Mechanistic studies of single electron transfer and proton-coupled electron transfer, rare earth chemistry, organometallic reaction mechanisms, calorimetry, applications of back-scattering interferometry for the study molecular recognition in nonaqueous media.
Robert Flowers
Professor
Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Dean
610.758.4048
rof2@lehigh.edu
Seeley G. Mudd, Room 796
Education:
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Lehigh University, 1991
B.S. in Chemistry, East Stroudsburg University, 1986
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Research Areas
Additional Interests
- Rare earth chemistry
- Mechanistic studies of single electron transfer and proton-coupled electron transfer
- Organometallic reaction mechanisms
- Calorimetry
- Applications of back-scattering interferometry for the study molecular recognition in nonaqueous media
Research Statement
Biography
Bob Flowers was born in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1964. He received his B.S. in chemistry from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1986. After taking time off from school, he was admitted to Lehigh University in 1987 and received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1991 working with John Larsen on single electron transfer reactions in coal. After graduating from Lehigh, he moved to Duke University as a postdoctoral research associate with Professor Ned Arnett where he worked on several projects including: 1) calorimetric and electrochemical studies of the heterolysis and homolysis energies of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds and their associated radical ions, and, 2) thermochemical studies of the oxygenation of vitamin K. In 1994, Bob moved to his first independent position as an assistant Professor at the University of Toledo. He received tenure and was promoted to associate Professor in 2000. In 2001, he moved to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Texas Tech University and was promoted to Professor in 2003. In early 2004, he moved to the Department of Chemistry at Lehigh University as Department chair. In 2008, he was appointed the Danser Distinguished Faculty Chair in Chemistry.
Bob’s research group is interested in the mechanistic analysis and development of electron transfer reagents in organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, calorimetric analysis of protein-ligand interactions, ion transport and molecular recognition, and applications of back-scattering interferometry in molecular recognition. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, a book, and five book chapters. He has given over 70 invited US and international lectures at Universities and professional meetings.
In his free time, Bob enjoys hiking, working out, playing guitar and banjo, and most importantly, spending time with his wife and 2 sons.
Selected Recent Publications
“The Mechanism of Silver-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Fluorination” Patel, N.R.; Flowers, R.A., II J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 5834-5841.
“Proton Coupled Electron Transfer in Reductions of Arenes by SmI2-Water Complexes” Chiuck, T.V.; Flowers, R.A., II J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 11526-11531.
"Tuning the Redox Properties of the Titanocene(III)/(IV)-Couple for Catalysis in Single Electron Steps" Gansauer, A.; Hildebrandt, S.; Vogelsang, E.; Flowers, R.A., II Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 448-452. Invited Frontier article.
"The Role of Solvents and Additives in Reactions of Samarium Diiodide and Related Reductants" Chciuk, T.V.; Flowers, R.A., II in Science of Synthesis, Marek, I., Ed.; Georg Thieme Verlag KG: Stuttgart. Book Chapter.
"The Origin and Prediction of Free-Solution Interaction Studies Performed Label-Free" Bornhop, D.J.; Kammer, M.N.; Kussrow, A.; Flowers, R.A., II; Meiler, J. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 2016, 113, E1595-E1604.
"Highly Active Titanocene Catalysts for Epoxide Hydrosilylation - Synthesis, Theory, Kinetics, EPR" Henriques, D.S.G.; Klare, S.; Zimmer, K.; Meyer, A.; Rojo-Wiechel, E.; Bauer, M.; Sure, R.; Grimme, S.; Schiemann, O.; Flowers, R.A., II; Gansauer, A. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016 55, 7671-7675.
"High Affinity Proton Donors Promote Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer Samarium Diiodide" Chiuck, T.V.; Anderson, W.R.; Flowers, R.A., II Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 6033-6036.
“Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer in the Reduction of Carbonyls by SmI2-Water Complexes” Chiuck, T.V.; Anderson, W.R.; Flowers, R.A., II J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 8738-8741.
"Secondary Amides as Hydrogen Atom Transfer Promoters for Reactions of Samarium Diiodide" Chiuck, T.V.; Li, A. M.; Vazquez-Lopez, A.; Anderson, W.R.; Flowers, R.A., II Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 290-293.
"Catalytic Carbonyl Hydrosilylations via a Titanocene Borohydride-PMHS Reagent System" Fianu, G. D.; Schipper, K. C.; Flowers, R. A. II Catal. Sci. Technol. 2017, 7, 3469-3473. Journal Cover Feature and Designated a Hot Paper by the journal editors.
"The Reversibility of Ketone Reduction by SmI2-Water" Chiuck, T.V.; Anderson, W.R.; Flowers, R.A., II Organometallics 2017, 36, 4579-4583.
"Aza vs. Oxophilicity of SmI2: A Break of a Paradigm" Maity, S.; Flowers, R. A. II; Hoz, S. Chem. Eur. J. 2017, 23, 17070-17077.
"Kinetic Solvent Effects in the Reduction of Alkyl Halides by {Sm[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2}" Chciuk, T. V.; Maity, S.; Flowers, R. A. II J. Organomet. Chem. 2018, 857, 52-57.
“Cp2TiX Complexes for Sustainable Catalysis in Single Electron Steps” Richrath, R. B.; Olyschlager, T.; Hildebrandt, S.; Enny, D. G.; Fianu, G. D.; Flowers, R. A. II; Gansauer, A. Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 6371-6379. Journal Cover Feature and Designated a Hot Paper by the journal editors
“The Interplay between Substrate and Proton Donor Coordination in Reductions of Unactivated Carbonyls by SmI2-Water Through Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer” Chciuck, T.V.; Anderson, W.R.; Flowers, R.A., II J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 15342-15352.
“On the Aqueous Solvation of SmBr2 and the Mechanistic Impact of Substrate Reduction” Ramírez-Solís, A.; Bartulovich, C.O.; Chciuk, T.V.; Hernández-Cobos, J.; Saint-Martin, H.; Maron, L.; Anderson, W.R.; Li, A.M.; Flowers, R.A., II J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 16731-16739.