Publications

71.) Ludwig, J. R.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Nasrallah, D. J.; Zehnder, T. E.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.*; Schindler, C. S.*; Mechanistic Investigations into the Olefination of Oximes and Hydrazones Support Intermediate Ruthenium Nitrides
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c00787

70.) Chakrabarti, K.; Sunil, C.; Farris, B. M.; Berritt, S.; Cassaidy, K.; Lee, J.; and Szymczak, N. K.;* Diversifying fluoroalkanes: light-driven fluoroalkyl transfer via vinylboronate esters
Chem. Sci. 2025, 16 (16), 6975–6981.

69.) Butler, S. M.; Beagan, D. M.; Lewis, W.; Szymczak, N. K.;* Jolliffe, K. A.;* Gem-Diboronic Acids: A Motif for Anion Recognition in Competitive Media
Angew Chem Int Ed 2025, e202502582.

68.) Sarkar, W.; Szymczak, N. K.;* Expanding Perchlorate Use for C-H Oxidative Transformations: A Tandem Photo- and Iron-Catalytic Strategy
Organometallics 2025, 44 (7), 777–782.

67.) LaDuca, A. R.; Wilson, J. R.; Sarkar, W.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.;* Impact of Secondary Sphere Hydrogen Bonds on O2 Reactivity within a Nonheme Iron Complex.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147 (6), 5099–5105.

66.) Ball, M. A. P.; Myers, P. J.; Ritch, G. D.; Bower, J. K.; Moore, C. E.; Szymczak, N. K.;* Zhang, S.* The Role of Electron Transfer in Copper‐Mediated C(Sp2 )−H Trifluoromethylation.
Angew Chem Int Ed 2025, 64 (9), e202420677

65.) Atkins, A. L.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.*Tuning Secondary-Sphere Lewis Acidity via Late-Stage Modification of an Appended Borane.
Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 48, 22650–22655

64.) Andre, C. M.; Szymczak, N. K.* Synthesis of Heteroleptic Bis-Phosphine Bis-NHC Iron (0) Complexes: A Strategy to Enhance Small Molecule Activation.
Chem. Commun. 2024, 60, 14037–14040

63.) Norwine, E. E.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N.K.* Additive Effects in Metal/Lewis Acid Cooperativity Assessed in a Tetrahedral Copper Hydrazine Complex Featuring an Appended Borane.
Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 40, 18519–18523.

62.) Song, H; Szymczak, N.K.* Lewis Acid-Tethered (cAAC)-Copper Complexes: Reactivity for Hydride Transfer and Catalytic CO2 Hydrogenation.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, 43, e202411099.

61.) Davies, A. M.; Greene, K. H.; Allen, A. R.; Farris, B. M.; Szymczak, N. K.*; Stephenson, C. R. J.* Organic Olefin Transpositions Facilitated by Ruthenium N,N,N-Pincer Complexes.
J. Org. Chem. 2024, 89 (13), 9647-9653.

60.) Farris, B.M.; Davies, A.M.; Stephenson, C.R.J.*; Szymczak, N.K.* Ethanol Upgrading with N,N,N-Pincer-Based Ru Catalysts: Delineating Key Factors Governing Catalyst Evolution and Stability.
ACS Catal. 2024, 14, 11, 8456–8462

59.) Beagan, D. M.; Rivera, C.; Szymczak, N. K.* Appended Lewis Acids Enable Dioxygen Reactivity and Catalytic Oxidations with Ni(II).
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 18, 12375–12385

58.) Sarkar, W.; LaDuca, A.; Wilson, J. R.; Szymczak, N. K.* Iron-Catalyzed C-H Oxygenation Using Perchlorate Enabled by Secondary Sphere Hydrogen Bonds.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 15, 10508–10516
***Hig hlighted in ChemistryViews

57.) Chakrabarti, K.; Wade Wolfe, M. M.; Guo, S.; Tucker, J. W.; Lee, J.; Szymczak, N. K.* A metal-free strategy to construct fluoroalkyl-olefin linkages using fluoroalkanes.
Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 1752-1757

56.) Beagan, D. M.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.* A Bidentate Ligand Featuring Ditopic Lewis Acids in the Second Sphere for Selective Substrate Capture and Activation.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, e202218907

55.) Guo, S.; Sun, W.; Tucker, J. W.; Hesp, K. D.; Szymczak, N.K.* Preparation and Functionalization of Mono- and Polyfluoroepoxides via Fluoroalkylation of Carbonyl Electrophiles.
Chem. Eur. J, 2022, 29, 10, e202203578

54.) Wade Wolfe, M. M.; Guo, S.; Yu, L. S.; Vogel, T. R.; Tucker, J. W.; Szymczak, N.K.* Nucleophilic strategies to construct -CF2- linkages using borazine-CF2Ar reagents.
Chem. Commun., 2022, 58, 11705-11708
***Invited manuscript for Boron Chemistry in the 21st Century: From Synthetic Curiosities to Functional Molecules

53.) Wang, B.; Seo, C. S. G.; Zhang, C.; Chu, J;* Szymczak, N. K.* A Borane Lewis Acid in the Secondary Coordination Sphere of a Ni(II) Imido Imparts Distinct C–H Activation Selectivity.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 34, 15793–15802
***Featured in Chemical & Engineering News, August 26, 2022

52.) Norwine, E. E.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.*
Distinct Reactivity Modes of a Copper Hydride Enabled
by an Intramolecular Lewis Acid.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 33, 15038–15046

51.) Davies, A. M.; Li, Z-Y.; Stephenson, C. R. J.;* Szymczak, N. K.*
Valorization of Ethanol: Ruthenium-Catalyzed Guerbet and
Sequential Functionalization Processes.
ACS Catalysis. 2022, 12, 6729-6736

50.) Nasrallah, D. J.; Zehnder, T. E.; Ludwig, J. R.; Steigerwald, D. C.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Szymczak, N. K.* Schindler, C. S.* Hydrazone and Oxime Olefination via Ruthenium Alkylidenes.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e202112101

49.) Shanahan, J. P.; Moore, C. M.; Kampf, J.; Szymczak, N. K.; Modulation of H+/H− exchange in iridium-hydride 2-hydroxypyridine complexes by remote Lewis acids.
Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 11705-11708

48.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Requirements for Late-Stage Hydroboration of Pyridine N-Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(0) Complexes: The Role of Ancillary Ligands
Organometallics, 2021, 40, 15, 2658–2665

47.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Norwine, E. E.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Substrate Specific Metal–Ligand Cooperative Binding: Considerations for Weak Intramolecular Lewis Acid/Base Pairs
Inorg. Chem., 2021, 60, 18, 13806–13810

46.) Taher, D.; Wilson, J. R.; Ritch, G. Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Late-stage ligand functionalization via the Staudinger reaction using phosphine-appended 2,2′-bipyridine
Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 5718-5721.

45.) Wilson, J. R.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Hydrogen-bonded nickel(I) complexes
Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 753-756

44.) Wade Wolfe, M. M.; Shanahan, J. P.; Kampf, J. W.; Szymczak, N. K.; Defluorinative Functionalization of Pd(II) Fluoroalkyl Complexes
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 43, 18698.

43.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Norwine, E. E.; Lovasz, M. A.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K..; Mobility of Lewis acids within the secondary coordination sphere: toward a model for cooperative substrate binding
Chem. Commun. 2020, 56, 13105-13108.

42.) Shanahan, J. P.; Szymczak, N. K..; Lewis Acid Effects on Calculated Ligand Electronic Parameters
Organometallics. 2020, 39, 23, 4297-4306.
***Special issue: Organometallic Chemistry of the Main-Group Elements

41.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K..; Examining the Generality of Metal–Ligand Cooperativity Across a Series of First-Row Transition Metals: Capture, Bond Activation, and Stabilization
Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 13, 9279-9286.

40.) Shanahan, J. P.; Mullis, D. M.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Reductively Stable Hydrogen-Bonding Ligands Featuring Appended CF2–H Units
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 19, 8809-8817.

39.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Norwine, E. E.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Tetrahedral iron featuring an appended Lewis acid: distinct pathways for the reduction of hydroxylamine and hydrazine
Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 11896-11899.

38.) Shanahan, J. P.; Szymczak, N. K.; Hydrogen Bonding to a Dinitrogen Complex at Room Temperature: Impacts on N2Activation
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 21, 8550-8556

37.) Hale, L. V. A.; Sikes, N. M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Reductive C−C Coupling from α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles by Intercepting Keteniminates
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 2019. 58, 8531-8535

36.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Shanahan, J. P.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Tuning ligand field strength with pendent Lewis acids: access to high spin iron hydrides
Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 5539-5545.

35.) Geri, J. B.; Aguilera, E. Y.; Szymczak, N. K.; Difluoromethane as a precursor to difluoromethyl borates
Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 5119-5122.

34.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Requirements for Lewis Acid-Mediated Capture and N–N Bond Cleavage of Hydrazine at Iron
Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58 (2) 1147–1154.

33.) Dahl, E. W.; Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Hydrogen Bonds Dictate O2 Capture and Release within a Zinc Tripod
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140 (32) 10075–10079.

32.) Geri, J. B.; Wade Wolfe, M. M.; Szymczak, N. K.; The Difluoromethyl Group as a Masked Nucleophile: A Lewis Acid/Base Approach
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140 (30) 9404–9408.
***selected for JACS Young Investigator

31.) Geri, J. B.; Ciatti, J. L.; Szymczak, N.K.; Charge effects regulate reversible CO2 reduction catalysis
Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 7790-7793.

30.) Hale, L. V. A.; Szymczak, N. K.; Hydrogen Transfer Catalysis beyond the Primary Coordination Sphere
ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 6446–6461.

29.) Dahl, E. W.; Dong, H. T.; Szymczak, N. K.; Phenylamino derivatives of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine: hydrogen-bonded peroxodicopper complexes
Chem. Commun. 2018, 892-895.

28.) Kiernicki, J. J.; Zeller, M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Hydrazine Capture and N–N Bond Cleavage at Iron Enabled by Flexible Appended Lewis Acids
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 18194–18197.

27.) Geri, J. B.; Wade Wolfe, M. M.; Szymczak, N. K.; Borazine-CF3- Adducts for Rapid, Room Temperature, and Broad Scope Trifluoromethylation
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 1381-1385.
***Featured in Chemical & Engineering News, 2018, 96, 6.
***Featured in Synform 2018/05, A77–A81.

26.) Geri, J. B.; Szymczak, N. K.; Recyclable Trifluoromethylation Reagents from Fluoroform
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 9811-9814.
***Featured in JACS Spotlights 2017, 139, 10587.

25.) Geri, J. B.; Shanahan, J. P.; Szymczak, N. K.; Testing the Push–Pull Hypothesis: Lewis Acid Augmented N2 Activation at Iron
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 5952–5956

24.) Dahl, E. W.; Louis-Goff, T.; Szymczak, N. K.; Second sphere ligand modifications enable a recyclable catalyst for oxidant-free alcohol oxidation to carboxylates
Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 2287-2289.

23.) Hale, L. V. A.; Szymczak, N. K.; Stereoretentive Deuteration of α-Chiral Amines with D2O
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 13489-13492.

22.) Tseng, K. T.; Kampf, J. W.; Szymczak, N. K.; Modular Attachment of Appended Boron Lewis Acids to a Ruthenium Pincer Catalyst: Metal–Ligand Cooperativity Enables Selective Alkyne Hydrogenation
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 10378–10381.
Correction: DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b09662

21.) Hale, L. V. A.; Malakar, T.; Tseng, K. T.; Zimmerman, P. M.; Paul, A.; Szymczak, N. K.; The Mechanism of Acceptorless Amine Double Dehydrogenation by N,N,N-Amide Ruthenium(II) Hydrides: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study
ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 4799-4813.

20.) Moore, C. M.; Bark, B. Szymczak, N. K.; Simple Ligand Modifications with Pendent OH Groups Dramatically Impact the Activity and Selectivity of Ruthenium Catalysts for Transfer Hydrogenation: The Importance of Alkali Metals.
ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 3, 1981-1990