Guillermo Bazan

Professor

Chemistry & Biochemistry
Materials

Guillermo Bazan

Contacts

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9510

tel: (805) 893-5538
fax: 805-893 4120
bazan@chem.ucsb.edu

Personal web site

Research Description

Synthesis of precisely-defined macromolecules with novel three-dimensional architecture. Photophysics of conjugated organic solids. Catalysis of olefin polymerization and oligomerization via organometallic reagents. Production of highly branched polyolefins via tandem catalysis.

Biography

After a postdoctoral appointment at Caltech, he joined the Chemistry Department at the University of Rochester in 1992. He joined UCSB in 1998. His current research programs are concerned with the photophysics and morphology of the organic solid state and the polymerization of olefins via homogenous catalysis. Of particular interest are strategies that control the organization of intermediate size organic chromophores in the solid state. Such methods are desirable since the relative orientation and distance of conjugated molecules control important useful properties such as conductivity and the photon processing ability of the material. Unfortunately, reliable guidelines that optimize the spatial relationship of organic molecules, especially in circumstances where hydrogen bonding is not an option, are woefully lacking. One ultimate goal is to program the maximum "best" morphology from the organization of atoms in the individual molecule. In the area of catalysis, the Bazan group is optimizing a multiple catalysts approach to highly branched polyethylene.


Awards/Honors

  • Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award Winner, 2005
  • NSF Creativity Award, 2004-2005
  • Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
  • Closs Lecturer, University of Chicago
  • Dreyfus New Faculty Award
  • NSERCC 1967 Science and Engineering Scholarship
  • NSERCC Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • NSF CAREER Award
  • Sloan Research Fellow Award
  • Union Carbide Innovation Award

Selected Publications

  • Alkoxy- and Aryloxyboratabenzene Complexes of Zirconium, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 121, 1999, 1288-1298, Rogers, J. D.; Lachicotte, R. J., Bazan, G. C.
  • Hydrogenation Mechanisms in (Boratacycle)tantalum Analogues of Dimethylzirconocene, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 121, 1999, 1513-1523, Sperry, C. K.; Bazan, G. C.; Cotter, W. D.
  • Binding Preferences of the Tribenzylidenemethane Ligand in High-Oxidation State Tantalum Complexes, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120, 1998, 12512-12523, Rodriguez, G.; Graham, J. P.; Cotter, W. D.; Sperry, C. K.; Bazan, G. C.; Bursten, B. E.
  • Evidence for Electric Field-Assisted Dissociation of the Excited Singlet State into Charge Carriers in MEH-PPH, Chem. Phys. Lett., 298, 1998, 309-314, Khan, M. I.; Bazan, G. C.; Popovic, Z. D.
  • Poly(p-phenenylene vinylene) Copolymer Patterns Prepared via Photolithographic Techniques, Synthetic Metals, 97, 1998, 17-21, Renak, M. L.; Bazan, G. C.; Roitman, D.
  • Stilbenoid Dimers: Effect of Conjugation Length and Relative Chromophore Orientation, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 419, 1998, 120, W. L., Jr., Oldham, Y.-J. Miao, R.J. Lachicotte, and G.C. Bazan
  • Synthesis of Branched Polyolefins Using a Combination of Homogeneous Metallocene Mimics, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 120, 1998, 1082, R.W. Barnhart, G.C. Bazan, and T. Mourey
  • Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Morphology of Tetrastilbenoidmethanes, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 120, 1998, 2987, W. L., Jr., Oldham, R.J. Lachicotte, and G.C. Bazan
  • Ethoxyboratabenzene Zirconium Complexes: Catalysts for a-Olefin Production, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 119, 1997, 9305, J.S. Rogers, G.C. Bazan, and C.K. Sperry