
- Name: Richard Thompson, Ph.D.
- Institution: University of Idaho
- Department: Chemistry
- Phone: 515-867-6785
- Email: rthompson@uidaho.edu
- Website: https://www.thompsonlabuidaho.com
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).