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Mahdi Abu-Omar
Professor—Inorganic Chemistry
Email: mabuomar@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-494-5302
Office: BRWN 5170C
For Professor Abu-Omar's individual Home Page click here.
My research group and I are interested in understanding the reaction chemistry of transition element compounds with particular emphasis on their role in molecular and biological catalysis. Our investigations are aimed at building mechanistic understanding that can advance our knowledge of catalysts and improve their design. We determine reaction mechanisms by studying chemical kinetics, characterizing intermediates, and developing structure-function correlations.
One of my laboratory’s hallmarks is that we combine mechanistic/physical studies and synthetic chemistry. We are currently engaged in several projects that span fundamental atom transfer, strategies for chemical hydrogen storage, novel uses of oxorhenium catalysts in reductions, understanding olefin polymerization, folding dynamics in metalloproteins that relate to disease, and activation of small molecules. Our research is funded by external grants from Basic Energy Science, Department of Energy; Chemistry Division, National Science Foundation; and Dow Corning Corporation.
Researchers in my group synthesize new inorganic complexes, characterize them by several spectroscopic methods (NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, X-ray, etc.), and study their reaction chemistry.
To find out the latest about our research, please visit my group’s web site (www.chem.purdue.edu/abu-omar).
Education
B.S., summa cum laude, 1992, Hampden-Sydney College; Ph.D., 1996, Iowa State University of Science and Technology; Postdoctoral Scholar, 1996-1997, California Institute of Technology.Recognitions
- Purdue University Faculty Scholar, 2008-2013
- College of Engineering Team Excellence Award, Purdue University, 2007
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1999-03
- Beckman Young Investigator Award, 1999-02
Selected Publications
- Michael J. Zdilla and Mahdi M. Abu-Omar, A Manganese(III) Corrole-Oxidant Adduct as the Active Intermediate in Catalytic Hydrogen Atom Transfer. Inorg. Chem. 2008 , 47, 10718-10722.
- Guodong Du and Mahdi M. Abu-Omar, Oxo and Imido Complexes of Rhenium and Molybdenum in Catalytic Reductions. Curr. Org. Chem. 2008 , 12, 1185-1198.
- Amanda Q. Lee, Bennett R. Streit, Michael J. Zdilla, Mahdi M. Abu-Omar, and Jennifer L. DuBois, Mechanism of and exquisite selectivity for O-O bond formation in heme-dependent chlorite dismutase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2008 , 105, 15654–15659.