Christopher Laperle

Christopher Laperle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Providence College, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the physical and inorganic chemistry of transition metal carbonyl compounds, particularly their structural and reaction dynamics in solution.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of California, San Diego (2004)
• B.S. in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1999)

His research interests lie at the intersection of experimental and computational chemistry, with a strong emphasis on understanding how solvents influence the structure, reactivity, and dynamics of organometallic complexes such as iron, ruthenium, and osmium pentacarbonyls. He employs advanced spectroscopic techniques like FTIR and time-resolved X-ray absorption, combined with DFT calculations, to probe molecular behavior on ultrafast timescales.

The most recent scholarly articles reflect a consistent focus on solvent effects in transition metal carbonyl chemistry, using combined spectroscopic and computational approaches. Key themes include ligand dynamics, isomerization mechanisms, and equilibrium structures in alcohol solvents, particularly for Group VIII metals.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Laperle has served as Principal Investigator on three research grants related to solvent-induced structural dynamics in transition metal pentacarbonyls, funded by the Committee on Aid to Faculty Research and the Research Corporation. He has also contributed to academic service through multi-year participation in professional service committees from 2009 to 2018.

There is no mention of specific research labs or collaborative teams in the provided text, though his co-authored publications suggest active collaboration with colleagues and students in spectroscopy and computational modeling.