Publications
Select Publications
Griffin, S. E.; Domecus, G. P.; Flores, C.; Sikma, R. E.; Benz, L.; Cohen, S. M. A Coordination Polymer of Vaska’s Complex as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Reductive Formation of Enamines from Amides. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202301611.
Griffin, S. E.; Adamczyk, O. V.; Schafer, L. L. Vanadium Pyridonates: Dimerization, Redox Behaviour, and Metal-Ligand Cooperativity. Dalton Trans. 2022, 51, 14654–14663.
Nuñez Bahena, E.‡; Griffin, S. E.‡; Schafer, L. L. Zirconium-Catalyzed Hydroaminoalkylation of Alkynes for the Synthesis of Allylic Amines. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 20566−20571. ‡E.N.B. and S.E.G. contributed equally.
Griffin, S. E.; Schafer, L. L. Vanadium Pyridonate Catalysts: Isolation of Intermediates in the Reductive Coupling of Alcohols. Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 5256–5260. ACS Editors’ Choice
Griffin, S. E.; Pacheco, J.; Schafer, L. L. Reversible C−N Bond Formation in the Zirconium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydroamination of 2‑Vinylpyridine. Organometallics 2019, 38, 1011−1016.
Education
Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, The University of British Columbia (UBC)
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry, The University of British Columbia – Okanagan (UBCO)
Teaching
CHEM 2311 – Inorganic Chem I: Coordination Chemistry
CHEM 4331 – Inorganic Chem: Organometallics
BIOC/CHEM 4903 – Current Advances in Biochemistry/Chemistry
Research
Organometallic, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
The products of homogeneous metal catalysis are ubiquitous in modern society, including pharmaceuticals, plastics, detergents, and more. While the structure and mechanism of homogeneous catalysts are generally well-understood, allowing a high degree of control, heterogeneous catalysts are used more often in industry due to their superior recyclability and stability. In addition, many homogeneous catalysts used in industry rely on rare and/or expensive metals.
Our research aims to improve sustainability in industry by exploring the following questions:
1) Can earth-abundant metals be used in place of precious metals?
2) Can non-invasive stimuli or changes in local chemical environment improve catalyst control and efficiency?
3) Can existing homogeneous catalysts be translated to heterogeneous systems to improve recyclability?