Timothy Brewster, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis
Parameterization of Electronic Effects in Late Transition Metal Complexes
The Department of Chemistry Presents: Timothy Brewster, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis
Understanding of the structural and catalytic properties of transition metal complexes is dependent on intimate knowledge of the electronic properties of the associated ligands. Classical metrics such as the Tolman Electronic Parameter (TEP) are ubiquitous in the literature and in organometallics textbooks. The Brewster lab is interested in developing similar metrics for two classes of ligands that the TEP has not been extended to: metalloligands in heterobimetallic complexes and chelate ligands common to late-metal olefin polymerization catalysis. Work toward these two goals is presented.
BIO
Dr. Brewster received a B.S. in chemistry and mathematics from the College of William and Mary in 2008, performing research in the lab of Prof. Robert D. Pike. He then pursued his graduate work, earning his MS (2010) and PhD (2012) at Yale University under the supervision of Prof. Robert H. Crabtree. Dr. Brewster then completed a postdoc at the University of Washington with Prof. Karen I. Goldberg. At UW, Dr. Brewster was first a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Environmental Chemistry Fellow (2012-2013), and then a postdoc in the NSF Center for Enabling New Technologies Through Catalysis (CENTC, 2013-2015). Dr. Brewster then began his independent career at the University of Memphis as an Assistant Professor in 2015. He was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. He now serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Chemistry (interested undergraduates, please talk to me!). Dr. Brewster's research is in the general field of organometallic chemistry, with a specific focus on ligand effects in catalytic reactions. Projects encompass a wide range of topics: heterobimetallic catalysis, C-H functionalization, olefin polymerization, and drug delivery. Outside the university, Dr. Brewster has been actively involved with the Memphis Local Section of the American Chemical Society, serving as Local Section Chair (2022-2024), outreach coordinator (2025), and General Chair for SERMACS 2026, to be held in Memphis, TN.