Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
School of Green Chemistry and Engineering
University of Toledo
RESEARCH
Research in the Mason Group focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of molecules and materials with catalytic applications. Areas of interest include the design of new ligands, organoaluminum catalysts and cocatalysts, polymerization catalysis, and green chemistry.
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From the drop-down menu, you will find brief summaries of the following six topics of current and past research: (1) Design of group 13 complexes and reagents, particularly aluminum, for use in catalysis and for the activation of small molecules; (2) Development of constrained geometry complexes for the oligomerization and polymerization of alkenes; (3) Development of iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions; (4) Utilization of bulky dipyrromethene ligands for main group and transition metal chemistry; (5) Development of new phosphorus ligands for applications in catalysis; (6) Polymerization catalysis, including the polymerization of alkenes, epoxides, lactones, and lactides.
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Consistent with our breadth of research interests, group members utilize a broad range of synthetic and characterization techniques, including the handling of air- and moisture sensitive reagents, solvothermal synthesis, column and gas chromatography, solution and solid-state multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. We have also utilized isothermal titration calorimetry in collaboration with Professor Bob Flowers at Lehigh University.