Grant Award Summary

Dr. Vlad M. Iluc of the University of Notre Dame received a $600,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), effective August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029. The primary deliverable is the synthesis and characterization of iron-based carbene complexes supported by diphosphine pincer ligands, with the objective of developing iron-based olefin metathesis catalysts. This research addresses a critical industrial need by replacing toxic ruthenium catalysts with earth-abundant and more benign iron alternatives, thereby reducing toxicity, cost, and environmental impact in advanced manufacturing applications across pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer product sectors. The project will employ computational studies to corroborate experimental findings on the electronic structure and reactivity of both tethered and untethered carbene-iron complexes, ultimately providing multiple synthetic pathways toward viable iron-based catalyst formulations.

In addition to core research activities, the award supports a workforce development component through which research team members will mentor teenagers in chemistry at Bashor Children's Home, a nonprofit child welfare agency, to encourage participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. No subawards are planned for this project, with all work conducted directly at Notre Dame's facility in Notre Dame, Indiana.