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This PRF-funded sabbatical in the College of Chemistry at University of California-Berkeley exceeded my expectations in terms of my professional development as an organometallic chemist.  The incredible resources, in terms interpersonal interactions, research space/instrumentation, and journal access, were mined extensively.  The John Arnold research group was extremely supportive, and the inorganic division permitted my access to each weekly seminar speaker for half hour appointments, leading to many stimulating chemical conversations.  The intellectual life within the College of Chemistry is remarkable, and it was an honor to participate in this environment. 

Two proposals were written, including an NSF-MRI proposal requesting a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer for Macalester College (submitted in January 2009, regrettably not funded) and an NSF-RUI proposal to be submitted in November 2009.  The resources afforded by this award enabled me to develop (with ample feedback from Cal faculty) research ideas that will extend my Macalester program in new directions (e.g., the RUI proposal).  A manuscript detailing work completed by a recent Macalester graduate was written and published.  Seven presentations were given at Claremont McKenna College (1), the ACS National Meeting in Salt Lake City (3), and UC-Berkeley (3) to extend the exposure of my research program.

My research project focused on synthesizing a bis(2-picolyl)(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)amine {BPPA} Ru(II) complex we believe will be useful for small molecule activation studies (most notably with nitrous oxide).  The monoanionic BPPA ligand is potentially tetradentate; many strategies were attempted to engender complete coordination.  In this regard, I developed a high yielding route to a tridentate BPPA Ru(II) complex.  Work will continue in Berkeley and at Macalester to convert this completely characterized tridentate complex to a tetradentate one for reactivity studies.  Publication of the structure of the tridentate complex is expected in 2009.  This project taught me new laboratory techniques and provided inaugural experiences with research in group VIII metal coordination chemistry and ligand design.  The new chemistry and perspectives gained by my sabbatical experience will widen the scope of projects to be considered in my Macalester research laboratory.  A rising junior at Macalester will continue this project during the 2009-2010 academic year.  

Finally, my time in Berkeley permitted me to extend mentoring relationships with two former research students and Macalester College chemistry graduates now in the Ph.D. program at Cal.  I met with these students on a weekly basis to discuss chemistry and provide moral support.