Milton Smith
Professor Office: 411 Chemistry
Phone: 517-355-9715 166 /
Websites: Research Group - Area
Awards & Honors
Genealogy/Graduates
Inorganometallic Chemistry and Polymer Interactions within Biological Systems
(Research Description PDF - 1680 kb)Our research focuses on the invention of new chemical reactions for synthesis using organometallic complexes and the design of new biodegradable polymers based on polylactic acids. In addition to basic training in synthesis and polymer chemistry, students in my group develop expertise in the gamut of modern analytical methods for molecular and macromolecular characterization and are exposed to a broad range of science through extensive collaborations with other groups on campus. Overviews of two current projects are given below.
The first project involves transition metal chemistry of boron. We began our research in this area with hopes of exploring the fundamental chemistry of metal boryl complexes (M-BX2) and examining reactions of boron-element bonds with unsaturated organic ligands coordinated to metal centers. In the course of this work, we discovered unusual selectivities for olefin borylation reactions and were able to control catalytic chemistry by tuning the ligands attached to boron. Most recently, we reported the first example of catalytic synthesis of a B-C bond from an arene C-H bond and a borane B-H bond. This marked a significant advance in catalytic hydrocarbon functionalization, which has been one of chemistry's "Holy Grails". In addition, the sterically dictated regioselectivities in these reactions provide the first general solutions to long-standing problems in aromatic substitution chemistry. In the future, we plan to explore issues that dictate selectivity in these reactions.
The second research area involves the synthesis of biodegradable and biorenewable polymers through ring-opening polymerization reactions. These are important materials that provide environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based polymers. We presently are designing polylactic acid copolymers that can be tailored for applications in tissue regeneration and drug delivery. This project has spawned a collaboration studying bone growth with the Department of Physiology.
Selected Publications
C?H Activation/Borylation/Oxidation: A One-Pot Unified Route to Meta-Substituted Phelols Bearing Ortho-/Para-Directing Groups, R. E. Maleczka Jr., F. Shi, D. Holmes, M.R. Smith III, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 7792.Remarkably Selective Iridium Catalysts for Elaboration of C?H Bonds, J.-Y. Cho, M. K. Tse, D. Holmes, R. E. Maleczka Jr., M. R. Smith III, Science 2002, 295, 305.
Steric and Chelate Directing Effects in Aromatic Borylation, J.-Y. Cho, C. N. Iverson, M. R. Smith III, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123,12868.
Stereoselective Polymerization of a Racemic Monomer with a Racemic Catalyst: Direct Preparation of the Polylactic Acid Stereocomplex from Racemic Lactide, C. P. Radano, G. L. Baker, M. R. Smith III, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 1552.
Stoichiometric and Catalytic B C Bond Formation from Unactivated Hydrocarbons and Boranes, C. N. Iverson, M. R. Smith III, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 7696.
