Senior Investigators: Prof. Karen Goldberg (U. Wash.), Prof. Jim Mayer (U. Wash.).

Molecular oxygen, O₂, is the greenest, most abundant and inexpensive oxidant imaginable. Yet, it is notoriously difficult to carry out selective partial oxidation reactions using O₂.  Through the examination of the reactivity between a variety of transition metal complexes and molecular oxygen, we are attempting to develop a general means to activate O₂ for selective oxidation of substrates, particularly alkanes.

Conversely, efficient oxidation of water to O₂ is a logical, green source of electrons needed for production of fuels (such as H₂).  We hope to gain fundamental mechanistic insight into this process by studying O-O bond formation in bimolecular complexes. The ultimate goal is to develop an efficient electrocatalytic system for the oxidation of water to O₂.  

(A⁺ is a one-electron acceptor, B is a base)

Published Papers:

Williams, D. Bridget; Kaminsky, Werner; Mayer, James M.; Goldberg, Karen I., “Reactions of Iridium Hydride Pincer Complexes with Dioxygen: New Peroxo Complexes and Reversible O₂ Binding” Chemical Communications, 2008, 35, 4195-4197 (DOI: 10.1039/b802739k)

Look, J. L.; Wick, D. D.; Mayer, J. M.; Goldberg, K. I. "Autoxidation of Platinum(IV) Hydrocarbyl Hydride Complexes to Form Platinum(IV) Hydrocarbyl Hydroperoxide Complexes", Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48, 1356-1369. (DOI: 10.1021/ic801216r)