Frieder Jäkle; Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

The incorporation of main group elements into molecular and polymeric materials is frequently exploited to achieve unusual properties and to enable new functions. For instance, tricoordinate boron’s participation in pi-delocalization can have a dramatic effect on the optical properties by selectively lowering the LUMO orbital levels. The electron-deficient character of boron also enables dynamic Lewis acid-base interactions, which trigger strong perturbations of the electronic structure and enable assembly of novel supramolecular materials. Our group has developed versatile approaches for incorporating borane Lewis acids and Lewis pairs into pi-conjugated materials with a view at potential applications in organic electronics, sensing, (photo)catalysis, bioimaging, and therapeutics.[1] Furthermore, we have pioneered the selective attachment of borane Lewis acids to polyolefins through direct polymerization and post-polymerization approaches. These polymers are finding applications as supported catalysts and as building blocks of dynamic polymer networks.[2] In this talk, I will share some of our recent discoveries, highlighting the effect of B Lewis acid and B-N Lewis pair functionalization on the optical, electronic and catalytic properties and discussing potential applications.

[1]  [a] K. Liu, Z. Jiang, R. A. Lalancette, X. Tang, F. Jäkle, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 18908-18917. [b] M. Vanga, A. Sahoo, R. A. Lalancette, F. Jäkle, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202113075. [c] J. Zuo, K. Liu, J. Harrell, L. Fang, P. Piotrowiak, D. Shimoyama, R. A. Lalancette, F. Jäkle, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202411855. [d] J. Zuo, R. A. Lalancette, D. E. Prokopchuk, F. Jäkle, Chem. Sci. 2025, 16, 8114. [e] A. Sahoo, A. Patel, R. A. Lalancette, F. Jäkle, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202503658.

[2]  [a] F. Vidal, J. Gomezcoello, R. A. Lalancette and F. Jäkle, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 15963-15971. [b] F. Vidal, J. McQuade, R. A. Lalancette, F. Jäkle, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 14427-14431. [c] H. Lin, S. Patel, F. Jäkle Macromolecules 2020, 53, 10601-10612. [d] B. Chen and F. Jäkle, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202313379. [e] J. McQuade, F. Vidal, N. Mah, L. Anand, R. A. Lalancette, F Jäkle, ChemistryEurope 2025, e202500327.  

Biography:

Frieder Jäkle is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Newark Campus of Rutgers University. He received his Diploma in 1994 and Ph.D. in 1997 from TU München, Germany, under the direction of Prof. Wagner. After a postdoctoral stint with Prof. Manners at the University of Toronto he joined Rutgers University in 2000. From 2018-2025 he served as the Chair of the Chemistry Department. His research interests revolve around main group chemistry as applied to materials and catalysis, encompassing projects on organoborane Lewis acids, conjugated hybrid materials, luminescent materials for optoelectronic and sensory applications, stimuli-responsive and supramolecular polymers. He is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award (2004), Alfred P. Sloan fellowship (2006), Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2009), ACS Akron Section Award (2012), Boron Americas Award (2012), Board of Trustees Research Award of Rutgers University (2017). In 2019 he was named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and in 2024 an Ambassador to the French CNRS.