UNO Home Page

University Research Professor, Dr. Steven P. Nolan
Research Interests

Organometallic Chemistry and Homogenous Calaysis
Phone: (504) 280-6445
Office: CSB 342
Our research interests focus primarily on the chemical (stoichiometric and catalytic) and physico-chemical characteristics of organometallic complexes. We are involved in the experimental determination of metal-ligand bond enthalpy terms for organometallic complexes, an area that remains largely unexplored. Thermochemical measurements are performed in our laboratories in order to obtain valuable data enabling us to predict the thermochemical feasibility of chemical reactions and metal-mediated catalytic transformations. These experimentally determined thermodynamic data have guided our synthetic catalyst formulation efforts in very exciting directions. We have recently initiated studies focusing on the use of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ligands in a variety of catalytic transformations. We are interested in transition metal-mediated transformations that include C-C and C-N coupling reactions and ruthenium- centered olefin metathesis.

Selected Publications

“Straightforward Synthesis of Labeled and Unlabeled Pyrimidine d4N’s via 2’,3’-Diynes-seco-Analogues through Olefin Metathesis Reactions.” Gillaizeau, I.; Lagoja, I.M.; Nolan, S.P.; Aucagne, V.; Rozenski, J.; Herdewijn, P; Agrofoglio, L.A. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 666-671. 

“The Use of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Transesterification Reactions.” Grasa, G. A.; Güveli, T.; Singh, R.; Nolan, S. P. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 2812-2819.

“Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)Palladacycle Complexes.” Viciu, M.S.; Kelly, R.A. III; Stevens, E.D.; Naud, F.; Studer, M.; Nolan, S.P. Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 1479-1482.

“Binding of Specialty Phosphines to Metals: Synthesis, Structure and Solution Calorimetry of the Phosphirane Complex [PtMe2(iPrBABAR-Phos)2]. “ Laporte, C.; Frison, G.; Grützmacher, H.; Sommer, W. J.; Hillier, A.C.; Nolan, S.P. Organometallics  2003, 22, 2202-2208.

“Synthesis of a Hyaluronan Neoglycopolymer by Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization.” Iyer, S.; Rele, S.; Grasa, G.A.; Nolan, S.P.; Chaikof, E.L. Chem. Comm. 2003, 1518-1519.

     “Telomerization of Butadiene and Amines Mediated by Cationic N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Palladium Complexes” Viciu, M.S.; Kauer Zinn, F.; Stevens, E.D.; Nolan, S.P. Organometallics   2003, 22, 3175-3177.

     “Recent Developments in the Use of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes.” Kissling, R.M.; Viciu, M.S.; Grasa, G.A.; Germaneau, R.F.; Güveli, T.; Pasareanu, M.-C.; Navarro-Fernandez, O.; Nolan, S.P. ACS Symposium-in-Print  2003, 856, 323-341.

     “Stable, Three-Coordinate Ni(CO)2(NHC) (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes Enabling the Determination of Ni-NHC Bond Energies.” Dorta, R.; Stevens, E.D.; Hoff, C. D.; Nolan, S.P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 10490-10491.

      “A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study Examining the Binding of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHC) to the Cp*RuCl (Cp* = h5-C5Me5) Moiety: Insight into Stereoelectronic Differences Between Unsaturated and Saturated NHC Ligands.”  Hillier, A. C.; Sommer, W. J.; Yong, B.S.; Petersen, J. L.; Cavallo, L.; Nolan, S. P. Organometallics 2003, 22, 4322-4326.

       “Use of (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC=N-Heterocyclic Carbene) in the Synthesis of two Cryptocarya Alkaloids.” Cämmerer, S.; Viciu, M.S.; Stevens, E.D.; Nolan, S.P.  Synlett. 2003, 1871-1873.

“Synthesis of Unprotected and Borane-Protected Cyclic Phosphines Using Ru- and Mo-based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts.” Slinn, C.A.; Redgrave, A.J.; Hind, L.S.; Nolan, S.P.; Gouverneur, V. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2003, 1, 3820-3825.

       “Synthesis of Biaryl, Arylamine and Arylketone Compounds using a Commercially Available Air- and Moisture-Stable Palladium Catalyst.” Marion, N.; Navarro, O.; Kelly, R.A. III; Nolan, S.P. Synthesis, 2003, 2590-2592.

       “Catalytic Activity of Pd(II) and Pd(II)/DAB-R Systems for the Heck Arylation of Olefins.” Grasa, G.A.; Singh, R.; Stevens, E.D.; Nolan, S.P. J. Organomet. Chem.  2003, 687, 269-279.

       “A General Method for the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Sterically Hindered Aryl Chlorides: Synthesis of Di- and Tri-ortho-substituted Biaryls in Isopropanol at Room Temperature.” Navarro, O.; Kelly, R. A., III ; Nolan S. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 16194-16195.

      “Transesterification/Acylation of Secondary Alcohols Mediated by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts.” Singh, R.; Kissling, R.M.; Letellier, M.-A.; Nolan, S.P. J. Org. Chem.  2004, 69, 209-212.

       “Catalytic Copper-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Mediated Reduction of Ketone to Silyl Ether Derivatives.” Kaur, H.; Kauer, F.; Stevens, E.D.; Nolan, S.P. Organometallics 2004, 23, 1157-1160.

      “Synthetic and Structural Studies of (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl Complexes (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene).” Viciu, M.S.; Navarro, O.; Germaneau, R.F.; Kelly, R.A., III, Sommer, W.; Marion, N.; Stevens, E.D.;  Cavallo, L.;  Nolan, S.P. Organometallics 2004,23,1629-1636.

      “Structure and Reactivity of “Unusual” N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Palladium Complexes Synthesized from Imidazolium Salts.”  Lebel, H.; Janes, M.K.; Charette, A.; Nolan, S.P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5046-5047.

      “Double C-H Activation in a Rh-NHC Complex Leading to the Isolation of a 14-Electron Rh(III) Complex.”  Dorta, R.; Stevens, E.D.; Nolan, S.P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5054-5055.

“Transesterification/Acylation Reactions Catalyzed by Molecular Catalysts.” Grasa, G.A.; Singh, R.; Nolan, S.P. Synthesis, 2004, 971-985.

       “Cross-Coupling and Dehalogenation Reactions Catalyzed by (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes.” Navarro,O.; Kaur,H.; Mahjoor, P.; Nolan, S.P. J. Org. Chem. 2004,69,  3173-3180.

“N-Heterocyclic Carbene Palladium Complexes Bearing Carboxylate Ligands and their Catalytic Activity in the Hydroarylation of Alkynes.”  Viciu , M.S.;  Stevens,  E. D.;  Petersen, J.L. ; Nolan, S.P. Organometallics 2004,23, 3752-3755.

       “New Strategy for the Construction of Monotetrahydrofuran Ring in Annonaceous Acetogenin based on Ring Closing Metathesis: Application to the Synthesis of Solamin.”  Prestat, G.; Baylon, C.; Heck, M.-P.; Grasa, G. A.; Nolan, S. P.; Mioskowski, C. J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 5770-5773.

       “A Cross-Metathesis Route Linking Two Important Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts.”  Dorta, R.; Kelly, R. A. III; Nolan, S. P. Adv. Synth. Cat. 2004, 346, 917-920.

       “An Industrially Viable Catalyst System for Palladium-Catalyzed Telomerizations of 1,3-Butadiene with Alcohols.”  Jackstell, R.; Harkal, S.; Jiao, H.; Spannenberg,  A.;   Borgmann, C.;  Röttger, D.;  Nierlich, F.;   Elliot, M.; Niven, S.; Cavell, K.G.; Navarro, O.;  Viciu, M. S.;  Nolan, S. P. ; Beller, M. Chemistry: A European Journal 2004, 10, 3891-3900.

“Complete Control of the Chemoselectivity in Catalytic Carbene Transfer Reactions from Ethyl Diazoacetate: a (NHC)Cu System that Suppresses Diazo Coupling (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene).” Fructos, M.R.; ; Belderrain, T.R.; Nicasio, M.C.; Nolan, S.P.; Kaur, H.; Díaz-Requejo, M.M.; Pérez, P.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 10846-10847.  [Highlighted in Science Sept 3, 2004]

Top