Time：July 01, 2016 9：30 AM
Location：Conference Room of Basic Energy Science Building
Reporter：Prof. Tobin J. Marks
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University
Abstract：
This lecture focuses on thermodynamics/mechanism-based strategies for converting abundant biofeedstocks into useful fuels and chemicals. New approaches to the hydrogenolysis of the ubiquitous C-O bonds include selective hydrogenolysis of cyclic and linear etheric C-O bonds by tandem catalytic systems consisting of recyclable metal triflates and supported hydrogenation catalysts, in either ionic liquid solvents or in the neat substrates. Kinetic and DFT computational studies show that the turnover-limiting step in these reactions is the retro-hydroalkoxylation, followed by rapid alkenol hydrogenation. The metal triflate catalytic activity scales approximately with the DFT-computed charge density on the metal ion. With the most active catalysts, ethereal substrates are rapidly converted, via the alkenol, to the corresponding saturated hydrocarbons. In similar tandem processes, esters and triglycerides are also rapidly and selectively converted, ultimately, to C3 hydrocarbons and biodiesel esters. The kinetics and mechanism of these ester hydrogenolysis processes, as deduced by combined experimental results and DFT computation, are compared and contrasted with those of the corresponding ethers.
Biography：
Tobin J. Marks is the Vladimir N. Ipatieff Professor of Catalytic Chemistry , Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Material Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University. Marks received his B.S. from the University of Maryland in 1966 in chemistry, which is part of the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Then he received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971. He came to Northwestern University in the fall of 1970. As of now, Tobin Marks has mentored over 100 PhD students and nearly 100 postdoctoral fellows. More than 90 of these alumni hold academic positions worldwide. Tobin Marks has published over 1200 research articles and holds over 200 patents.
Among the themes of his research are synthetic organo-f-element and early-transition metal organometallic chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials chemistry, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, molecule-based photonic materials, superconductivity, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, and biological aspects of transition metal chemistry.
Contacts：Dr. Dan LI DNL16 (9005)