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Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory
Zhaomin HOU
Chief Scientist
Zhaomin HOU (D.Eng.)
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Research Areas

Our research interests cover broad areas of organometallic chemistry, which include synthesis of new complexes having novel structures, development of more efficient, more selective catalysts for olefin polymerization and organic synthesis, and exploration of new chemical transformation processes by use of organometallic compounds. Much of our work lies at the interfaces between inorganic, organic, polymer and material chemistries. Researchers in this laboratory have access to the state-of-the-art inert atmosphere workstations and other modern facilities for organometallic and related researches.

Research Subject

  1. New single-site catalysts for regio- and stereospecific olefin polymerization and copolymerization
  2. New organometallic catalysts for efficient organic synthesis
  3. Synthesis and synergistic reactivity of rare earth metal hydride clusters

RIKEN RESEARCH

July 05, 2006
Molecules light the way
New compounds promise a bright future for white organic light-emitting diodes New Window
August 11, 2006
Rare-earth elements show their mettle
A rare breed of metal clusters help make ethylene from carbon monoxide New Window
July 11, 2008
Rubbery reactions
It only takes the addition of a simple aluminum compound to a new polymerization system to switch between rubber polymers New Window
March 27, 2009
Selectivity at the double
A cooperative effect gives rare-earth metal complexes with two metal centers better selectivity than single metal catalysts New Window
February 05, 2010
Precision molecular assembly
A finely tuned rare-earth metal catalyzes the exact interactions needed for site-selective molecular synthesis New Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Zhang, W., Nishiura, M., and Hou, Z.:
    "Synthesis of (Z)-1-Aza-1,3-enynes by the Cross-Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Isocyanides Catalyzed by Rare-Earth Metal Complexes."
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 47, 9700-9703 (2008).
  2. Ohishi, T., Nishiura, M., and Z. Hou.:
    "Carboxylation of Organoboronic Esters Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper(I) Complexes."
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 47, 5792-5795 (2008).
  3. Zhang, L., Suzuki, T., Luo, Y., Nishiura, M., and Hou, Z.:
    "Cationic Rare Earth Metal Alkyls bearing a Bis-(phosphinophenyl)amido (PNP) Ancillary Ligand. An Excellent Catalyst System for Living cis-1,4-Polymerization and Copolymerization of Isoprene and Butadiene."
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 46, 1909-1913 (2007).
  4. Li, X., Baldamus, J., Nishiura, M., Tardif, O., and Hou, Z.:
    "Cationic Polyhydrido Rare Earth Metal Complexes. Synthesis, Structure, and Catalysis in 1,3-Cyclohexadiene Polymerization."
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 45, 8184-8188 (2006).
  5. Shima, T., and Hou, Z.:
    "Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide by Tetranuclear Rare Earth Metal Polyhydrido Complexes. Selective Formation of Ethylene and Isolation of Well-Defined Polyoxo Rare Earth Metal Clusters."
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 8124-8125 (2006).
  6. Liu, Y., Nishiura, M., Wang, Y., and Hou, Z.:
    "π-Conjugated Aromatic Enynes as a Single-Emitting Component for White Electroluminescence."
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 5592-5593 (2006).
  7. Zhang, W., Nishiura, M., and Hou, Z.:
    "Catalytic Addition of Terminal Alkynes to Carbodiimides by Half-Sandwich Rare Earth Metal Complexes."
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 16788-16789 (2005).
  8. Zhang, L., Luo, Y., and Hou, Z.:
    "Unprecedented Isospecific 3,4-Polymerization of Isoprene by Cationic Rare Earth Metal Alkyl Species Resulting from a Binuclear Precursor."
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 14562-14563 (2005).
  9. Li, X., Baldamus, J., and Hou, Z.:
    "Cationic Half-Sandwich Scandium Catalyzed Alternating Ethylene-Norbornene Copolymerization."
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 44, 962-964 (2005).
  10. Luo, Y., Baldamus, J., and Hou, Z.:
    "Scandium Half-Metallocene-Catalyzed Syndiospecific Styrene Polymerization and Styrene-Ethylene Copolymerization: Unprecedented Incorporation of Syndiotactic Styrene-Styrene Sequences in Styrene-Ethylene Copolymers."
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126, 13910-13911 (2004).
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