Join us to hear from Jennifer Love of the University of Calgary!

Abstract: The conversion of readily-available raw materials into more valuable products is crucial for modern life. Without such processes, we would not have access to life-saving drugs (e.g., Lipitor), technical clothing (e.g., GoreTex), LED screens, cars, etc. that improve our quality of life. However, the processes that upgrade raw materials into chemicals that are used to generate the aforementioned products have historically been highly polluting. It is imperative to continually develop new environmentally friendly chemical reactions and manufacturing methods that minimise waste generation. One approach to reach this goal is to use catalysts for raw materials upgrading. Even precious metals have a role in making an impact in the goal towards the development of ‘greener’ chemical processes. Our group is interested in discovering the mechanisms of how these reactions actually work in order to develop more efficient (and less wasteful) catalysts, as well as the ability to design new reactions without relying on the traditional approach of trial and error.

An overview of recent work will be given, including our efforts toward catalytic functionalization of methane; organo- and organometallic fluorine chemistry; development of indicators for the detection of alkylating chemical warfare and anti-cancer drug contaminants.