Research Interests

Musie’s research group is interested in general coordination chemistry of unusual lignads and metal oxidation states as well as in bioinorganic chemistry. His research activity includes synthesizing and characterizing modles of the active sites of enzymes that contain transition metal ions such as zinc(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II). Specifically, the research involves syntheses of bimetallic complexes with biologically relevant designed ligands that mimic various metalloenzymes in their structural and functional aspects. The long range plan is to synthesize active catalyst and contribute to the elucidation of the reaction mechanism(s) occurring in the transformation of substrates at the active sites of the enzyme. Currently, metalloenzymes of interest include xylose/glucose isomerases, zinc and copper containing hydrolases and urase. Another area of our research focuses in developing metal complexes as catalysts in carbon dioxide fixation.

Selected Publications

“Synthesis and Characterization of New Mono- and Heptazinc Complexes with Unusual Amide Coordination Modes”
Bera, M.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Inorg. Chem. (2009) 48(11), 4625.

“Zinc(II) mediated cyclization and complexation of an unsymmetrical dicarboxyamine ligand: Synthesis, spectral and crystal structures characterizations.”
Bera, M.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Inorg. Chem. Comm. (2008), 11(3), 293

“Copper(II) promoted imidazolidine ring formation and complexation: A unique reaction course.”
Li, X.; Bera, M.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Inorg. Chim. Acta. (2008), 361(7), 1965.

“Synthesis and characterization of mono- and µ6-sulfato hexanuclear zinc complexes of a new symmetric dinucleating ligand.”
Curtiss, A. B. S.; Bera, M.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Dalton Trans. (2008), (20), 2717.

“A new self-assembled µ6-sulfato hexanuclear cobalt(II) complex of a symmetric dinucleating ligand: Synthesis and X-ray structural analysis.”
Bera, M.; Curtiss, A. B. S.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Inorg. Chem. Comm. (2008) 11(9), 1033.

“Bis(tetramethylammonium) tetrachloridozincate(II), phase VI.”
Curtiss, A. B. S.; Musie, G. T.; Powell, D. R.
Acta Cryst. Sec. E (2008), E64(1), m183, m183/1-m183/11.

“Novel tetranuclear copper(II) complex of dicarboxyamine ligand: Syntheses, Crystal structures and redox properties.”
Musie, G. T.; Li, X.; Powell, D. R.
Inorg. Chim. Acta (2006), 359(7), 1989-1996

“Autoxidation of 2,6-di-tert-buthylphenols Catalyzed by Cobalt Schiff Base Complexes by Oxygen in CO₂-Expanded Liwuids.”
Wei, M.; Musie, G.; Subramaiam, B.; Busch, D. H.
Green Chem. 2004, 6(8), 387-393

"CO₂-expanded solvents: unique and versatile media for performing homogeneous catalytic oxidations”
Wei, M.; Musie, G.; Subramaiam, B.; Busch, D. H.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2513.

“Catalytic Oxidations in Carbon Dioxide-Based Reaction Media, Including Novel CO₂-expanded Phases”
Musie, G.; Wei, M.; Subramaiam, B.; Busch, D. H.
Coord. Chem. Rev. 2001, 219, 817.