Research

Metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization has emerged as an intense area of study due to its transformative impact on chemical synthesis. Catalysts for these transformations typically rely on precious metals such as palladium and iridium. The Chirik group has developed a series of C–H functionalization reactions using Earth-abundant 3d transition metal catalysts, including ortho-and meta-C–H borylation of fluoroarenes using pincer-ligated cobalt(I) complexes, and directed-ortho C–H alkylation by cationic bis(phosphine)cobalt(III) metallacycles. Ongoing efforts are towards iron-catalyzed C–H borylation and expanding the scope of C–C bond forming reactions.

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Selected Publications

Development of Cobalt Catalysts for the meta-Selective C(sp²)–H Borylation of Fluorinated Arenes
Pabst, T. P.; Chirik, P. J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 6465–6474.

Three-Component Coupling of Arenes, Ethylene, and Alkynes Catalyzed by a Cationic Bis(phosphine) Cobalt Complex: Intercepting Metallacyclopentenes for C–H Functionalization
Whitehurst, W. G.; Kim, J.; Koenig, S. G.; Chirik, P. J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 4530–4540.

Mechanistic Origins of Regioselectivity in Cobalt-Catalyzed C(sp²)–H Borylation of Benzoate Esters and Arylboronate Esters
Pabst, T. P.; Quach, L.; MacMillan, K. T.; Chirik, P. J.
Chem 2021, 7, 237–254.

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