T. Don Tilley

T. Don Tilley is the PMP Tech Chancellor’s Chair in Chemistry and Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, with a joint appointment as a Faculty Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research spans organometallic, polymer, and materials chemistry, focusing on catalysis, novel chemical transformations, and advanced materials.

• B.S., University of Texas (1977)
• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1982)
• NSF Exchange Postdoctoral Associate, California Institute of Technology and ETH Zürich (1981-1983)

Research Interests: Professor Tilley's work includes synthetic, structural, and reactivity studies on transition metal compounds for new chemical transformations, polymers with novel properties, and catalysts. His group explores:

• Metal-mediated polymerizations of alkene, alkyne, silane, and stannane monomers
• Electronic materials from supramolecular structures
• Mechanistic studies of σ-bond metathesis and 1,2-migrations
• Design of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidations
• Low-band-gap polymers (e.g., polystannanes) with semiconducting properties
• Molecular precursors for solid-state materials with controlled architectures

Scientific Awards:

• ACS Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry (2008)
• ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry (2014)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2013)
• Centenary Lectureship and Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (2007)

Labs & Collaborations: Based in Tan Hall (rooms 571, 577, 581, 583) and affiliated with Latimer 519, Lewis 326. Collaborates with the Solar Energy Research Center (Helios) at LBNL for renewable chemical fuels development.