Philip & Foymae West Distinguished Professor
Supramolecular metal-organic compounds
We make polynuclear “host” molecules with internal cavities, by linking metal ions together with multifunctional organic ligands. Then we explore the kinds of “guest” molecules that will fit inside, and whether the guests will undergo unusual reactions while they are bound.
We use organic bridging ligands to join two or more metal atoms into hollow “hosts” into which “guest” molecules can fit. Our goal is to use the hosts as catalysts for reactions of the guests (similar to the way metalloenzymes work), or as sensors for small guest molecules.
This work began with our studies of host-guest reactions of bis(β-diketone) complexes such as Cu2(NBA)2, as shown in the sketch below:
We are now using other β-diketones that can produce larger rings, 3-dimensional molecules, and crystalline porous framework solids. For example, the bis(β-diketone) m-pbprH2 yields a “molecular square” on reaction with Cu2+. This material is just the right size (diameter ~1.4 nm) to fit buckminsterfullerene (C60).
Another ligand we have studied is “pyacH”, which has a β-diketone attached to pyridine so that the two groups can bind to two different metals. This ligand reacts with Cu2+ and Cd2+ to make a porous metal-organic framework, with still larger pores:
We are now preparing “hosts” that are redox-active, using pyridyltriazole ligands. Recently, we showed that one such host, [Cu2(m-xpt)2(NO3)2]2+, can be reduced to Cu(I). The Cu(I) complex reacts with CO2 to make oxalate.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Philip W. & Foymae Kelso West Distinguished Professor in Chemistry, 2008-present
Charles E. Coates Award, ACS Baton Rouge Local Section, 2009
LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, 2004
Selected Publications
Zhang, Y.; Maverick, A. W. Preparation of an isocyano-β-diketone via its Al, Zn, and Cu complexes, by use of metal ions as protecting groups. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 10512-10518.
Pariya, C.; Marcos, Y. S.; Zhang, Y.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W. Organosilicon‑based multifunctional β‑diketones and their rhodium and iridium complexes. Organometallics, 2008, 27, 4318-4324.″
Zhang, Y.; Chen, B.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W. A nanoporous Ag‑Fe mixed‑metal‑organic framework exhibiting single‑crystal‑to‑single‑crystal transformations upon guest exchange. Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 4433‑4435.
Pariya, C.; Sparrow, C. R.; Back, C.-K.; Sandí, G.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W.. Copper β-diketonate molecular squares and their host-guest reactions. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2007, 47, 6305-6308
Kakoullis, J.; Maverick, A. W.; Fronczek, F. R.. A molecular corner: fac-tricarbonylchlorido-bis[3-(4-pyridyl)pentane-2,4-dione-κN]rhenium(I) chloroform solvate. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. E: Struct. Rep. Online, 2007, 63, m1360-m1361
Burton, S.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W.. A cofacial binuclear copper(II) complex with a bridging 1,4-dithiane ligand. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. E: Struct. Rep. Online,2007, 63, m1977-m1978
Maverick, A. W.; Laxman, R. K.; Hawkins, M. A.; Martone, D. P.; Fronczek, F. R.. Flexible cofacial binuclear metal complexes derived from α,α′-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene. Dalton Trans., 2005, 200-206
Chen, B.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W.. Porous Cu-Cd mixed-metal-organic frameworks constructed from Cu(Pyac)2 (bis[3-(4-pyridyl)pentane-2,4-dionato]copper(II)). Inorg. Chem., 2004, 43, 8209-8211
Chen, B.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W.. Solvent-dependent 44 square grid and 64.82 NbO frameworks formed by Cu(Pyac)2 (bis[3-(4-pyridyl)pentane-2,4-dionato]copper(II)). Chem. Commun., 2003, 2166-2167
Maverick, A. W.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, E. F.; Billodeaux, D. R.; Cygan, Z. T.; Isovitsch, R. A.. Structures of anhydrous and hydrated copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate. Inorg. Chem., 2002, 41, 6488-6492
Maverick, A. W.; Billodeaux, D. R.; Ivie, M. L.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, E. F.. Endo and exo coordination to cofacial binuclear copper(II) complexes. J. Inclusion Phenom. Macrocyclic Chem., 2001, 39, 19-26
Maverick, A. W.; James, A. M.; Fan, H.; Isovitsch, R. A.; Stewart, M. P.; Azene, E.; Cygan, Z. T.. New Routes Toward Chemical and Photochemical Vapor Deposition of Copper Metal. ACS Symp. Ser., 1999, 727, 100-112
Laurie A. Brown, Ph.D. December 1995. Emergency Program Coordinator, Louisiana Division of Administration, Baton Rouge, LA.
Sylvester Burton, Ph. D. May 2006. Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Georgia Perimeter College, Atlanta, GA.
Banglin Chen, Postdoc, 2002-2003. Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas – San Antonio.
Alicia M. James, Ph. D. May 1999. Associate Director, Science & Math Learning Center, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Ravi K. Laxman, Postdoc, 1989-1992. Technology Director, Air Liquide Co., Dallas, TX.
Abdul K. Mohammed, Ph. D. December 1992. Professor, Department of Chemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC.
S. Sadiq Shah, Ph. D. June 1986. Vice Provost for Research and Sponsored Projects, University of Texas–Pan American, Edinburg, TX.
Yixun Zhang, Ph. D. August 2006. Senior Lecturer, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX.