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Parisa Mehrkhodavandi

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Research and Teaching Interests

Our research program uses the power of catalysis to address environmental challenges by performing both fundamental and applied studies.  We focus on “green” polymers that are either derived from biorenewable sources and/or are biodegradable in composts, in the oceans, or in the human body.  These materials are an increasingly important solution to pollution problems and have found many niche market medicinal applications.

Our research interests lie mainly in two different areas: 1) Catalyst development, with a special focus on control of structure function relationship, and 2) Synthesis and characterization of new families of bio-based / biodegradable / green polymers. In the major thrust of the research program, we are developing Lewis acidic metal centres supported by chiral ligands for the enantioselective and controlled ring opening polymerization of cyclic lactones, ethers, and epoxides. In addition to polymerization, we are interested in using chiral indium complexes as catalysts in myriad organic transformations.

We will be addressing these challenges with an interdisciplinary approach. Catalyst design and application will be at the heart of a program that will span organic, inorganic, organometallic, and polymer chemistry. Students will get a chance to gain synthetic skills such as manipulation of air/oxygen sensitive materials, become familiar with analytical and characterization techniques such as chromatography and NMR spectroscopy, and get an introduction to enantioselective methodology and mechanistic investigation.

Contact

Email: 
Office Room Number(s): 
D322
Office Phone Number: 
604-822-1882
Fax Number: 
604-822-2847

Curriculum Vitae

B.Sc., University of British Columbia (1998); Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Richard R. Schrock, 2002); Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology (John E. Bercaw, 2002-2005); Assistant professor UBC (2005-2013); Associate professor UBC (2013-2018); Professor (2018-present)

NSERC University Faculty Award (2005); Government of France Mobility Award in Science & Technology​ (2008); Ichikizaki Travel Award ​(2008/2010); ICCC-41 Rising Star Scholar​ (2014); UBC Killam Research Fellowship (2015); Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2015)

Publications

2020

Goonesinghe, C. ; Roshandel, H. ; Diaz, C. ; Jung, H. - J. ; Nyamayaro, K. ; Ezhova, M. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Cationic Indium Catalysts For Ring Opening Polymerization: Tuning Reactivity With Hemilabile Ligands. CHEMICAL SCIENCE 2020, 11, 6485-6491.
Jung, H. - J. ; Yu, I. ; Nyamayaro, K. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Indium-Catalyzed Block Copolymerization Of Lactide And Methyl Methacrylate By Sequential Addition. ACS CATALYSIS 2020, 10, 6488-6496.
Soobrattee, S. ; Zhai, X. ; Nyamayaro, K. ; Diaz, C. ; Kelley, P. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Dinucleating Amino-Phenolate Platform For Zinc Catalysts: Impact On Lactide Polymerization. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2020, 59, 5546-5557.

2019

Diaz, C. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Cationic Indium Complexes For The Copolymerization Of Functionalized Epoxides With Cyclic Ethers And Lactide. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS 2019, 55, 3347-3350.
Kremer, A. B. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Dinuclear Catalysts For The Ring Opening Polymerization Of Lactide. COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2019, 380, 35-57.

2018

Jung, H. - J. ; Chang, C. ; Yu, I. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Coupling Of Epoxides And Lactones By Cationic Indium Catalysts To Form Functionalized Spiro-Orthoesters. CHEMCATCHEM 2018, 10, 3219-3222.
Chile, L. - E. ; Kaser, S. J. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Synthesis And Thermorheological Analysis Of Biobased Lignin-Graft-Poly(Lactide) Copolymers And Their Blends. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2018, 6, 1650-1661.

2017

Kremer, A. B. ; Andrews, R. M. ; Milner, M. ; Zhang, X. R. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Diaconescu, P. L. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. A Comparison Of Gallium And Indium Alkoxide Complexes As Catalysts For Ring-Opening Polymerization Of Lactide. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2017, 56, 1375−1385.
Osten, K. M. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Indium Catalysts For Ring Opening Polymerization: Exploring The Importance Of Catalyst Aggregation. ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2017, 50, 2861-2869.
Chile, L. - E. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. Aromatic Interactions In Aryl-Capped Polylactides: A Thermorheological Investigation. JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY 2017, 61, 1137-1148.
Ebrahimi, T. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Air- And Moisture-Stable Indium Salan Catalysts For Living Multiblock Pla Formation In Air. ACS CATALYSIS 2017, 7, 6413-6418.
Chile, L. - E. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Wong, A. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Impact Of Aryloxy Initiators On The Living And Immortal Polymerization Of Lactide. DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2017, 46, 6723-6733.
Ebrahimi, T. ; Taghipour, H. ; Griessl, D. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; van Ruymbeke, E. Binary Blends Of Entangled Star And Linear Poly(Hydroxybutyrate): Effect Of Constraint Release And Dynamic Tube Dilation. MACROMOLECULES 2017, 50, 2535-2546.

2016

Kremer, A. B. ; Osten, K. M. ; Yu, I. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Dinucleating Ligand Platforms Supporting Indium And Zinc Catalysts For Cyclic Ester Polymerization. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2016, 55, 5365-5374.
Chile, L. - E. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. A Comparison Of The Rheological And Mechanical Properties Of Isotactic, Syndiotactic, And Heterotactic Poly(Lactide). MACROMOLECULES 2016, 49, 909-919.
Ebrahimi, T. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Hatzildriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Highly Active Chiral Zinc Catalysts For Immortal Polymerization Of Beta-Butyrolactone Form Melt Processable Syndio-Rich Poly(Hydroxybutyrate). MACROMOLECULES 2016, 49, 8812-8824.
Ebrahimi, T. ; Mamleeva, E. ; Yu, I. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. The Role Of Nitrogen Donors In Zinc Catalysts For Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2016, 55, 9445-9453.

2015

Ebrahimi, T. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Synthesis And Rheological Characterization Of Star-Shaped And Linear Poly(Hydroxybutyrate). MACROMOLECULES 2015, 48, 6672-6681.
Aluthge, D. C. ; Ahn, J. M. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Overcoming Aggregation In Indium Salen Catalysts For Isoselective Lactide Polymerization. CHEMICAL SCIENCE 2015, 6, 5284-5292.
Yu, I. ; Ebrahimi, T. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Star-Shaped Phb-Pla Block Copolymers: Immortal Polymerization With Dinuclear Indium Catalysts. DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2015, 44, 14248-14254.
Osten, K. M. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. The Effect Of Steric Changes On The Isoselectivity Of Dinuclear Indium Catalysts For Lactide Polymerization. DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2015, 44, 6126-6139.

2014

Wang, X. ; Thevenon, A. ; Brosmer, J. L. ; Yu, I. ; Khan, S. I. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Diaconescu, P. L. Redox Control Of Group 4 Metal Ring-Opening Polymerization Activity Toward L-Lactide And Epsilon-Caprolactone. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2014, 136, 11264-11267.
Osten, K. M. ; Aluthge, D. C. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Probing The Role Of Secondary Versus Tertiary Amine Donor Ligands For Indium Catalysts In Lactide Polymerization. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2014, 53, 9897-9906.
Aluthge, D. C. ; Yan, E. X. ; Ahn, J. Myun; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Role Of Aggregation In The Synthesis And Polymerization Activity Of Salbinap Indium Alkoxide Complexes. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2014, 53, 6828-6836.

2013

Fang, J. ; Yu, I. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Maron, L. Theoretical Investigation Of Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization Induced By A Dinuclear Indium Catalyst. ORGANOMETALLICS 2013, 32, 6950-6956.
Aluthge, D. C. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. A Highly Active And Site Selective Indium Catalyst For Lactide Polymerization. Chemical Communications 2013, 49, 4295.
Aluthge, D. C. ; Xu, C. ; Othman, N. ; Noroozi, N. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Pla–Phb–Pla Triblock Copolymers: Synthesis By Sequential Addition And Investigation Of Mechanical And Rheological Properties. Macromolecules 2013, 46, 3965−3974.

2012

Othman, N. ; Xu, C. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. Thermorheological And Mechanical Behavior Of Polylactide And Its Enantiomeric Diblock Copolymers And Blends. Polymer 2012, 53, 2443 - 2452.
Othman, N. ; Jazrawi, B. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. Wall Slip And Melt Fracture Of Poly(Lactides). Rheologica Acta 2012, 51, 357 - 369.
Osten, K. M. ; Yu, I. ; Duffy, I. R. ; Lagaditis, P. O. ; Yu, J. C. - C. ; Wallis, C. J. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Effects Of Ligand Tuning On Dinuclear Indium Catalysts For Lactide Polymerization. Dalton Transactions 2012.
Xu, C. ; Yu, I. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Highly Controlled Immortal Polymerization Of Β-Butyrolactone By A Dinuclear Indium Catalyst. Chemical Communications 2012, 48, 6806.
Yu, I. ; Acosta-Ramírez, A. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Mechanism Of Living Lactide Polymerization By Dinuclear Indium Catalysts And Its Impact On Isoselectivity. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2012, 134, 12758 - 12773.

2011

Broderick, E. M. ; Guo, N. ; Vogel, C. S. ; Xu, C. ; Sutter, J. ; Miller, J. T. ; Meyer, K. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Diaconescu, P. L. Redox Control Of A Ring-Opening Polymerization Catalyst. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011, 133, 9278 - 9281.
Othman, N. ; Acosta-Ramírez, A. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Dorgan, J. R. ; Hatzikiriakos, S. G. Solution And Melt Viscoelastic Properties Of Controlled Microstructure Poly(Lactide). Journal of Rheology 2011, 55, 987.

2010

Wallis, C. J. ; Kraft, I. L. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Electron Rich Bidentate Phosphinimine-Imine Ligands: Synthesis And Reactivity Of Late Transition Metal Complexes. Dalton Transactions 2010, 39, 541 - 547.
, ; Acosta-Ramirez, A. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Signorell, R. Influence Of Polydispersity Of Poly(Lactic Acid) On Particle Formation By Rapid Expansion Of Supercritical Co2 Solutions. Journal of Supercritical Fluids 2010, 51, 376 - 383.
Acosta-Ramirez, A. ; Douglas, A. F. ; Yu, I. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Diaconescu, P. L. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Synthesis And Structural Studies Of Chiral Indium(Iii) Complexes Supported By Tridentate Diaminophenol Ligands. Inorganic Chemistry (Washington, DC, United States) 2010, 49, 5444 - 5452.
Yu, I. ; Wallis, C. J. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Diaconescu, P. L. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Phosphine-Tethered Carbene Ligands: Template Synthesis And Reactivity Of Cyclic And Acyclic Functionalized Carbenes. Organometallics 2010, 29, 6065 - 6076.

2009

Yu, I. ; Wallis, C. J. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Template Synthesis Of Donor-Functionalized Nx-Carbenes (X = P, Si). Organometallics 2009, 28, 6370-6373.
Labourdette, G. ; Lee, D. J. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Ezhova, M. B. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Unusually Stable Chiral Ethyl Zinc Complexes: Reactivity And Polymerization Of Lactide. Organometallics 2009, 28, 1309-1319.
Wallis, C. J. ; Kraft, I. L. ; Murphy, J. N. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. Reversible Orthopalladation Of Phosphinimine-Imine Dichloropalladium(Ii) Complexes. Organometallics 2009, 28, 3889-3895.

2008

Douglas, A. F. ; Patrick, B. O. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. A Highly Active Chiral Indium Catalyst For Living Lactide Polymerization. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition 2008, 47, 2290-2293.

2007

Bercaw, J. E. ; Diaconescu, P. L. ; Grubbs, R. H. ; Hazari, N. ; Kay, R. D. ; Labinger, J. A. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Morris, G. E. ; Sunley, G. J. ; Vagner, P. Conversion Of Methanol To 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane (Triptane) Over Indium(Iii) Iodide. Inorganic Chemistry 2007, 46, 11371 - 11380.

2006

Bercaw, J. E. ; Diaconescu, P. L. ; Grubbs, R. H. ; Kay, R. D. ; Kitching, S. ; Labinger, J. A. ; Li, X. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Morris, G. E. ; Sunley, G. J. ; Vagner, P. On The Mechanism Of The Conversion Of Methanol To 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane (Triptane) Over Zinc Iodide. The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2006, 71, 8907 - 8917.

2003

2002

2001

2000

Song, B. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Buglyo, P. ; Mikata, Y. ; Shinohara, Y. ; Yoneda, K. ; Yano, S. ; Orvig, C. Acid-Base And Metal Ion-Binding Properties Of Diaminopropyl D-Glucopyranoside And Diaminopropyl D-Mannopyranoside Compounds In Aqueous Solution. Journal of the Chemical Society-Dalton Transactions 2000, 8, 1325-1333.

1999

Yano, S. ; Shinohara, Y. ; Mogami, K. ; Yokoyama, M. ; Tanase, T. ; Sakakibara, T. ; Nishida, F. ; Mochida, K. ; Kinoshita, I. ; Doe, M. ; Ichihara, K. ; Naruta, Y. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Buglyo, P. ; Song, B. ; Orvig, C. ; Mikata, Y. General Synthesis Of Useful Chelating Reagents Having A Sugar Unit, 1,3-Diamino-2-Propyl Beta-D-Glucopyranoside And 1,3-Diamino-2-Propyl Alpha-D-Mannopyranoside. Chemistry Letters 1999, 255-256.

1997

Caravan, P. ; Mehrkhodavandi, P. ; Orvig, C. Cationic Lanthanide Complexes Of N,n’-Bis(2-Pyridylmethyl)Ethylenediamine-N,n’-Diacetic Acid (H(2)Bped). Inorganic Chemistry 1997, 36, 1316-1321.