William J. Evans
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Eddleman Quantum Institute UC Irvine
- Irvine CA
William Evans' research merges chemistry & quantum science to develop materials for quantum computing, electronics & energy sustainability.
Media
Social
Biography
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Tolman Award of the Southern California Section of the American Chemical Society (SCALACS)
2015
American Chemical Society Award in Organometallic Chemistry
2015
Spedding Award for Excellence in the Science and Technology of Rare Earths
2008
UCI Distinguished Faculty Award for Research
2006
American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry
2005
Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D.
1973
University of Wisconsin
B.S.
1969
Links
Media Appearances
CA universities partner on $64.7 million quantum institute
Philanthropy News Digest online
2025-07-07
“In the five years since the Eddleman Quantum Institute was established, the three-school collaboration has generated an active program of research and education that includes undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and quantum science faculty,” said UC Irvine EQI director William Evans. “This will provide a pipeline for the next generation of future leaders in quantum science.”
On the cutting edge of chemistry
UCI News online
2017-08-14
“The charge on a metallic element is a basic quantity in chemistry,” says William Evans, UCI professor of chemistry and Windorff’s Ph.D. adviser. “Oxidation states have been studied extensively by scientists for over 100 years, and many thought that all were well-established.”
Articles
The Variable Di (mesityl) boroxide Coordination Chemistry of the Lanthanide Metals
Inorganic ChemistryKito Gilbert-Bass, Domonic Caruth, Tyler Kerr, Joseph W Ziller, William J Evans
2025
The coordination chemistry of the di(mesityl)boroxide ligand, (OBMes2)1– (Mes = C6H2Me3-2,4,6), with lanthanide elements has been explored to examine its utility in providing complexes stabilized by the electron-deficient alkoxide-like nature of this ligand. Protonolysis reactions between LnIII(NR2)3 (R = SiMe3) and HOBMes2 generated the crystalline bimetallic complexes, [(Mes2BO)2LnIII(μ-OBMes2)]2, which were characterized by X-ray crystallography for Ln = La, Ce, Nd, and Gd. The metal atoms of the dimers are linked through the oxygen atoms of bridging boroxide ligands and through metal–arene interactions. The monometallic LaIII(OBMes2)3(THF)3 was crystallographically characterized from the metathesis reaction between LaI3 and KOBMes2.
A Linear Metallocene of Sc(II) Supported by [C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]1– Ligands
Journal of the American Chemical SocietyJoseph Q Nguyen, Ahmadreza Rajabi, Anthony J Wang, Joseph W Ziller, Filipp Furche, William J Evans
2025
Reduction of [C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]2ScI with KC8 generates the first example of a neutral, linear metallocene of scandium analogous to ferrocene, namely [C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]2Sc. X-ray diffraction studies, spectroscopic analyses, and DFT calculations are consistent with a Sc(II) complex. [C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]2Sc reacts reversibly with N2 to provide the end-on (N═N)2– complex {[C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]2Sc}2(μ-η1:η1-N2) and gives a rare example of a crystallographically characterizable Sc(III) terminal hydroxide, namely [C5Me4(SiMe2tBu)]2Sc(OH), as a hydrolysis product.
Terphenylthiolate-Ligated Lanthanide Terminal Methyl Complexes Form Crystallographically Characterizable Terminal Acyls and Trimethylcyclopropanetriolates from Carbon Monoxide
Journal of the American Chemical SocietyMakayla R Luevano, Cary R Stennett, Joseph W Ziller, William J Evans
2025
The sterically bulky terphenylthiolate ligand {S[C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3)2]}1–, (SAriPr6)1–, has permitted the isolation of the terminal methyl complexes Ln(SAriPr6)2CH3, 1-Ln, Ln = La and Nd, from salt metathesis between Ln(SAriPr6)2I and methyllithium. These complexes react with carbon monoxide to afford the first structurally authenticated examples of terminal acyl complexes of the rare-earth elements, Ln(SAriPr6)2(η2-OCCH3), 2-Ln. However, in the presence of lithium iodide, the reaction between Ln(SAriPr6)2CH3 and CO forms the unique trimethylcyclopropanetriolate trianion, [cyclo-(OCCH3)3]3–, in the complex [Ln(SAriPr6)(μ-I)(μ-OCCH3)]3, 3-Ln.
Redox Studies of the Scandium Metallocene (C5H2tBu3)2ScII Lead to a Terminal Side-On (N═N)2– Complex: [(C5H2tBu3)2ScIII(η2-N2)]−
Journal of the American Chemical SocietyJoshua D Queen, Ahmadreza Rajabi, Joseph W Ziller, Filipp Furche, William J Evans
2025
Cyclic voltammetry measurements on the scandium(II) metallocene, Cpttt2ScII (Cpttt = C5H2tBu3), reveal a −1.87 V vs Fc+/Fc event assigned to the [Cpttt2Sc]+/0 redox couple and a −3.09 V process assigned to the [Cpttt2Sc]0/– redox couple, which are consistent with subsequent chemical studies. Chemical oxidation of Cpttt2ScII with AgBPh4 gives the scandocenium cation salt [Cpttt2ScIII][BPh4], 1. The [Cpttt2ScIII]+ cation does not coordinate the [BPh4]− anion or THF solvent; however, one of the methyl groups of a tert-butyl substituent has a close interaction with the Sc(III) ion.
Four-electron oxidation and one-electron reduction of the bis (terphenylthiolate) U (ii) complex, U (SAr iPr6) 2 [Ar iPr6= C 6 H 3-2, 6-(C 6 H 2-2, 4, 6-i Pr 3) 2]
Chemical CommunicationsJoshua D Queen, Eric Ma, Ahmadreza Rajabi, Joseph W Ziller, Filipp Furche, William J Evans
2025
The utility of the sterically bulky terphenylthiolate ligand, (SAriPr6)1- in expanding uranium reductive chemistry has been explored. Reduction of U(SAriPr6)2I forms the U(II) complex, U(SAriPr6)2, in which the metal is protected by the flanking arene rings of the ligand, but they move out of the way to accommodate the four electron reduction of PhN=NPh to form the U(VI) bis(imido) product U(SAriPr6)2(=NPh)2(THF)2. The KC8 reduction of U(SAriPr6)2 generates a more reduced complex, KU(µ-SAriPr6)2, initially identified by a −2.55 V vs Fc+/Fc electrochemical reduction event in THF.
