An Evaluation of the C-H Activation Potential of Palladium Catalysts

The breaking of a carbon – hydrogen bond, or C-H activation, is a very energetically intensive process, as the bond is almost entirely inert. Despite the difficulty of the process, understanding what drives efficient C-H activation can allow for the direct functionalization of aryl or alkyl C-H bonds. This project aimed to examine the C-H activation ability of various palladium catalysts by measuring their H/D exchange activity. H/D exchange is the exchange of a hydrogen atom for a deuterium atom on a hydrocarbon by breaking the original C-H bond. This project examined several trends in H/D exchange ability of palladium catalysts, including the effects of sterically bulky ligands, ligands with varying electronic character, and the effect of varying the temperature of reaction

Investigating Transportation Policies to Reduce Air Pollution in Hong Kong

This report, prepared for Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong), examined the current transportation policies in relation to air pollution in Hong Kong. The transport policies of several cities including Seoul, Singapore, and Rome were examined in relation to reduction of congestion and air pollution. The pedestrians were surveyed and observations of traffic patterns in Hong Kong were made, then the team recommended a reevaluation of the bus system, several limited traffic zones, and several changes to the cross-harbor tunnels