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Marcus W. Drover
Research topic
Metal-catalyzed C-X (X = C, N) bond formation (M = Rh, Ir)
Faculty
Research supervisor(s)
Home Town
St. John's
Country
Canada
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
Simply put, I love performing research and this degree will enable me to pursue a career in academia.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC has a world-renowned chemistry department enabling students to work at the cutting edge of scientific discovery.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
With respect to graduate life, I'm grateful for the freedom I have to explore an area of research that I am passionate about. Vancouver is an amazing city, jam-packed with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activity!
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Work hard and play harder! (Work diligently to achieve the goals that you set, but always remember to have fun and stay healthy).
Learn more about Marcus W.'s research
A vast number of chemical compounds contain nitrogen, including those required for everyday life e.g., amino and nucleic acids. In a laboratory setting, these chemicals are often generated through synthesis. Unfortunately, many synthetic procedures are replete with non-efficient, toxic, and wasteful steps. Consequently, better processes and methods are required for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and bulk consumer products. Toward this end, we intend to prepare a family of new rhodium(I) catalysts aimed at the functionalization of simple, unsaturated molecules such as ethylene and acetylene – abundant and accessible two-carbon (C2) building blocks.
