Draft:David Bergbreiter

David Bergbreiter is an organic chemist currently working as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. His research interests span over polymer, organic, catalysis and surface chemistry. Currently, he is conducting research on the development of greener chemistry methods involving catalysis and polymers functionalization.

Education and Career

Bergbreiter completed his undergraduate education at Michigan State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Chemistry in 1970. He then pursued further academic achievement, earning his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974 where he worked under Prof. G. Whitesides. In 1974, he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University and has remained there until the present day.

Awards & Recognition

• South Eastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award (2017)
• Regents' Professor Award (2016 – present)
• Student Led Award for Teaching Excellence
• Southwest Regional Award (2008)
• University-Level Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Research (2008)
• Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence (2006-present)
• Wells Fargo Honors Faculty Mentor Award (2005)
• Eppright University Professorship for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence (2002-present)
• University-level Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching (1997)

Selected Publications

• "Highly Active, Separable and Recyclable Bipyridine Iridium Catalysts for C-H borylation  Reactions", Hind Mamlouk, Jakkrit Suriboot, Praveen Kumar Manyam, Ahmed AlYazidi, David E. Bergbreiter, and Sherzod T. Madrahimov, Catal. Sci. Tech. 2018, 8, 124-127. This work illustrates how we use soluble polymers as phase anchors in catalysis and synthesis and is an example of the sorts of collaborative research we are doing.
• "Alternatives for Conventional Alkane Solvents", Mary L. Harrell, Thomas Malinski, Coralys Torres-Lopez, Kimberly Gonzalez, Jakkrit Suriboot, and David E. Bergbreiter, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 14650-14657.  This paper describes the use of liquid hydrocarbon oligomers as safer, greener substitutes for solvents like hexane or heptane.
• "Using Soluble Polymers to Enforce Catalyst-Phase-Selective Solubility and as Antileaching Agents to Facilitate Homogeneous Catalysis", Yannan Liang, Mary L. Harrell, and D. E. Bergbreiter, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 8084-8087. Two important new concepts described here include the first demonstration of antileaching effects of soluble polymer additives and soluble polymer solvents as well as a demonstration of the potential power of using phase selective solubility of catalysts in minimizing or controlling side reactions.
• "Soluble Polymers as Tools in Catalysis", ACS Macro Lett. 2014, 3, 260-265. This invited viewpoint article highlights some future directions in how soluble polymers can facilitate catalysis - a focal point of the Bergbreiter research group.
• "Polyethylene as a Nonvolatile Solid Cosolvent Phase for Catalyst Separation and Recovery", Yanfei Yang, Nilusha Priyadarshani, Tatyana Khamatnurova, Jakkrit Suriboot, and D. E. Bergbreiter, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 14714-14717. Here we described how a narrow PDI polyethylene wax can be used as a nontoxic and nonvolatile solvent, replacing hazardous toxic organic solvents like hexane in a green and sustainable way.