Dr. Hao Chen
In August 2016, Merck Research Laboratories gave a Technology Collaboration Award to Dr. Qiuling Zheng, Meihong Hu and Dr. Hao Chen at Ohio University for their collaboration in developing desorption electrospray mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) analytical methodology to study the key stoichiometric and catalytic intermediates in support of mechanistic understanding of organometallic reactions.
Chemical catalysis based on organometallic compounds play an important role in synthetic processes. DESI-MS technique allows direct analysis of native organometallic reaction streams and it has major advantages over ReactIR, traditionally used which cannot provide mass information, or ESI-MS, which has major limitation in analyzing transient and oxidizable organometallic intermediates, says Chen, Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
The knowledge gained by using DESI-MS for organometallic reaction could provide valuable information to enhance reaction yields and screen optimal catalysts. In 2015, Merck funded a grant of $80,000 to Chen’s group for the collaboration.
Comments