Fiedler, Adam
Assistant Professor, Inorganic Chemistry
(414) 288-7191
E-mail: adam.fiedler@mu.edu
Biography
Professor Fiedler received his Ph.D. degree in inorganic chemistry under the direction of Thomas Brunold at the University at Wisconsin-Madison in 2000. After graduating from Madison, he began an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Prof. Larry Que, Jr. at the University of Minnesota, where synthesized and characterized high-valent iron complexes with relevance to oxygen activation in biological systems. He joined the faculty at Marquette University in August 2009. Professor Fiedler’s research interests are in the area of synthetic bioinorganic chemistry, spectroscopy, and computational methods.
Research Interests
My group's research falls within the general field of bio-inspired inorganic chemistry. The common theme is the synthesis and characterization of inorganic complexes that mimic the structure and/or function of metalloenzymes. All of our projects are multifaceted, combining inorganic coordination chemistry with mechanistic studies, spectroscopic characterization (UV-vis, EPR, MCD, X-ray absorption, resonance Raman), and computational (DFT) analysis. Specifically, we are interested in the interaction of metal centers with small anions like superoxide and peroxynitrite. Recent studies have demonstrated that numerous enzymes employ metal-superoxo intermediates to activate C-H bonds for oxidative transformations. We are therefore interested in developing synthetic complexes that replicate the structural and chemical properties of these enzymes, thereby permitting a better understanding of superoxo reactivity. This work also offers the possibility of developing efficient “green” catalysts for industrial use. Additionally, we seek to explore the role of metal ions in the production, activation, and elimination of peroxynitrite – a cytotoxic agent implicated in a number of medical pathologies. Our objective is to gain fundamental insights into the nature of metal/peroxynitrite coordination chemistry through the synthesis and characterization of short-lived intermediates. This knowledge will help answer important questions concerning the interplay of metal ions and reactive anions in the development of catastrophic diseases, and provide clues for the design of therapeutic agents.
Klingler College of Arts & Sciences
