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• 1 media/Wave5 - Blue-SURF-New.jpg 2020-09-18T17:54:48+00:00 Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin 16 Schmid plain 2020-10-16T20:03:17+00:00
  
  Email: libermanmartin@chapman.edu
  Website: http://www.allegraliberman-martin.com/
  
  College: Schmid College of Science and Technology
  Department: Chemistry
  
  Overview of scholarly research/creative activity:  Chemical catalysis is involved in over 80% of industrial chemical production, and many current catalytic processes rely on expensive and rare metal catalysts. To create more sustainable industrial methods, the Liberman-Martin group is creating new metal-free catalysts as inexpensive and earth abundant catalyst alternatives.
  
  Specific projects working on:  All of our group's research involves manipulation of air-sensitive compounds. Skills in air-free synthesis are highly desirable in organic and inorganic chemistry graduate programs, the pharmaceutical industry, and battery and semiconductor manufacturing.
  Our group is interested in the synthesis of new metal-free catalysts for the sustainable production of chemicals, polymers, and fuels.
  Much of our current research is on understanding the electronic properties and catalytic activity of exceptionally electron-rich carbon(0) species. The carbon(0) catalysts we use are called carbodiphosphoranes, which feature two-coordinate carbon flanked by two phosphorus donors. The central carbon of the carbodiphosphorane is strongly nucleophilic.
  We are investigating the ability of these catalysts to promote the addition of hydrogen–boron bonds across C=O and C=N bonds. We have found that these carbodiphosphoranes also catalyze polymerization reactions. These polyesters are important in tissue engineering and drug delivery as a result of their excellent materials properties, biocompatibility, and facile degradation.
  We also have projects looking at germanium and zinc compounds as catalysts for organic reactions.
  
  Number of students looking to work with: 3-4
  
  Time commitment for students:  6 hours/week
  
  When students are needed: Interterm 2021, Spring 2021
  
  Requirements for students who work with you:  Completed organic chemistry I (CHEM 230)
  
  What would students be expected to do​​​​​​: Synthesizing new catalysts in the lab; designing experiments.
  
  Additional Information: We are always looking for new group members! Feel free to reach out to Dr. Liberman-Martin by email to discuss research opportunities.