Education

B.S., 2004, Moscow State University
M.S., 2004, Moscow State University
Ph.D., 2011, Colorado State University

Honors and Awards

McCausland Faculty Fellowship, 2025
Breakthrough Star Award, 2018
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2017
Doctoral New Investigator Award, ACS PRF, 2014

Research Interests

Research areas: Inorganic chemistry and catalysis, organometallics, main group chemistry, metal-free bond activation.

Research in the group involves the synthesis of molecular catalysts for activation of important substrates such as dihydrogen, carbon dioxide, and unsaturated organic compounds. Students with interest in catalysis, inorganic, and organometallic chemistry are encouraged to join. Group members will receive a rigorous training in inorganic and organometallic chemistry, catalysis, air-free synthetic methods, and spectroscopic methods.

 
Metal-free Bond Activation by Redox-Active Main-Group Systems
We have harnessed redox-activity of boron clusters for the cage-driven activation of strong bonds at exohedral reaction centers. We design new metal-free molecular frameworks containing redox-active metal-free fragments with two critical features typically associated with transition metals: binding sites and the ability to cycle through two-electron redox states.
 
Catalysis with Multimetallic Transition Metal Complexes Supported by Main-Group Ligands
Transition metal complexes with new unusual bonding and reactivity patterns in catalysis are pursued. We design multidentate main group systems as chemically versatile platforms for stabilization of reactive transition metal complexes for small molecule activation and group transfer.
 
Pre-Organized Lewis Pairs for Small Molecule Activation
We work on new modes of activation of organic substrates by a cooperative action of high-valent transition metal complexes and sterically hindered bases. Our recent findings include the novel activation of nitriles with direct formation of zwitterionic vinylimido complexes. The scope of the reaction includes a range of substituted unactivated nitriles.

Publications

Riffle, J. R.; Jowers, C. L.; Luna, S.; Smith, M. D.; Peryshkov, D. V. Non-spectator Behavior of a Neutral Phosphine Ligand Driven by a Redox-Active Boron Cluster, Chemical Science, 2025 DOI: 10.1039/D5SC04058B

Humphries, A. L.; Tellier, G. A.; Smith, M. D.; Chianese, A. R.; Peryshkov, D. V. N–H Bond Activation of Ammonia by a Redox-Active Carboranyl Diphosphine, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2024, DOI:10.1021/jacs.4c12146

Nussbaum, B. C; Cavicchi, C. R.; Smith, M. D.; Pellechia, P. J.; Peryshkov, D. V. Redox- Active Carboranyl Diphosphine as an Electron and Proton Transfer Agent. Inorganic Chemistry 2024, DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02022

Nussbaum, B. C.; Humphries, A. L.; Gange, G. B.; Peryshkov, D. V. Redox-active Carborane Clusters in Bond Activation Chemistry and Ligand Design. Chemical Communications 2023, DOI: 10.1039/D3CC03011C