Professor Doug Stephan
The pandemic has taught us that when people socially distance, they can still interact with each other, but in ways that are not the same as when they can get together. This same principle is true for molecules.
Fifteen years ago, Professor Stephan's research revealed that, by limiting the approach of molecules that normally interact strongly, it is possible to access previously unknown regimes of chemical reactivity. Such combinations of molecules were given the moniker 'frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs)'. This concept dislodged the long-held chemical dogma that industrial processes hinge on the chemistry of metals and unveiled metal-free catalyst technologies. This opens the door to the 'greening' of chemical and material production processes and has influenced research groups around the world. Professor Stephan's research continues to explore the range of systems that behave as FLPs, targeting new ways to reduce energy consumption, remediate greenhouse gases and convert CO