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Fred Anson
Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus

Research by Professor Anson and his group focuses on the kinetics, mechanisms and catalysis of electrode reactions. Particular emphasis is laid on understanding the behavior of reactants adsorbed or otherwise attached to the surface of the electrodes.

Anson's research group has developed several novel methods for attaching transition metal complexes to electrode surfaces. Such complexes have been employed successfully as catalysts for a variety of electrode processes. For example, the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water has been accomplished in acidic solutions at exceptionally positive potentials by means of novel derivatives of cobalt porphyrins bound to the surface of graphite electrodes. Research in this area is being actively pursued.

The reduction of dioxygen by four electrons in non-aqueous solvents is difficult and rare. Some success has been achieved through the use of dimeric, oxo-bridged vanadium complexes. Studies aimed at determining the mechanism of this unusual catalytic reaction are another component of research activity in the group.

Also under way are kinetic and mechanistic studies of robust transition metal-substituted polyoxometalate complexes that exhibit many characteristics of entirely inorganic enzymes as they catalyze multiple-electron reductions and oxidations.