Warren Edward Piers

Warren Edward Piers

Positions

NSERC CRC I in Mechanisms of Homogeneous Catalytic Reactions

Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-5746

Location

Office: EEEL548

Background

Educational Background

B.S. Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 1984

Doctor of Philosophy Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 1988

Research

Areas of Research

Activities

The research projects in Professor Piers’ laboratory span a broad range of synthetic and mechanistic chemistry, but share a common theme: the chemistry and applications of electron deficient or ‘electrophilic’ compounds, in particular those of the early transition elements and group 13 elements.

Ongoing projects fall into one of three general areas:

  • Inorganometallic Chemistry: The chemistry of compounds with transition metal to heavy main group element bonds is a growing discipline because of the use of these compounds as molecular precursors to advanced materials. We are looking at group 3 and 4 complexes of tin, selenium and tellurium based ligands and their application to organic and inorganic synthesis.
  • Ziegler-Natta Olefin Polymerization: Perhaps the single most important application of early metal organometallics is as catalysts in the production of polyolefins. Our two industrially funded projects in this area are focused on the development of new generation soluble Ziegler-Natta type catalysts.
  • Electrophilic Boranes in Organic Synthesis: Extremely Lewis acidic boranes containing C6F5 groups are being employed stoichiometrically and catalytically in hydroboration, hydrosilation and allylsilation reactions.

Awards

  • Anton Burg Memorial Lecture, University of Souther California, 2018
  • Ludvig Mond Medal Award, Royal Society of Chemistry. 2018
  • Michael Lappert Memorial Lecture, 2017
  • Humboldt Research Award, 2015
  • Canada Council Killam Fellowship, 2014
  • Catalysis Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada, 2014
  • JSPS Invitation Fellowship, 2014
  • Tier I Canada Research Chair, 2013
  • Canada Council Killam Fellowship, 2012
  • Canada Council Killam Fellowship, 2011
  • Schlenk Lecture Award (University of Tbingen), 2011
  • Fellowship in the Chemical Institute of Canada, 2009
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, 2006
  • Alcan Lecture Award of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, 2005
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Supervision, 2004