James P. Collman
Encyclopedia
James P. Collman is an American Professor of Chemistry. He is currently serving at Stanford University
in California.
Collman is considered a pioneer in bioinorganic and biomimetic chemistry. He developed a clearer understanding of the mechanisms of biological proteins, by studying synthetic analogs of biological systems which contain metal and metalloid atoms. His work on hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase allowed subsequent researchers to understand how the protein-metal interactions allow these molecules to function.
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1958 under Reynold C. Fuson
.
Upon receiving his Ph. D., Collman joined the faculty of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, remaining there until 1967, when he moved to Stanford University. He currently holds the George & Hilda M. Daubert Endowed Chair in Chemistry at Stanford.
Collman has contributed to several aspects of transition metal chemistry. He has authored 3 books and over 366 scientific papers
.
In the 1960s his group demonstrated that certain metal acetylacetonates undergo Friedel-Crafts-like reactions, indicating that these chelate rings have aromatic character. Through reviews as well as original research, his group popularized the oxidative addition
reaction, leading to the discovery of new low-valent complexes including Ru(CO)3(PPh3)2 and IrCl(N2)(PPh3)2. Collman's reagent, Na2Fe(CO)4, prepared in his laboratories, enables certain C-C coupling reactions in organic synthesis
. He popularized the use of tetraphenylporphyrin as a biomimetic
ligand
for exploring the structure and function of myoglobin
, cytochrome P450, and cytochrome oxidase.
Collman has advised many academic researchers, many of whom have gone on to notable careers, such as Karl Barry Sharpless and Robert H. Grubbs
who both did postdoctoral work at Stanford with Collman and later received the Nobel Prize
in Chemistry.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in California.
Collman is considered a pioneer in bioinorganic and biomimetic chemistry. He developed a clearer understanding of the mechanisms of biological proteins, by studying synthetic analogs of biological systems which contain metal and metalloid atoms. His work on hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase allowed subsequent researchers to understand how the protein-metal interactions allow these molecules to function.
Career
Collman received B.S. (1954) and M.S. degrees (1956) in ChemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1958 under Reynold C. Fuson
Reynold C. Fuson
Reynold Clayton Fuson was an American chemist.Born in Wakefield, Illinois, Fuson attended Central Normal College in Danville, Indiana, where after one year in 1914 he was certified as a teacher. He received a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Montana, a Master's degree from...
.
Upon receiving his Ph. D., Collman joined the faculty of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, remaining there until 1967, when he moved to Stanford University. He currently holds the George & Hilda M. Daubert Endowed Chair in Chemistry at Stanford.
Collman has contributed to several aspects of transition metal chemistry. He has authored 3 books and over 366 scientific papers
Academic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
.
In the 1960s his group demonstrated that certain metal acetylacetonates undergo Friedel-Crafts-like reactions, indicating that these chelate rings have aromatic character. Through reviews as well as original research, his group popularized the oxidative addition
Oxidative addition
Oxidative addition and reductive elimination are two important and related classes of reactions in organometallic chemistry. Oxidative addition is a process that increases both the oxidation state and coordination number of a metal centre...
reaction, leading to the discovery of new low-valent complexes including Ru(CO)3(PPh3)2 and IrCl(N2)(PPh3)2. Collman's reagent, Na2Fe(CO)4, prepared in his laboratories, enables certain C-C coupling reactions in organic synthesis
Organic synthesis
Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the construction of organic compounds via organic reactions. Organic molecules can often contain a higher level of complexity compared to purely inorganic compounds, so the synthesis of organic compounds has...
. He popularized the use of tetraphenylporphyrin as a biomimetic
Biomimicry
Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems. The term biomimicry and biomimetics come from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate...
ligand
Ligand (biochemistry)
In biochemistry and pharmacology, a ligand is a substance that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose. In a narrower sense, it is a signal triggering molecule, binding to a site on a target protein.The binding occurs by intermolecular forces, such as ionic bonds, hydrogen...
for exploring the structure and function of myoglobin
Myoglobin
Myoglobin is an iron- and oxygen-binding protein found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates in general and in almost all mammals. It is related to hemoglobin, which is the iron- and oxygen-binding protein in blood, specifically in the red blood cells. The only time myoglobin is found in the...
, cytochrome P450, and cytochrome oxidase.
Awards and honors
- (with Louis S. Hegedus, Richard G. Finke and Jack R. Norton) - author of Principles and Applications of Organotransition Metal Chemistry, an influential textbook
- Elected to the United States National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
- Received the American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
's award in Inorganic Chemistry. - 2009 - winner of American Chemical Society's Ronald L. Breslow Award for Biomimetic ChemistryRonald BreslowRonald C. D. Breslow is an American chemist from Rahway, New Jersey. He is currently University Professor at Columbia University, where he is based in the Department of Chemistry and affiliated with the Departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmacology; he has also been on the faculty of its...
Collman has advised many academic researchers, many of whom have gone on to notable careers, such as Karl Barry Sharpless and Robert H. Grubbs
Robert H. Grubbs
Robert Howard Grubbs is an American chemist and Nobel laureate.As he noted in his official Nobel Prize autobiography, "In some places, my birthplace is listed as Calvert City and in others Possum Trot [NB: both in Marshall County]...
who both did postdoctoral work at Stanford with Collman and later received the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in Chemistry.