Seminar on Combining Theory and Experiment to Develop New Chemical Reactions  

Professor Osvaldo Gutierrez

The Rose Mercadante Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar Series is pleased to present a seminar by Professor Osvaldo Gutierrez from the University of Maryland entitled "Combining Theory and Experiment to Develop Selective C-C Bond Formations via Open-Shell Intermediates."

The seminar will be held from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday February 25, 2020 in the Helen Lerner Amphitheater, Science and Technology Center, Seton Hall University. Refreshments are available at 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Gutierrez was born in Mexico and raised in Sacramento, California. He attended Sacramento City College and transferred to UCLA in 2006 where he worked as an undergraduate at the laboratories of Prof. Houk. He obtained his B.S./M.S. in 2009 and completed his Ph.D. in 2012 (UC Davis) under the guidance of Prof. Tantillo. From 2012-2016 he worked as a postdoc with Prof. Kozlowski at the University of Pennsylvania where he used computational and experimental tools to study transition metal-catalyzed processes. He is now at the University of Maryland College Park where his research combines computational and experimental approaches to advance our understanding of iron- and photo-catalyzed reaction mechanisms.

Despite advances in high-throughput screening methods leading to a surge in the discovery of catalytic reactions, our knowledge of the molecular-level interactions in the rate- and selectivity-determining steps of catalytic reactions, especially those involving highly unstable and reactive open-shell intermediates, is rudimentary. These knowledge gaps prevent control, suppression or enhancement, of competing reaction channels that can drive development of unprecedented catalytic reactions. In this talk, Gutierrez will focus on the use of high-level quantum mechanical calculations, rigorously calibrated against experimental data, to interrogate the mechanisms and to guide the development of new catalysts and reagents for currently sluggish or unselective reactions. In particular, the talk will focus on the use of combined experimental and computational tools to understand and develop new (asymmetric) iron-catalyzed radical cascade/cross-coupling reactions.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Seton Hall University offers BS, MS and PhD degrees with specializations in all areas of chemistry. Our unique research environment, including traditional full-time students and part-time students is designed to foster collaborations with industry and colleagues in other disciplines. The Rose Mercadante Seminar Series is named for Rose Mercadante, the departmental secretary for over 40 years, in honor of our alumni, her "boys and girls."

Categories: Research, Science and Technology