Connecting Metal Ion Biophysics with Inorganic Catalysis – A Journey Toward Protein Hybrid Catalysts

Abstract: Transition metals play indispensable roles in both biological systems and synthetic chemistry, serving as essential cofactors in enzymes and as powerful catalysts for chemical transformation. Over the past decade, research in the Emerson laboratory has focused on understanding and harnessing the unique reactivity of transition metals at the interface of bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis. This seminar will highlight studies examining the fundamental principles governing metal ion recognition, binding, and reactivity in biological systems, including investigations of metalloproteins, metal homeostasis, and the thermodynamic and structural factors that influence metal-dependent function. These efforts have provided new insights into how metal ions contribute toward protein stability, biological activity, and non-native reactivity.

Complementing these bioinorganic investigations, our group has developed a diverse portfolio of transition metal catalysts with an emphasis on copper-based systems. Through the design and synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene and related ligand frameworks, we have explored structure-function relationships that control redox properties, catalytic efficiency, and substrate scope in a variety of transformations, including C—C and C—N bond formation, Chan-Evans-Lam coupling, ketone reduction, among others. Current efforts are aimed at developing new chiral and protein-linked ligands for sustainable asymmetric processes.