Research

Research themes

  • The Boisvert lab at the University of Puget Sound conducts research in organic and organometallic chemistry directed at developing and implementing more sustainable and efficient chemical processes. The main themes of our research are green chemistry and homogeneous catalysis.

  • Green chemistry is concerned with the development of more efficient, safer and less wasteful chemical processes. Key contributors to implementing greener processes are catalysts, which are substances that can increase the efficiency of chemical transformations. Of special interest is that catalysts can potentially lead to a dramatic increase in the efficiency and sustainability of chemical transformations, including the decrease of the amount of waste generated. Additionally, catalysis can potentially open up new completely new reaction pathways not available through stoichiometric processes.

  • The emphasis of our research is on sustainable technologies and catalytic processes promoted by organic and main group compounds and by transition metal complexes, with a particular interest in potential industrial and biological applications. The current projects are concerned with two principal research areas:

    • - Development of synthetic methodologies related to medicinal chemistry

    • - Development of transformations to facilitate the synthesis of complex organic molecules

Research projects

  • There are two projects being currently explored in the lab:

    • 1. The development of iron-based catalysts for hydrogenation reactions

    • 2. The development of organic and main group catalysts for amidation reactions

Research opportunities

  • Most of the research in our lab is conducted during the summer, where 2-4 undergraduate students are in the lab full time. During the Fall and Spring semesters, our research group usually consists of 1-3 students conducting their Senior Thesis (Chem 490) and independent research (Chem 390).

Equipment and techniques

  • The lab work involves the synthesis of organic, main group and organometallic catalysts through the use of the traditional techniques and instrumentation of organic and organometallic chemistry. In particular, air-free techniques (Schlenk and high-vacuum lines, inert atmosphere glovebox) are often necessary to synthesize metal catalysts. In addition, significant efforts are devoted to the synthesis of the substrates on which to test for a desired reactivity. A typical project in our group may involve the synthesis of potential catalysts (often requiring the prior synthesis of organic ligands) and model substrates, followed by the examination of catalytic activity and optimization of catalysts structure and reaction conditions. Students thus become familiar with a variety of synthetic, spectroscopic and analytical techniques, with NMR spectroscopy playing a predominant role.

  • Our lab is equipped with two eight-foot ventilation hoods:

  • A lot of the organic synthesis work involves the use of a Schlenk line to keep the reaction under an inert atmosphere:

  • Work with very air- and/or water-sensitive compounds often involves the use of a high-vacuum manifold:

  • More demanding work often necessitates the use of an inert-atmosphere glovebox, which we share with Prof. Jo Crane: