NMSU - Department of Chemisty and Biochemistry

JEREMY M. SMITH

Associate Professor

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

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY PostDoc 2000-2003

Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar 2009

RESEARCH SELECTED PUBLICATIONS ALL PUBLICATIONS

Our research is concerned with the synthesis, characterization and reactivity of transition metal complexes. Spectroscopic and mechanistic investigations of our complexes are expected to provide 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. We are continually expanding our toolkit of strongly donating ligands.

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, with particular emphasis on atom transfer reactivity and 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:

“N-O Bond Homolysis of an Iron(III) TEMPO Complex Yields an Iron(III) Oxo Intermediate”

Smith, J.M.; Mayberry, D.E.; Margarit, C.G.; Sutter, J.; Wang, H.; Meyer, K.; Wang, H.; Bontchev, R.P.

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, in press.

“Snapshots of Complete Nitrogen Atom Transfer from an Iron(IV) Nitrido Complex ”

Scepaniak, J.J.; Bontchev, R.P.; Johnson, D.L.; Smith, J.M.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. , 2011, 50, 6630-6633.

“Spin Crossover in a Four-Coordinate Iron(II) Complex”

Scepaniak, J.J.; Harris, T.D.; Vogel, C.S.; Sutter, J.; Meyer, K.; Smith, J.M.

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 3824-3827.

“Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of an Iron(V) Nitride”

Scepaniak, J.J.; Vogel, C.S.; Khusniyarov, M.M.; Heinemann, F.W.; Meyer, K.; Smith, J.M.

Science, 2011, 331, 1049.

Press coverage: C&E News; Chemistry World; Nachrichten aus der Chemie; Nature Chemistry

“Formation of Ammonia from an Iron Nitrido Complex”

Scepaniak, J.J.; Young, J.A; Bontchev, R.P.; Smith, J.M.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2009, 48, 3158.