B.A. Columbia University, 2006 (Ged Parkin) Ph.D. California Institute of Technology, 2011 (John Bercaw) Post Doctorate University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012 (Clark Landis)

Inorganic & Organometallic Chemistry/Organic Chemistry/Polymer Chemistry/Environmental & Green Chemistry/Energy & Catalysis

Inorganic & Organometallic Chemistry: organometallic synthesis and catalysis Organic Chemistry: organometallic synthesis and catalysis Polymer Chemistry: polymer Synthesis Environmental & Green Chemistry: CO2 conversion Energy & Catalysis Research in the Tonks group is focused on designing new and practical organometallic catalytic transformations for the atom-economical synthesis of complex chemicals from simple feedstocks. We currently have three major research interests: Using early transition metal catalysts for new redox reactions, and understanding how to access early transition metal redox manifolds. Investigating cooperative effects in olefin polymerization toward new reactions such as CO2/ethylene copolymerization. Exploring fundamental inorganic syntheses involving multimetallic and other potentially redox noninnocent regimes. Our work involves a significant amount of organic, organometallic and inorganic synthesis, as well as detailed mechanistic studies. We regularly collaborate with theorists, organic chemists, and polymer chemists, with an eye toward translating our chemistry into practical, useful protocols.

Hue, R. J.; Cibuzar, M. P.; Tonks, I. A. Analysis of polymeryl chain transfer between group 10 metals and main group alkyls during ethylene polymerization. ACS Catalysis 2014, 4, 4223. 10.1021/cs501447d Dunn, P. L.; Reath, A. H.; Clouston, L. J.; Young Jr., V. G.; Tonks, I. A. Homo- and heteroleptic group 4 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyrrolide complexes: Synthesis, coordination chemistry and solution state dynamics. Polyhedron 2014, 84, 111. Special issue in honor of Prof. John Bercaw’s 70th birthday. 10.1016/j.poly.2014.06.047 Tonks, I. A.; Froese, R.; Landis, C. R. Very low pressure Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene with (S,S,S-BisDiazaphos): regioselectivity inversion and mechanistic insights. ACS Catalysis 2013, 3, 2905. 10.1021/cs400943s Shin, J. H.; Churchill, D. G.; Parkin, G.; Roggan, S.; Jankowski, C.; Limberg, C.; Tonks, I. A.; Bercaw, J. E. Bis(η5-Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) Complexes of Molybdenum. Inorganic Syntheses 2014, 36, 12. 10.1002/9781118744994.ch12 Tonks, I. A.; Meier, J. C.; Bercaw, J. E. Titanium complexes supported by pyridine-bis(phenolate) ligands: active catalysts for intermolecular hydroamination or trimerization of alkynes. Organometallics 2013, 32, 3451. 10.1021/om400080g Ahmed, T.; Tonks, I. A.; Bercaw, J. E. Kinetics and mechanism of indene C-H bond activation by [(COD)IrOH]2. Organometallics 2013, 32, 3322. 10.1021/om400230j Tonks, I. A.; Durrell, A. C.; Gray, H. B.; Bercaw, J. E. Groups 5 and 6 terminal hydrazido(2-) complexes: Nβ substituent effects on LMCT energies and oxidation states. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 7301. 10.1021/ja302275j Tonks, I. A.; Tofan, D.; Weintrob, E. C.; Agapie, T.; Bercaw, J. E. Zirconium and titanium propylene polymerization precatalysts supported by a fluxional C2-symmetric bis(anilide)pyridine ligand. Organometallics 2012, 31, 1965. 10.1021/om201262h