B. S., Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 2006 Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis 2011 Research Associate, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 2011 – 2014

Inorganic Chemistry

My research interests lie broadly in inorganic transition metal chemistry, with specific focus on redox reactions catalyzed or promoted by transitional metal complexes that mimic (or are inspired by) enzymatic actives sites. This is exemplified by my proposed research projects, with proposal I on selective oxidative functionalization of polyols and saccharides, and proposal II on multiple electron processes that lead to the activation of small molecules (e.g., CO2 and O2). Both projects are connected by the use of simple model complexes of transition metals (e.g. Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) and their important consequences for renewable energy. In addition to synthetic transition metal chemistry, I am also interested in the bioinorganic chemistry as shown by proposal III on transferrin and reactive anions. This work is directly applicable to the design of metal-ion-based therapy and the development of novel imaging technologies.

Li, F.; Yasmeen, F.; Ogden, A.; Tappero, R. V.; Bourassa, M. W.; Orville, A. M.; Cheng, H.–P.; Kahn, M. L. “High abundance of Iron Is Stored in Ferritin at the Tip of N2-fixing Root Nodules of Medicago sativa”. Manuscript in preparation.

Li, F.; Burgie, E. S.; Vierstra, R. D.; Orville, A. M. “Synchrotron X-rays Can Alter the Structure of the Biliverdin Active Site of Phytochrome”. Manuscript in preparation.

Li, F.; Hirao, H; Bigelow, J.; Que, L. Jr. “Axial Ligand Effects on the O–O bond cleavage reactivity of nonheme ferric and ferrous peroxo intermediates”. Manuscript in preparation.

Li, F.; Van Heuvelen, K. M.; Meier, K. L; Münck, E. Que, L. Jr. “Sc3+- Triggered Oxoiron(IV) Formation from O2 and its Non-Heme Iron(II) Precursor via a Sc3+-Peroxo-Fe3+ Intermediate” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 133, 10198-10201. DOI: 10.1021/ja402645y

McDonald, A. R.; Van Heuvelen, K. M.; Guo, Y.; Li, F.; Bominaar, E.; Münck, E.; Que, L. Jr. “Characterization of a Thiolato Iron(III) Peroxy Dianion Complex” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 9132-9136. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201203602

Li, F.; Chakrabarti, M.; Dong, Y.; Kauffmann, K.; Münck, E.; Que L., Jr. “Synthesis and Structural, EPR and Mössbauer Characterizations of (μ- Alkoxo)(μ-Carboxylato)Diiron(II,III) Model Complex for the Enzymatic Diiron Active Sites” Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 2917-2929. DOI: 10.1021/ic2021726

Hirao, H.; Li,F.; Que, L., Jr; Morokuma, K. “Theoretical Study of The Mechanism of Oxoiron(IV) Formation from H2O2 and a Nonheme Iron(II) Complex: O–O Cleavage Involving Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer” Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 6637-6648. DOI: 10.1021/ic200522r

Li, F.; Meier, K. K.; Cranswick, M. A.; Chakrabarti, M.; Van Heuvelen,

K. M.; Münck, E; Que, L., Jr. “Characterization of a High-Spin Nonheme FeIII–OOH Intermediate and Its Conversion to an FeIV=O Complex” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 7256-7259. DOI: 10.1021/ja111742z

Li, F.; England, J.; Que, L., Jr. “Near-Stoichiometric Conversion of H2O2 to FeIV=O at a Non-Heme Iron(II) Center: Insights Into the O–O bond cleavage step” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 2134-2135. DOI: 10.1021/ja9101908

Jiang, G; Li, Y.; Wang, S.; Li, F.; Xu, Z.; Bai, J.“Tetra-μ-phenoxy- acetato-bis[(acetonitrile)copper(II)](Cu-Cu)” Acta Crystallogr., 2005, E61, m1517-m1519. DOI: 10.1107/S1600536805021197