Lewis acidic metal centres supported by chiral ligands for the enantioselective and controlled ring opening polymerization of cyclic lactones to form biodegradable polyesters.
In another thrust we are investigating unusual phosphinimine-donor compounds as ligand precursors or proligands for late transition metal systems. In particular we have: 1) investigated the use of these systems as precursors for a family of highly unusual metal-bound carbanion and carbene fragments; as well as 2) developed cationic palladium complexes with chelating carbanion-carbene fragments.
We will be addressing these challenges with an interdisciplinary approach. Catalyst design and application will be at the heart of a program that will span organic, inorganic, organometallic, and polymer chemistry. Students will get a chance to gain synthetic skills such as manipulation of air/oxygen sensitive materials, become familiar with analytical and characterization techniques such as chromatography and NMR spectroscopy, and get an introduction to enantioselective methodology and mechanistic investigation.
