Earth-Abundant Metal Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry:
Distinct C–C Bond Formations and Beyond
Paul J. Chirik,
Department of Chemistry, Princeton University
How chemists engage with the elements of the periodic table represents one
of the most critical but often overlooked sustainability challenges of the 21st
century. Many modern applications, from alternative energy and catalysis to
advanced materials, must increasingly depend on earth-abundant elements
such as iron, cobalt, and nickel, rather than on scarce, toxic metals whose
extraction and refinement carry significant environmental costs. Our research
group investigates the unique chemistry enabled by catalysis with
these earth-abundant transition metals. We are particularly interested in
catalytic reactions that form carbon–carbon bonds – key transformations in
both synthetic chemistry and materials science. Our work spans from new
variants of the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction to C–H alkylation processes and
reversible polymerization, which are central to developing chemically recyclable
polyolefins. A major focus of our research is understanding the unique
mechanistic pathways that first-row transition metals enable – pathways
often distinct from those involving precious metals, driven by the rich and
varied electronic structures of iron, cobalt, and nickel. In my lecture, I will
highlight how these metals enable new catalytic reactivity and discuss the
design principles guiding our discovery of effective catalysts. Specific examples
will include carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions relevant to
pharmaceutical synthesis, carbon-neutral fuel production, and the development
of sustainable polymers. Throughout, I will emphasize the critical role
of electronic structure in shaping the observed reactivity and selectivity of
these catalysts.