Metal centers in catalysts

Paramagnetic metal centres or reaction intermediates are involved in many catalytic cycles. Pulsed EPR measurements such as electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and two-dimensional hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) experiments can be used not only for quantifying the distribution of the unpaired electron in the catalysts, but also for guiding synthesis efforts.
In collaboration with the Copéret group (ETH Zurich) we study surface-bound Ti(III) or Cr(III) species that are related to Ziegler-Natta or Phillips polymerization catalysts.