Thomas Gianetti

Assistant Professor

Classification: Faculty 

Degrees and Appointments

  • B.S and M.Sc., 2009, CPE Lyon, France
  • Ph.D., 2014, University of California, Berkeley
  • Postdoctorate Fellow, 2014 - 2017, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
  • Assistant Professor, 2017 - 2023, University of Arizona
  • Associate Professor, 2023, University of Arizona

Field of Study: Inorganic ChemistryOrganic Chemistry

Research Specialties: Chemical Reaction Dynamics/Kinetics/Interactions​, Energy Science, Spectroscopy/Molecular Structure, Synthesis/Synthetic Methods Development, Theory, Modeling, and Simulation

Awards and Honors

  • 2023 Galileo Circle Curie Awardees
  • 2022 University of Arizona - Early Career Scholar award
  • 2022 University of Arizona - Early Career Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award
  • 2022 UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by Perkins Coie LLP scholarship
  • 2021 NSF CAREER award
  • 2021 Cottrell Scholars
  • 2021 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award
  • 2019 American Chemical Society, Doctoral New Investigator Award
  • 2018 University of Arizona, RDI Faculty seed award
  • 2017 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting – Young Researcher
  • 2015 -2017 ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • 2012 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, UC Berkeley
  • 2010 Howard W. Crandall Fellowship, UC Berkeley
  • 2010 Glaxo Smith Klein Organic Synthesis Award, CPE Lyon

Research

Our research centers around the development of a new chemical structure platform that has enabled new advances in: 1) chemical catalysis for photoinduced chemistry, 2) ligand frameworks for organometallic chemistry, and 3) next generation solution phase electrode materials for batteries. More precisely, our program revolves around the synthesis and use of fused heterocyclic stable carbocations that can act as Lewis acids, Lewis acidic ligands for metal complexes, photocatalysts for bond formation and cleavage, or electrolytes for redox flow batteries that can be used as energy storage.

Students in my group will receive rigorous training in organic and inorganic synthesis, air-sensitive organometallic synthesis and in solid-state synthetic methods, along homogenous, photo and electro catalysis. A broad range of physical methods will be used and learned by the members of my team, including single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and multinuclear NMR, UV/vis, IR, EPR, and as well as cyclic voltammetry.

Gianetti Graphic

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3892-3893

Independent Career:
   39. Nowack, M. H.; Moutet, J.; Laursen, B. W.; Gianetti, T. L.; "Triangulenium ions: Versatile Organic Photoredox Catalysts for Green-Light-Mediated Reactions" Synlett. 2023,DOI: 10.1055/a-2117-8928
   38. Hossain, M.; Gianetti, T. L.; "Green light to a green arylation" Trend in Chemistry, 2022, 4, 10, 962–963.
   37. Shaikh, A. C; Hossain, M.; Kaur, R.; Moutet, J.; Kumar, A.; Thompson, B.; Huxter, V. M.; Gianetti, T. L.; "Isolated Neutral [4]Helicene Radical Provides Insight into Consecutive Two-Photon Excitation Photocatalysis" ChemRxiv, 2022, DOI:10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-6qpb8
   36. Hossain, M.; Shaikh, A. C.; Moutet, J.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Photoredox α-Arylation of Cyclic Ketones Compounds” Nat. Synth., 2022, 1, 147–157
   35. Moutet, J.; Mills, D.; Hossain, M.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Enhanced high-voltage all-Organic Redox Flow Battery model by Nitration of [4]Helicenium Ion Core” Materials Advances, 2022, 3, 216-223
   34. Stull, S. M.; Mei, L.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Red-Light-Induced nPr-DMQA+-Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Cyclopropylamines with Alkenes or Alkynes” SynLett, 2021, DOI: 10.1055/a-1665-9220
   33. Mei, L.; Moutet, J.; Stull, S. M.; Gianetti, T. L. “Synthesis of CF3-Containing Spirocyclic Indolines via a Red-Light-Mediated Trifluoromethylation/Dearomatization Cascade" J. Org. Chem. 2021, 86, 15, 10640–10653
   32. Moutet, J.; Veleta, J. M.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Symmetric, Robust, and High-Voltage Organic Redox Flow Battery Model Based on a Helical Carbenium Ion Electrolyte” ACS Appl. Energy Mat. 2021, 4, 1, 9–14.
   31. Shaikh, A. C.; Moutet, J.; Veleta, J. M.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Trioxatriangulenium (TOTA+) as Robust Carbon-based Lewis Acid in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry” Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 4841–4849
   30. Mei, L.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Helical Carbenium Ion-Based Organic Photoredox Catalyst: A Versatile and Sustainable Option in Red-Light-Induced Reactions” Syn. Lett. 2021, 32(04), 334–337
   29. Shaikh, A. C.; Hossain, M.; Moutet, J.; Veleta, J. M.; Bloch, J.; Astashkin, A.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Stable Helicenium Radicals: Synthesis, Structure, Optical Properties, and Photocatalysis” Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 11060–11067.
   28. Mei, L.; Veleta, J. M.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Helical Carbenium: A Versatile Organic Photoredox Catalyst in Red Light-Mediated Reactions” J. Am. Chem Soc., 2020, 142, 12056–12061.
   27. Shaikh, A. C.; Veleta, J. M.; Bloch, J.; Goodman, H. J.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Syntheses of Phosphonium salt from Phosphines and carbenium: Efficient CO2 Fixation and Phase-Transfer Catalysts” Eur. J. Org. Chem.,2020, 17, 2553–2559.
   26. Mei, L.; Veleta, J. M.; Bloch, J.; Goodman, H. J.; Pierce-Navarro, D.; Villalobos, A.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Tunable carbocation-based redox active ambiphilic ligands: synthesis, coordination and characterization” Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 16095–16105 – invited issue “New talent America”.
   25. Mei, L.; Goodman, H.; Gianetti, T. L.; “Metal-stabilized carbocations: bonding consideration of metal complexes with carbocation interactions” Front. Chem., 2019, 7:365 – invited issue “Frontiers in Chemistry: Rising Stars”.
 
PhD and Postdoc Work:

   24. Jurt, P; Abels, A. S.; Gamboa-Carballo, J. J.; Fernández, I.; Le Corre, G.; Aebli, M.; Baker, M. G.; Eiler, F.; Müller, F.; Wörle, M.; Verel, R; Gauthier, S.; Trincado, M.; T, Gianetti, T. L.; Grützmacher, H “Synthesis and Characterization of Ion Pairs between Alkaline Metal Ions and Anionic Anti-Aromatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons with π-Conjugated Central Seven- and Eight-Membered Rings” Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 2021, 10.1002/anie.202109642
   23. Bloch, J.; Kradolfer, S.; Gianetti, T. L.; Ostendorf, D.; Day, S.; Mougel, V.; Grützmacher, H., “Synthesis and Characterization of Ion Pairs between Alkaline Metal Ions and Anionic Anti-Aromatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons with π-Conjugated Central Seven- and Eight-Membered Rings” Macromolecules 2020, 25(20), 4742
   22. Jurt, P.; Salnikov, O. G.; Gianetti, T. L.; Chukanov, N. V.; Baker, M. G.; Le Corre, G.; Verel, R.; Gauthier, S.; Kovtunov, K.; Federov, A.; Koptyug, I. V.; Grützmacher, H., “Trop-Based Homobimetallic Rh(I) Complexes: Influence of Ligands on the Structure and the Intramolecular Reactivity of Rh–H Intermediates” Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 1117–1125.
   21. Yang, X.; Gianetti, T. L.; Wörle, M. D.; Van Leest, N. P.; De Bruin, B.; Grützmacher, H., “A low-valent dinuclear ruthenium diazadiene complex catalyzes the oxidation of dihydrogen and reversible hydrogenation of quinones” Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 1117–1125.
   20. Gianetti, T. L.; Rodriguez-Lugo, R. E.; Harmer, J.; Trincado, M., Vogt, M., Santiso-Quinones, G.; Grützmacher, H., “Zero Valent Amino Olefin Cobalt Complexes as Catalysts for Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactions from Nitrous Oxide,” Angew. Chem. Intl. ed. 2016, 55, 15323–15328.
   19. Yang, X.; Gianetti, T. L.; Harbort, J.; Wörle, M. D.; Tan, L.; Jurt, P.; Harmer, J. R.; Grützmacher, H., “From 0 to II in One Electron Steps: A Series of Ruthenium Complexes Supported by TropPPh2,” Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed, 2016, 55, 11999–12002.
   18. Gianetti, T. L.; Annen, S. P.; Santiso-Quinones, G.; Reiher, M.; Driess, M.; Grützmacher, H., “Nitrous Oxide as a Hydrogen Acceptor for the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols,” Angew. Chem. Intl. ed. 2016, 55, 1854–1858.
   17. Lichtenberg, C.; Bloch, J.; Gianetti, T. L.; Büttner, T., K.; Geier, J.; Grützmacher, H., “Diolefins with an ether/thioether functionality as ligands in the coordination sphere of Ni and Rh,” Dalton Trans. 2016, 44, 20056–20066.
   16. Lichtenberg, C.; Adelhardt, M.; Gianetti, T. L.; Meyer, K.; de Bruin, B.; Grützmacher, H., “Low-Valent Iron Mono-Diazadiene Compounds: Electronic Structure and Catalytic Application,” ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 6230–6240.
   15. Abubekerov, M.; Eymann, L.; Gianetti, T. L.; Arnold, J., “Activation of Heteroallenes by Coordinatively Unsaturated Nickel(II) Alkyl Complexes Supported by the Hydrotris(3-phenyl-5-methyl)Pyrazolyl Borate (Tp(Ph,Me)) Ligand,” Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 14581–14590
   14. Nechayev, M.; Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “C–F sp2 Bond Functionalization Mediated by Niobium Complexes,” Dalton Trans. 2015, 46, 19494–19500.
   13. Gianetti, T. L.; Nocton, G.; Minasian, S. G.; Kaltzoyannis, N.; Kilcoyne, A. L. D.; Kozimor, S. A.; Shuh, D. K.; Tyliszczak, T.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Electron Localization in a Mixed-Valence Diniobium Benzene Complex,” Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 993–1003.
   12. Obenhuber, A.; Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Regioselective [2+ 2] and [4+ 2] Cycloaddition Reactivity in an Asymmetric Niobium (Bisimido) Moiety Towards Unsaturated Organic Molecules,” Chem. Comm. 2015, 51, 1278–1281.
   11. Nechayev, M.; Kriegel, B.; Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Synthesis and Characterization of Group 5 Imido Complexes Supported by the 2,6-Dichloroaryl-
b-diketiminato Ligand,” Inorg. Chim. Acta 2014, 422, 114–119.
   10. Arnold, J.; Gianetti, T. L.; Kashtan, Y., “Thorium lends a fiery hand,” Nat. chem. 2014, 6, 554.
   9. Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Stoichiometric Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation Mediated by Well-defined Nb (III) Complexes,” Polyhedron 2014, 84, 19–23.
   8. Obenhuber, A.; Gianetti, T. L.; Berrebi, X.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Reaction of (Bisimido) niobium (V) Complexes with Organic Azides:[3 + 2] Cycloaddition and Reversible Cleavage of β-Diketiminato Ligands Involving Nitrene Transfer,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 2994–2997.
   7. Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Carbon–Fluorine Bond Cleavage in Fluoroarenes via a Niobium (III) Imido Complex: from Stoichiometric to Catalytic Hydrodefluorination,” Chem. Sci. 2014, 5, 2517–2524.
   6. Abubekerov, M.; Gianetti, T. L.; Arnold, J., “Synthesis and Characterization of Coordinatively Unsaturated Nickel (II) and Manganese (II) Alkyl Complexes Supported by the Hydrotris (3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl) borate (TpPh, Me) Ligand,” Dalton Trans. 2013, 42, 10525–10532.
   5 Gianetti, T. L.; La Pierre, H. S.; Arnold, J., “Group 5 Imides and Bis (imide) s as Selective Hydrogenation Catalysts,” Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 22-23, 3771–3783.
   4. Gianetti, T. L.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Dis-assembly of a Benzylic CF3 group mediated by a Niobium (III) Imido Complex,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 8145–8148.
   3. Gianetti, T. L.; Nocton, G.; Minasian, S. G.; Tomson, N. C.; Kilcoyne, A. L. D.; Kozimor, S. A.; Shuh, D. K.; Tyliszczak, T.; Bergman, R. G.; Arnold, J., “Diniobium Inverted Sandwich Complexes with µ-η6: η6-arene Ligands: Synthesis, Kinetics of Formation, and Electronic Structure,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 3224–3236.
   2. Kunishita, A.; Gianetti, T. L.; Arnold, J., “Structures, Physicochemical Properties, and Reactivities of Cobalt (II) Complexes Supported by a Homoscorpionate (Tris (pyrazolyl) borate) Ligand TpPh, Me,” Organometallics 2012, 31, 372–380.
   1. Gianetti, T. L.; Tomson, N. C.; Arnold, J.; Bergman, R. G., “Z-selective, Catalytic, Internal-alkyne Semihydrogenation under H2 : CO Mixtures by a Niobium(III) Imido Complex,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 14904–14907.