Forschung

Research priorities: asymmetric catalysis, kinetics, organic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, homochirality

Donna G. Blackmond’s research focuses on mechanistic studies of organic reactions, including asymmetric catalysis. She pioneered the methodology of "Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis (RPKA)" for fundamental mechanistic studies of complex organic reactions. She studies prebiotic chemistry and the origin of biological homochirality.

Donna G. Blackmond’s focuses on blending the quantitative aspects of my chemical engineering background together with the synthesis of complex organic molecules by catalytic routes, particularly asymmetric catalysis with application in pharmaceutical processes. This work led to development of Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis (RPKA), a methodology combining highly accurate in-situ data collection with a rigorous mathematical and graphical approach that permits “kinetic-assisted mechanistic analysis” of complex reaction networks.

Her research efforts involve experimental, computational, and theoretical investigations of complex organic reactions and reaction networks including asymmetric organocatalytic reactions, Pd-catalyzed C-C and C-N bond forming reactions, asymmetric hydrogenation, competitive reactions including kinetic resolutions, and investigations of nonlinear effects in stoichiometric, catalytic, and autocatalytic reactions.

Blackmond’s theoretical work has derived relationships between catalyst enantiopurity and reaction rate that expand the power of this tool as a meaningful mechanistic probe. This work led into another area of fundamental research probing the origin of biological homochirality, a phenomenon that may itself be considered a remarkable nonlinear effect.

Her team has expanded the range of models from proposals based purely on chemical reactions, including symmetry breaking in asymmetric autocatalysis, to models based on physical phase behavior of chiral molecules as well as a combination of chemical and physical processes. They seek to rationalize the evolution of biological homochirality with experimental work and theoretical models.

Werdegang

• since 2018 Department Chair, California Campus, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
• since 2010 Professor of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
• since 2010 Visiting Professor, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, London, UK
• 2004-2010 Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chair in Catalysis Imperial, College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, London, UK
• 1999-2003 Professor and Chair in Physical Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, UK
• 1996-1999 Group Leader, C3 Equivalent Professor, Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim-Ruhr, Germany
• 1995-1996 C3 Professor of Technical Chemistry, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
• 1992-1995 Associate Director, Technical Operations, Merck & Company, Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
• 1984-1992 Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• 1984-1989 Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• 1989-1992 Associate Professor (with tenure) and BP America Faculty Fellow, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• 1992-1999 Adjunct Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• 1984 PhD, Chemical engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
• 1981 Master of Science, Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• 1980 Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

Funktionen

• since 2020 External Advisory Board, Imperial College London Chemistry
• since 2020 External Advisory Board, UC Santa Barbara Chemistry and Biochemistry
• since 2019 External Advisory Board, UC Santa Barbara Chemical Engineering
• since 2019 Scientific Advisory Board, ChemRxiv
• since 2019 National Academy of Engineering, Section 3 Search Committee Chair
• since 2019 Editorial Advisory Board, Chemical Science
• since 2019 External Advisory Board, UK Catalysis Hub
• since 2019 External Advisory Board, ROAR, Imperial College London
• since 2019 Editorial Advisory Board, Chemical Science
• 2011-2017 US National Academy of Sciences, Chemical Sciences Roundtable Member
• 2014-2016 US National Academy of Engineering Peer Committee Member
• since 2016 Associate Editor, Journal of Organic Chemistry
• since 2015 Editorial Board, ACS Central Science
• since 2015 Editorial Board, Reaction Chemistry & Engineering
• since 2006 Editorial Board, Organic Letters
• 2006-2013 Editorial Board, OPRD
• 2004-2006 Editorial Board, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
• 2002-2004 Chemical & Engineering News Advisory Board
• 2002-2016 Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Organic Chemistry
• since 2000 Editorial Advisory Board, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis
• 1999-2004 Editorial Board, Catalysis Letters
• 1994-2000 Editorial Board, Journal of Catalysis
• 1994-1998 Director, Organic Reactions Catalysis Society
• 1997 National Science Foundation Board of Visitors (Engineering Directorate)

Projekte

• since 2020 NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry
• since 2013 Simons Investigator, Simons Foundation Collaboration on the Origins of Life
• since 2012 NSF Center for Selective C-H Functionalization
• 2003-2005 EPSRC Consortium "From Micrograms to Multikilos"

Auszeichnungen und Mitgliedschaften

• since 2021 Member of the US National Academy of Sciences
• since 2020 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 2019 IUPAC Award for Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• 2018 Irving Wender Award for Creative Research in Catalysis, PCCS
• since 2016 Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2016 Chemical Pioneer Award, American Institute of Chemists
• since 2013 Member of the US National Academy of Engineering
• 2009 The Royal Society of Chemistry Physical Organic Chemistry Award
• 2007 The Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
• 2005 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, American Chemical Society
• 2001 Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis, North American Catalysis Society
• 1998 Max-Planck-Society Award for Outstanding Women Scientists
• 1985 National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award