Richard Thompson, Ph.D.

Summary: We are interested in using Earth-abundant transition metals to solve important questions in chemistry including olefin polymerization and catalytic transfer of phosphorous atoms.

Minimum Courses: N/A

Projects: Students will help synthesize soluble catalysts capable of polymerizing ethylene to make new kinds of plastic. In addition to learning how to handle air-sensitive molecule, students will characterize these compounds using a suite of spectroscopic techniques including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared (IR), UV-Vis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Gel-permeation chromotography (GPC).