Yann Schrodi

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001
M.S. University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, 1995
B.S. University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, 1994

INDUSTRIAL APPOINTMENT

Materia, Inc., Pasadena, CA, 2001-2007

COURSES TAUGHT

Chemistry 101, General Chemistry I
Chemistry 101L, General Chemistry I Laboratory
Chemistry 401, Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 401L, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Chemistry 595O, The Chemistry of Energy

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Inorganic Chemistry
Dr. Schrodi’s general research interests are in the development of catalysts based on inorganic or organometallic transition metal complexes. Dr. Schrodi’s vision is to contribute to the field of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry on fundamental and applied levels, by investigating new ways to activate small molecules and developing catalysts useful in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry.

One area of current research concerns the design and development of novel olefin metathesis catalysts. These catalysts have had a tremendous impact on synthetic chemistry over the past decade. This fact was recognized with the awarding of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Chauvin, Grubbs and Schrock for the development of the olefin metathesis method. Despite the great advances achieved in this field during the past fifteen years, there remain several unmet challenges. Particularly attractive goals include the development of longer-lived ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts and of catalytic systems based on metals other and less expensive than ruthenium. We are currently working towards these goals.

A second area of current focus is the preparation of new ligands, including highly encumbered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands and their applications to reactions catalyzed by late transition metals (e.g., ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium). Since their discovery by Arduengo, NHCs have been widely used to ligate transition metals and have enabled tremendous improvements in transformations such as olefin methathesis and palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling reactions. Larger NHC ligands are often able to impart superior properties to the catalysts that contain them, such as faster initiation, greater stability, and greater selectivity. Therefore, the development of highly encumbered NHC molecules promises to lead to further catalyst improvements and to access novel and reactive low-coordinate NHC-metal complexes.

Finally, a third area of interest involves the design and synthesis of homo- and hetero-multinuclear metal complexes towards the activation and transformation of small molecules (e.g., N2 and CO2).

Our research employs techniques of organic synthesis, inorganic and organometallic chemistry and catalysis, utilizing special equipment (e.g., inert-atmosphere glove boxes, inert-gas/vacuum lines, and modern solvent purification systems of the Grubbs-type) and a wide range of analytical methods (e.g., multinuclear NMR, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, GC, GC-MS, and LC-MS).

In addition to learning these synthetic and analytical laboratory techniques, students in our laboratory will acquire strong skills in areas such as problem solving and proper use of laboratory notebooks. These assets will help them build a successful career in fields like education, academic or industrial research, and medical professions.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

• DeRieux, W.-S.; Wong, A.; Schrodi, Y. "Synthesis and characterization of iron complexes based on bis-​phosphinite PONOP and bis-​phosphite PONOP pincer ligands", Journal of Organometallic Chemistry (2014) 772-773, 60-67.
• Tabari, D.S.; Tolentino, D.R.; Schrodi, Y. "Reactivation of a Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalyst", Organometallics (2013) 32(1), 5-8.
• Jimenez, L.; Gallon, B.J.; Schrodi, Y. "Development of a Method for the Preparation of Ruthenium Indenylidene-Ether Olefin Metathesis Catalysts", Molecules (2012) 17(5), 5675-5689. 
• Jimenez, L.; Tolentino, D.R.; Gallon, B.J.; Schrodi, Y. "A Most Convenient and Atom-Economic Preparation of a Highly Active Ring-Closing Metathesis Catalyst", Organometallics (2010) 29(16), 3471-3473. 
• Anderson, D.; Ung, T.; Mkrtumyan, G.; Bertrand, G.; Grubbs, R.H.; Schrodi, Y. "Kinetic Selectivity of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing Cyclic(alkyl)(amino) Carbenes", Organometallics (2008) 27(4), 563-566. 
• Stewart, I. C.; Ung, T.; Pletnev, A. A.; Berlin, J. M.; Grubbs, R. H.; Schrodi. Y. "Highly Efficient Catalysts for the Formation of Tetrasubstituted Olefins via Ring-Closing Metathesis", Org. Lett. (2007) 9(8), 1589-1592. 
• Schrodi, Y.; Pederson, R. L. "Evolution and Applications of Second-Generation Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts", Aldrichimica Acta (2007) 40(2), 45-52. 
• Ung, T.; Hejl, A.; Grubbs, R. H.; Schrodi. Y. "Latent Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts That Contain an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand", Organometallics (2004) 23(23), 5399-5401. 
• Schrodi, Y.; Bonitatebus, P. J. Jr.; Schrock. R. R. "Cationic Zirconium Complexes that Contain Mesityl-Substituted Diamido/Donor Ligands. Decomposition via CH Activation and Its Influence on 1-Hexene Polymerization", Organometallics (2001) 20(16), 3560-3573. 
• Schrock, R. R.; Bonitatebus, P. J. Jr.; Schrodi. Y. "CH Bond Activation in Cations of the Type {[(2,4,6-Me3C6H2NCH2CH2)2NMe]ZrR}+ and a Simple Solution that Yields a Catalyst for the Living Polymerization of 1-Hexene", Organometallics (2001) 20(6), 1056-1058. 
• Schrock, R. R.; Seidel, S. W.; Schrodi, Y.; Davis. W. M. "Synthesis of Zirconium Complexes That Contain Diamidophosphine Ligands [(Me3SiNCH2CH2)2PPh]2- or [(RNSiMe2CH2)2PPh]2- (R = t-Bu or 2,6-Me2C6H3)", Organometallics (1999) 18(3), 428-437.

M. S. THESES

• "Novel olefin metathesis catalysts bearing a hemi-labile NHC ligand: Synthesis, structural analysis, decomposition, and performance", Nicolas Cena (MS Chemistry 2019)
• "Iron and molybdenum coordinated pincer complexes: Towards the development of new olefin metathesis active catalysts", Steven Ruark (MS Chemistry 2016).
• "Second generation Hoveyda-Grubbs olefin metathesis catalysts bearing hemilabile polyether arms: Performance, structural analysis and decomposition", Jordan Carter (MS Chemistry 2016)
• "Development of New Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Based on Iron", Wing-Sy DeRieux (MS Chemistry 2013).
• "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Rhodium and Iron Carbenes", Matthew Ryan (MS Chemistry 2012)
• “First regeneration of a ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst and the use of di-Grignard reagents to form metallacyclobutane complexes”, Daniel Tabari (MS Chemistry 2012). 
• "Development of a new method for the in-situ formation of an active olefin metathesis catalyst", Leonel Jimenez (MS Chemistry 2010).