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Home  /  Faculty  /  Theodor Agapie

Theodor Agapie

Research Summary
Synthesis, Catalysis, Bioinorganic, Materials
Profile

Assistant: Margarita Davis

Research in the Agapie laboratory is targeted toward developing new, practical catalysts by using inspiration from biological systems. Some of the most fascinating catalysts in Nature display complex inorganic cofactors, sometimes in combination with organic cofactors, and perform chemical transformations (water reduction and oxidation, carbon dioxide reduction, dinitrogen reduction, dioxygen reduction) that are arguably prerequisites for the advance of society in the current context of limiting energy resources and environmental concerns. The group's approach to these chemical transformations is centered on the synthesis and study of metal complexes relevant to catalysis. Given the scale of the potential applications, we focus on studies of inexpensive and abundant first-row transition metals. To these ends we have developed new methodologies for the synthesis of complex inorganic targets and have performed mechanistic studies to understand the properties and reactivity of these compounds. Our research focuses on three general topics:

  1. aspects of metal oxide clusters relevant to water oxidation and dioxygen reduction;
  2. transition metal complexes supported by hemi-labile, redox and acid-base non-innocent ligands for small molecule conversion;
  3. multimetallic catalysts for olefin polymerization.

Publications

For a complete publications list, see feeds.library.caltech.edu
2025-26
Ch 112. Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2025-26. Prerequisites: Ch 102 or instructor's permission. Introduction to group theory, ligand field theory, and bonding in coordination complexes and organotransition metal compounds. Systematics of bonding, reactivity, and spectroscopy of commonly encountered classes of transition metal compounds.
Instructor: Agapie
Ch 5 ab. Advanced Techniques of Synthesis and Analysis. 12 units (1-9-2); first term, 2025-26. Prerequisites: Ch 4 ab. Ch 102 strongly recommended for Ch 5 b. Modern synthetic chemistry. Specific experiments may change from year to year. Ch 5 a focuses on experiments illustrating the multistep syntheses of natural products. Ch 5 b focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of coordination and organometallic complexes and their applications in organic and electrochemical catalysis. Methodology will include advanced techniques of synthesis and instrumental characterization. Terms may be taken independently. Part a not offered 2025-26.
Instructor: Agapie (b)
Ch 82. Senior Thesis Research. 9 units; first, second, third terms, 2025-26. Prerequisites: Instructor's permission. Three terms of Ch 82 are to be completed during the junior and/or senior year of study. At the end of the third term, students enrolled in Ch 82 will present a thesis of approximately 20 pages (excluding figures and references) to the mentor and the Chemistry Curriculum and Undergraduate Studies Committee. The thesis must be approved by both the research mentor and the CUSC. An oral thesis defense will be arranged by the CUSC in the third term for all enrollees. The first two terms of Ch 82 will be taken on a pass/fail basis, and the third term will carry a letter grade.
Instructors: Agapie, staff
2022-23
Ch 112. Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2022-23. Prerequisites: Ch 102 or instructor's permission. Introduction to group theory, ligand field theory, and bonding in coordination complexes and organotransition metal compounds. Systematics of bonding, reactivity, and spectroscopy of commonly encountered classes of transition metal compounds.
Instructor: Agapie
Ch 5 ab. Advanced Techniques of Synthesis and Analysis. a 12 units (1-9-2); b 12 units (1-9-2); first, second terms, 2022-23. Prerequisites: Ch 4 ab. Ch 102 strongly recommended for Ch 5 b. Modern synthetic chemistry. Specific experiments may change from year to year. Ch 5 a focuses on experiments illustrating the multistep syntheses of natural products. Ch 5 b focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of coordination and organometallic complexes and their applications in organic and electrochemical catalysis. Methodology will include advanced techniques of synthesis and instrumental characterization. Terms may be taken independently.
Instructors: Agapie (b), Nelson (a)