IAS Distinguished Lecture - Frustrated Lewis Pairs: Reactivity Across the Periodic Table

Abstract

Over the last 17 years, the concept of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) has emerged as an approach to transition metal-free hydrogenations as well as the activation of a wide range of small molecules. Indeed, the catalytic reductions of a wide variety of organic substrates, as well as the elegance of enantioselective metal-free hydrogenations have been developed. FLPs also react with or capture a wide variety of small molecules and the reactivity of C-H bonds, CO2, CO, SO2, N2O olefins, and alkynes, diazomethanes, and other N2-species. In these efforts, a wide range of combinations of Lewis acids and bases have been employed from alkali metal species to inert gas derivatives and applied in both stoichiometric and catalytic processes. In this lecture, the speaker will describe select examples, affirming that the concept of FLPs is a general strategy for reactivity.


About the Speaker

Prof. Douglas W. STEPHAN graduated with his BSc at McMaster University (1976) and completed his PhD at University of Western Ontario (1980). He then held a NATO PDF at Harvard University, before beginning his independent career at the University of Windsor (1982). He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1985 and then to Professor in 1992. He was also named as NSERC Industrial Research Chair (2001), University Professor (2002), Canada Research Chair (2005), and Department Head (2003-2006) respectively. In 2008, Prof. Stephan moved to the University of Toronto as a Professor and Canada Research Chair and consequently a University Professor. He was an Einstein Visiting Fellow at Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) in 2016-2019. In 2020, he established an additional satellite laboratory at Ningbo University and served as a Zhedong Scholar Chair Professor. He was an Associated Editor for Chemical Society Reviews for 6 years, the Chair of the editorial board and is now Chair of the editorial board of Chemical Communications. In 2023, Prof. Stephan was named the John C. Polanyi Chair of Chemistry at the University of Toronto.


For Attendees' Attention

Seating is on a first come, first served basis.