Brian J. Frost

Assistant Professor

Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry; Catalysis

B.S. (1995), Elizabethtown College; Ph.D. (1999), Texas A&M University (Donald J. Darensbourg); Postdoctoral Research Associate (2000-2002), Columbia University (Jack R. Norton).

E-mail: frost [at] unr.edu
Phone: 775-784-1993
FAX: 775-784-6804
Office: CB 121

Brian J. Frost

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Research Interests

Organometallic chemistry and catalysis remain exciting areas of research with many opportunities for fundamental, not to mention pedagogical, contributions. We are interested in the synthesis, structure, and reactivity of inorganic and organometallic complexes with emphasis on those applicable to catalysis. Our research program encompasses a wide range of interests including:

  • Green chemistry
  • Coordination chemistry
  • Catalysis in aqueous, organic, and biphasic media
  • Kinetic and mechanistic studies of catalytic processes
  • Small molecule activation
  • Ligand synthesis (organic synthesis)

The current focus of the group is centered on the use of organometallic complexes as aqueous-phase catalysts, an area with tremendous potential. Little kinetic and mechanistic information is available for water-soluble systems, yet this is paramount for the rational design of catalysis. Our group designs, synthesizes, and studies new water-soluble phosphines and their complexes with metals. One of the highlights of aqueous-phase catalysis is the ability to perform biphasic catalysis (figure below). Biphasic catalysis brings together the best features of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, the most important of which is the ability to readily recover and recycle the catalyst.

Currently our group is working on projects involving the synthesis and characterization of new water-soluble phosphines and exploring the catalytic activity of new water-soluble inorganic and organometallic complexes. We are also interested in utilizing carbon dioxide as a C1 feedstock. Our group tries to bring together aspects of inorganic, organic, and organometallic chemistry. We also utilize computational chemistry as warranted to examine certain aspects of our molecules. One of the projects currently underway in our laboratory involves the synthesis of the water-soluble organometallic ruthenium hydride depicted below and investigating its potential as an aqueous-phase hydrogenation catalyst.

Techniques used in the laboratory include, but are not limited to, infrared (particularly in situ IR), UV-vis, and NMR (1H, 13C, 31P) spectroscopies, as well as X-ray crystallography and computational chemistry.

Selected Publications

“Isomerization of trans-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] to cis-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] in water and organic solvent: Revisiting the chemistry of [Ru(PTA)4Cl2],” Mebi, C.A.; Frost, B.J. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46, 7115-7120.

“pH dependent selective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls in aqueous media utilizing half-sandwich ruthenium (II) complexes,” Mebi, C.A.; Nair, R.P.; Frost, B.J. Organometallics 2007, 26, 429-438.

“Synthesis and coordination chemistry of a novel bidentate phosphine, 6-(diphenylphosphino)-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA-PPh2),” Wong, G.W.; Harkreader, J.L.; Mebi, C.A.; Frost, B.J. Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 6748-6755.

“Manganese complexes of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA): The first nitrogen bound transition metal complex of PTA,” Frost, B.J.; Bautista, C.M.; Huang, R.; Shearer, J. Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 3481-3483. (Communication)

“Boron-nitrogen adducts of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA): Synthesis, reactivity, and molecular structure,” Frost, B.J.; Mebi, C.A.; Gingrich, P.W. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2006, 1182-1189.

“Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of a quadruply bonded dimolydbenum(II) complex containing the water-soluble phosphine 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA),” Frost, B.J.; Miller, S.B.; Rove, K.O.; Pearson, D.M.; Korinek, J.D.; Harkreader, J.L.; Mebi, C.A.; Shearer, J. Inorg. Chem. Acta. 2006, 359, 283-288.

“Effect of pH on the biphasic catalytic hydrogenation of benzylidene acetone using CpRu(PTA)2H,” Mebi, C.A.; Frost, B.J. Organometallics 2005, 24, 2339-2346.

“Aqueous organometallic chemistry: Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of the water-soluble metal hydride, CpRu(PTA)2H,” Frost, B.J.; Mebi, C.A. Organometallics 2004, 23, 5317-5323.

“Properties and reactions of organosilanes and organogermanes containing the potentially bidentate (X(CH2)n)2N-group,” Harle, H.D.; Han, S.; Yoder, C.H.; Schaeffer, C.D., Jr.; Falen, P.L.; Frost, B.J.; Hatalla, S.R.; Kerstetter, S.D.; Redline, J.K.; Uliana, S.L.; Walton, L.L. Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry 2003, 33, 1825-1834.