1997 Editorial Boards, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Organometallics, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Current Topics in Ion Chemistry and Physics, Journal of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry. Most Recent Publications Publication List Short Biography Research Interests Dr. Armentrout's research is intended to provide a detailed understanding of the thermochemistry, kinetics, and dynamics of simple and complex chemical reactions. His group seeks to understand from a fundamental viewpoint reactions involved in catalysis, surface chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and plasma chemistry. Measurement of integral cross sections, product branching ratios, and the dependence of these quantities on the translational, internal, and electronic energies of the reactants provide a uniquely detailed look at the chemistry of interest. Spectroscopic experiments augment these studies by providing even more microscopic information.
Techniques involved include mass spectrometry, ion beams, molecular beams, and laser spectroscopy.
We have shown that different electronic states can have very different reactivity and that studies of these effects lend considerable insight into metal chemistry. In order to understand condensed phase organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, systematic studies of the reactivity of ligated metals are underway. By varying the number and types of ligands in these complexes, we can study the periodic trends, the influence of ligand substitution, and the effects of metal oxidation state on the chosen reaction. Such studies hold promise of providing quantitative thermodynamic information and qualitative electronic data on reactive and transient unsaturated organometallic complexes, the key intermediates in homogeneous catalysis. Thermochemistry of metal ions interacting with biological molecules We are now in a position to study the interactions of metals ions with molecules of biological relevance.