Prof. Polly L. Arnold, of the University of Edinburgh, is working on C-H activation chemistry as a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at TUM-IAS with the group of Prof. Fritz E. Kühn.
Polly Arnold’s research is focused on exploratory synthetic chemistry that challenges preconceived ideas of structure, reactivity, and bonding in electropositive metal complexes. Her group is recognized particularly for f-block chemistry and innovative catalytic transformations and in the activation of small, unreactive molecules such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen, silanes and hydrocarbons.

Fritz Kühn’s research deals with molecular catalysts, both in homogeneous phase and immobilized. The catalysts are usually organometallic complexes, based on transition metals. The main research interest is focussed on finding novel, highly efficient, selective energy conserving catalysts that are, in principle, applicable for industrial demands.

This focus group combines the Edinburgh and Munich research groups' expertise in synthesis and catalysis in order to develop new selective hydrocarbon functionalisation chemistry, i.e. tools for the conversion of the most unreactive carbon-hydrogen bonds in biomass and fossil fuels into useful, value-added, functional groups. In particular, the group is working with strongly Lewis acidic and high valent metal complexes to generate new catalysts and processes, and also an understanding of the fundamental chemistry involved in selective carbon-hydrogen bond activation processes.

The program aims to generate new fundamental understanding, highly skilled researchers, and atom-efficient, low-energy routes to high-value chemicals of use to both industry and society.