NMSU - Department of Chemisty and Biochemistry

JEREMY M. SMITH

Assistant Professor

University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa
B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D. Chemistry

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY Postdoc 2000-2003

(575) 646-3346

RESEARCH RECENT PUBLICATIONS ALL PUBLICATIONS

Our research is concerned with the design and synthesis of transition metal complexes that are aimed at providing insight into important biological and industrial transformations. These chemical transformations are also of general chemical interest, and thus model compounds may have direct application in other branches of chemistry.

Metal Complexes of Strongly Donating Ligands
We are investigating the properties imparted by strongly donating tris(carbene)borate ligands. These ligands are readily prepared by a versatile synthetic approach that allows for multiple structural variants. The strong donor ability of these ligands has led to unexpected transformations. Synthetic, spectroscopic and computational investigations are being undertaken to elucidate the effects of these unusual ligands on transition metal centers.

Metal Ligand Multiple Bonds
Multiple bonds between the late transition metals and certain ligands (e.g. Fe=O, Fe=NR and Fe≡N) are believed to play key roles in biological and industrial processes. Our group is interested in understanding the properties and reactivity of these ligands, in particular their involvement in one-electron transformations.

Students in the group can expect to undertake synthetic, spectroscopic and mechanistic investigations of air-sensitive materials. Certain spectroscopic and electronic structure investigations are undertaken in conjunction with collaborators.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

“Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of an Electrophilic Iron Nitrido Complex ”

Scepaniak, J.J.; Fulton, M.D.; Bontchev, R.P.; Duesler, E.N.; Kirk, M.L.; Smith, J.M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 10515-10517.

“Thermodynamics of Hydrogen Atom Transfer to a High Valent Iron Imido Complex”

Nieto, I.; Ding, F.; Bontchev, R.P.; Wang, H.; Smith, J.M.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 2716-2717.

“Oxidation of the Tris(carbene)borate Complex PhB(MeIm)₃Mn^I(CO)₃ to Mn^IV[PhB(MeIm)₃]₂(OTf)₂”

Forshaw, A.P.; Bontchev, R.P.; Smith, J.M.

Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46, 3792-3794.

“Formation of a Cobalt(III) Imido from a Cobalt(II) Amido Complex. Evidence for Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer ”

Cowley, R.E.; Bontchev, R.P.; Sorrell, J.; Sarracino, O.; Feng, Y.; Wang, H.; Smith, J.M.

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 2424-2425.