Gregory H. Robinson

Gregory H. Robinson is an American chemist whose research interests reside in synthetic inorganic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on the main group (earth abundant) elements. His research concerns unusual bonding motifs and low oxidation state chemistry of molecules containing main group elements such as boron, gallium, germanium, phosphorus, magnesium, and silicon. Robinson is currently a Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of Georgia.[1] Robinson has published over 150 research articles.

Gregory H. Robinson
Born
Anniston, Alabama.
Alma materB.S. in Chemistry at Jacksonville State University (1980) Ph.D. in Chemistry at The University of Alabama (1984)
AwardsSigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer (2004-2005)

Lamar Dobb Award (2010)

F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry (2013)

Humboldt Research Award (2012)

SEC Faculty Achievement Award (2014)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017)
Scientific career
InstitutionsClemson University (1984-1995) The University of Georgia (1995-now)

Education

Robinson received his B.S. from Jacksonville State University (1980) and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (1984).[1][2]

Discoveries

Robinson has made a number of seminal discoveries in the field of synthetic inorganic chemistry. Many of these discoveries have concerned unusual molecules involving the main group elements.

Aromatic molecules constitute a particularly important class of organic compounds. In general, aromatic molecules contain planar carbon-based cyclic ring systems. In addition, aromatic molecules also possess enhanced stability due to electron delocalization. The iconic aromatic molecule is benzene, C6H6. Inherent in the traditional concept of aromaticity, is the fact that metals were considered incapable of displaying traditional aromatic behavior. Robinson discovered that the main group metal gallium, if properly constrained, could exhibit aromatic behavior.[3] Robinson's group prepared a compound that contained a three-membered ring of gallium atoms in a dianion, [R3Ga3]2- (R = large organic ligand). This [R3Ga3]2- dianion was found to be isoelectron with the aromatic triphenylcyclopropenium cation, [Ph3C3]+. Thus, the concept of “metalloaromaticity”, the proposition that a metallic ring system could display traditional aromatic behavior historically restricted to carbon ring systems (i.e., benzene), was experimentally realized.[4]

The chemistry of boron, the fifth element on the Periodic Table, is as rich as it is varied. However, boron had not been shown to engage in robust multiple bonding like its periodic neighbor carbon. Robinson utilized a class of organic bases known as carbenes (L:) to prepare the first neutral compound containing a boron-boron double bond, the first diborene, with the synthesis and molecular structure of L:(H)B=B(H):L.[5][6] The chemistry of molecules containing boron-boron multiple bonds is now a thriving area of research.

Robinson utilized a similar technique to prepare a highly unusual compounds containing a silicon-silicon double bond, with both silicon atoms residing in the formal oxidation state of zero, L:Si=Si:L. Essentially, this compound represented a means to stabilize the highly reactive diatomic allotropes of silicon at room temperature. Since this discovery, several other molecules have subsequently been prepared including diphosphorus.[7][8][9]

Publications

Robinson has published over 150 research articles, including:

  • Wang, Y.; Quillian, B.; Wei, P.; Wannere, C. S.; Xie, Y.; King, R. B.; Schaefer, H. F. III; Schleyer, P. V. R.; and Robinson, G. H., “A Stable Neutral Diborene Containing a B=B Double Bond”, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2007, 129, 12412–12413.[5]
  • Wang, Y.; Xie, Y.; Wei, P.; King, R. B.; Schaefer, H. F. III; Schleyer, P. V. R.; and Robinson, G. H., “Carbene-Stabilized Diphosphorus”, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2008, 130, 14970–14971.[8]
  • Wang, Y.; Xie, Y.; Wei, P.; King, R. B.; Schaefer, H. F. III; Schleyer, P. V. R.; and Robinson, G. H., “A Stable Silicon (0) Compound with a Si=Si Double Bond”, Science 2008, 321, 1069-1071.[10]
  • Wang, Y.; Chen, M.; Xie, Y.; Wei, P.; Schaefer, H. F. III; Schleyer, P. V. R.; and Robinson, G. H. "Stabilization of Elusive Silicon Oxides", Nature Chemistry 2015, 7, 509–513.[11]
  • Wang, Y.; Hickox, H. P.; Xie, Y.; Wei, P.; Blair, S. A.; Johnson, M. K.; Schaefer, H. F. III; and Robinson, G. H. “A Stable Anionic Dithiolene Radical”, Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2017, 139, 6859-6862.[12]
  • Wang, Y.; Xie, Y.; Wei, P.; Schaefer, H. F. III; and Robinson, G. H. “Redox Chemistry of an Anionic Dithiolene Radical”, Dalton Transactions 2019, 48, 3543-3546.[13]

Awards
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References
  1. "Gregory H. Robinson | Department of Chemistry". www.chem.uga.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  2. "JSU | Alumni Relations | Greg Robinson". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  3. Li, Xiao-Wang; Pennington, William T.; Robinson, Gregory H. (1995-07-01). "Metallic System with Aromatic Character. Synthesis and Molecular Structure of Na2[[(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)2C6H3]Ga]3 The First Cyclogallane". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 117 (28): 7578–7579. doi:10.1021/ja00133a045. ISSN 0002-7863.
  4. Wang, Yuzhong; Robinson, Gregory H. (2007-01-01). "Organometallics of the Group 13 M−M Bond (M = Al, Ga, In) and the Concept of Metalloaromaticity". Organometallics. 26 (1): 2–11. doi:10.1021/om060737i. ISSN 0276-7333.
  5. Wang, Yuzhong; Quillian, Brandon; Wei, Pingrong; Wannere, Chaitanya S.; Xie, Yaoming; King, R. Bruce; Schaefer, Henry F.; Schleyer, Paul v. R.; Robinson, Gregory H. (2007-10-01). "A Stable Neutral Diborene Containing a BB Double Bond". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 129 (41): 12412–12413. doi:10.1021/ja075932i. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 17887683.
  6. Wang, Yuzhong; Quillian, Brandon; Wei, Pingrong; Xie, Yaoming; Wannere, Chaitanya S.; King, R. Bruce; Schaefer, Henry F.; Schleyer, Paul v. R.; Robinson, Gregory H. (2008-03-01). "Planar, Twisted, and Trans-Bent: Conformational Flexibility of Neutral Diborenes". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 130 (11): 3298–3299. doi:10.1021/ja800257j. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 18288847.
  7. Wang, Yuzhong; Xie, Yaoming; Wei, Pingrong; King, R. Bruce; Schaefer, Henry F.; Schleyer, Paul von R.; Robinson, Gregory H. (2008-08-22). "A Stable Silicon(0) Compound with a Si=Si Double Bond". Science. 321 (5892): 1069–1071. Bibcode:2008Sci...321.1069W. doi:10.1126/science.1160768. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 18719279.
  8. Wang, Yuzhong; Xie, Yaoming; Wei, Pingrong; King, R. Bruce; Schaefer, Henry F.; Schleyer, Paul v. R.; Robinson, Gregory H. (2008-11-12). "Carbene-Stabilized Diphosphorus". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 130 (45): 14970–14971. doi:10.1021/ja807828t. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 18937460.
  9. Wang, Yuzhong; Robinson, Gregory H. (2011-12-06). "Carbene-stabilized main group diatomic allotropes". Dalton Transactions. 41 (2): 337–345. doi:10.1039/C1DT11165E. ISSN 1477-9234. PMID 21904737.
  10. Wang, Yuzhong; Xie, Yaoming; Wei, Pingrong; King, R. Bruce; Schaefer, Henry F.; von R Schleyer, Paul; Robinson, Gregory H. (2008-08-22). "A stable silicon(0) compound with a Si=Si double bond". Science. 321 (5892): 1069–1071. Bibcode:2008Sci...321.1069W. doi:10.1126/science.1160768. ISSN 1095-9203. PMID 18719279.
  11. Wang, Yuzhong; Chen, Mingwei; Xie, Yaoming; Wei, Pingrong; Schaefer, Henry F.; Schleyer, Paul von R.; Robinson, Gregory H. (June 2015). "Stabilization of elusive silicon oxides". Nature Chemistry. 7 (6): 509–513. Bibcode:2015NatCh...7..509W. doi:10.1038/nchem.2234. ISSN 1755-4349. PMID 25991530.
  12. "Europe PMC". europepmc.org. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  13. Wang, Yuzhong; Xie, Yaoming; Wei, Pingrong; Schaefer, Henry F.; Robinson, Gregory H. (2019-03-12). "Redox chemistry of an anionic dithiolene radical". Dalton Transactions. 48 (11): 3543–3546. doi:10.1039/C8DT04989K. ISSN 1477-9234. PMID 30747182.
  14. "2004-2005". www.sigmaxi.org. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  15. "Gregory H. Robinson". Research Awards. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  16. Fahmy, Sam (2012-05-23). "UGA's Gregory H. Robinson honored with Humboldt Research Award". UGA Today. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  17. "University of Georgia Chemist Wins Humboldt Research Award". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  18. Fahmy, Sam (2012-08-28). "UGA's Gregory H. Robinson receives F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry". UGA Today. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  19. "F. Albert Cotton Award In Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry | Chemical & Engineering News". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  20. Fahmy, Sam (2014-04-09). "Noted UGA chemist Gregory H. Robinson receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award". UGA Today. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  21. "SEC Faculty Achievement Awards | SECU". www.thesecu.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  22. Flurry, Alan (2017-03-21). "UGA's Robinson named Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry". UGA Today. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  23. Says, Elainesdream (2017-03-31). "Gregory Robinson Named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
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