Michael D. Fryzuk

Professor

Office: Chemistry A247
Office Phone: (604) 822-2897
Lab(s): Chemistry A220, A224, A242
Lab Phone(s): (604) 822-5563

FAX: (604) 822-2847
Email: fryzuk@chem.ubc.ca

Curriculum Vitae: B.Sc., University of Toronto (1974); Ph.D., University of Toronto (B. Bosnich, 1978); NRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, California Institute of Technology (J. E. Bercaw, 1978-79); Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1984-87); Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (1987-88); E. W. R. Steacie Fellow (1990-92); I. W. Killam Research Prize (1990); Rutherford Medal (1990); Alcan Lecture Award (1992); Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (1992); Killam Foundation (1994); Professeur Associé Université Louis Pasteur (1994); Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1997); Canada Council for the Arts Killam Fellowship (2006-08)

Inorganic: Synthesis and reactivity of new organometallic and coordination complexes and their use in homogeneous catalysis, asymmetric synthesis and organic synthesis. Activation of small molecules, especially N₂.

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Research/Teaching Interests

There are two main areas of research being pursued at present: (i) coordination chemistry of new multidentate mixed-donor ancillary ligands, and (ii) activation and functionalization of molecular nitrogen.

Because the reactivity of a metal complex can be fine-tuned by the ligands that surround the metal, it becomes important to examine new kinds of ligands and ligand combinations. The tridentate ancillary ligand 1 (PNP) incorporates both the "hard" amide donor and the "soft" phosphine ligand to generate a unique environment capable of binding to most elements in the periodic table. We have recently expanded the scope of this ligand by preparing the macrocyclic version 2 (P₂N₂) and the related tridentate system 3 (NPN). These three ligand types are versatile because of the backbone flexibility and the variations possible in substituents. New variations of NPN involving o-phenylene linkers are currently in progress; for example, 4 (NPN*) has been prepared and its coordination chemistry is under investigation.

As all of this research involves the manipulation of air- and moisture-sensitive materials, researchers in this laboratory have access to state-of-the-art inert atmosphere workstations.

KEYWORDS : nitrogen fixation, ligand design, transition metal chemistry, lanthanides, homogeneous catalysis, polymerization.