Richard J. Puddephatt
Distinguished University Professor
B.Sc. (London)
Ph.D. (University College London)
Office: ChB 100
Lab: ChB 102-104
Phone (Office): (519) 661-2111 ext 86336
Organometallic Chemistry Related to Catalysis and Materials Science
Awards:
• Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, FRSC
• Canada Research Chair
• Bucke Science Prize and Hellmuth Prize, University of Western Ontario
• Alcan Award and E.W.R. Steacie Award of the Chemical Society of Canada
• CIC Medal of the Chemical Institute of Canada
• Nyholm Lecture Award and Award for Chemistry of the Noble Metals of the
Royal Society of Chemistry
• E.G. Pleva Teaching Award
Current Research Programs:
Organometallic chemistry is of central importance in both catalysis and materials synthesis.
Current research in these areas is described below.
(a) We design, synthesize and study the properties of unusual
organometallic polymers including those with tree-like or dendrimeric
structures and conjugated, rod-like structures. The self-assembly of
polymers, rings, catenanes and other potentially useful molecular
materials is also of interest. In addition we design new volatile
organometallics for application in low temperature Chemical Vapour
Deposition for the synthesis of thin films of metals, metal oxides and
other metal-containing materials. These find applications in fields as
diverse as microelectronics, wear protection and biomaterials.
(b) We design, synthesize and study the chemistry of binuclear to
tetranuclear complexes of platinum and platinum group metals containing
metal-metal bonds. The aim is to design reactive compounds which are
able to mimic chemisorption and steps in catalysis on heterogeneous
platinum metal catalysts. Our recent research has been focused on
complexes with Pt-M bonds (M = Re, Ru, Ir) as models for platinum and
bimetallic catalysts and on complexes with Ru-Ru bonds as catalysts for
transfer hydrogenation and polymerization. In this way, the complex
reactions of catalysis may be simplified and understood. A related area
is organometallic host-guest chemistry, building bowl-like
organometallic hosts which can selectively bind anions or organic
molecules and then take part in catalysis. The organometallic chemistry
of platinum, especially as it relates to the activation of alkanes, is
another central area of research.
Students in both areas learn the techniques of synthesis and characterization of organometallics and also
have opportunities to work on reactivity and mechanism, structure determination or materials properties.
Selected Publications:
Nasser, N., Eisler, D.J.; Puddephatt, R.J., 2010, “A Chiral Diphosphine as trans-Chelate Ligand and its Relevance to Catalysis,” Chem. Commun., 46, 1953-1955. Yue, N.L.S.; Jennings, M.C.; Puddephatt, R.J., 2010,“Dynamic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Silver(I) Complexes with Bis(amidopyridine) Ligands,” Dalton Trans., 39, 1273-1281. Au, R.H.W.; Jennings, M.C.; Puddephatt, R.J., 2009, “Self-Assembly of Chiral Organoplatinum(IV) Complexes with Both Carboxylic Acid and Amide Groups,” Organometallics, 28, 5052-5060. Safa, M.S.; Jennings, M.C.; Puddephatt, R.J., 2009, “A Double Cubane Structure in Organoplatinum(IV) Chemistry,” Chem. Comm., 1487-1489. Puddephatt, R.J., 2008, “Macrocycles, Catenanes, Oligomers and Polymers in Gold Chemistry,” Chem. Soc. Rev., 37, 2012-2027.
