Diaconescu, Paula L.

Inorganic

Diaconescu Paula

Biography

Paula Diaconescu joined the UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry department in 2005, after spending two-years as a postdoctoral fellow in the group of Prof. Robert Grubbs at California Institute of Technology. She obtained her Ph.D. degree under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Cummins at Massachusetts Institute of Technology working on arene-bridged complexes of uranium. Her earlier education was completed in Romania, where she obtained her B.S. from University of Bucharest and worked on coordination complexes of transition metals and lanthanides at University Politehnica of Bucharest. Her current research efforts focus on the design of reactive metal complexes with applications to small molecule activation, organic synthesis, and polymer formation.

Research Interests

Dr. Paula Diaconescu’s current research efforts focus on the design of reactive metal complexes with applications to small molecule activation, organic synthesis, and polymer formation.

Early transition metals, lanthanides, and uranium

Diaconescu.uranium

Early transition metals, lanthanides, and uranium (d0fn elements) have shown impressive reactivity in transformations ranging from the activation of small, inert molecules such as methane, dinitrogen, and carbon dioxide to reactions with applications in natural product synthesis (e.g. hydroamination) and formation of biodegradable polymers. The high reactivity of d0fn metal centers makes it difficult to tune their behavior without rendering them unreactive. Our solution to this problem involves the design and synthesis of complexes with specific geometric and electronic properties. For example, weak interactions, such as electronic assistance from an electron rich metal center, are used in small molecule activation to generate highly reactive metal species. In a uranium bisferrocene compound, uranium was found to mediate the electronic communication between the two iron centers better than zirconium did in an analogous complex.
Monreal, M. J., Carver, C. T., Diaconescu, P. L., Inorganic Chemistry 2007, 46(18), 7226-7228

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Honors & Awards

  • Guggenheim Fellow (2015)
  • Bessel Award
  • Humboldt Foundation (2014)
  • AXE Seaborg Award
  • NSF CAREER
  • Sloan Fellowship
  • UCLA Faculty Career Development Award
  • BP Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Bruker/MIT Symposium Poster Prize
  • MIT Department of Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
  • P & G Fellowship
  • University of Bucharest National Scholarship

Representative Publications

Below is the list of the most recent publications.  For the full list, please visit here.

131. Toward liquid cell quantum sensing: Ytterbium complexes with ultra-narrow absorption. Shin, Ashley J.*; Zhao, Changling*; Shen, Yi*; Dickerson, Claire E.*; Li, Barry Y.; Roshandel, H.; Bím, Daniel; Atallah, Timothy L.; Oyala, Paul H.; Alson, Lianne K.; Kerr, Tyler, A.; Alexandrova, Anastassia N.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Campbell, Wesley C.; Caram, Justin R. Science 2024, 385, 651-656. Preprint

130. Elucidating ultranarrow 2F7/2 to 2F5/2 absorption in ytterbium(III) complexes. Li, Barry Y.; Dickerson, Claire E.; Shin, Ashley J.; Zhao, Changling; Shen, Yi; He, Yongjia; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Caram, Justin R. Chem. Sci. 2024, 15, 12451-12458. Preprint

129. Application of a ferrocene-chelating heteroscorpionate ligand in nickel mediated radical polymerization. Li, Shuanshuang; Davis, Ashton R.; Roshandel, Hootan; Adhami, Nima; Shen, Yi; Co, Nathalie H.; Morag, Leo A.; Etemad, Hafez; Liu, Yuan; Diaconescu, Paula L.Inorg. Chem. Front. 2024, 11, 3511-3519.

128. Highly Selective Electrochemical Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation through Oxygen Atom Transfer from Water. Mu, Yu; Chen, Boqiang; Zhang, Hongna; Fei, Muchun; Liu, Tianying; Mehta, Neal; Wang, David Z.; Miller, Alexander J. M.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Wang, Dunwei J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (19), 13438–13444.

127. Mechanistic Insights into Selective Indium-Catalyzed Coupling of Epoxides and Lactones. Hosseini, Kimia; Goonesinghe, Chatura; Roshandel, Hootan; Chang, Joseph; Nyamayaro, Kudzanai; Jung, Hyuk-Joon; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Mehrkhodavandi, Parisa ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 13195–13204.

126. Tuning Electrode Reactivity through Organometallic Complexes. Shen, Yi; Mu, Yu; Wang, Dunwei; Liu, Chong; Diaconescu, Paula L. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023

125. App-Free Method for Visualization of Polymers in 3D and Augmented Reality. Roshandel, Hootan*; Shammami, Matthew*; Lin, Shiyun; Wong, Yin P.; Diaconescu, Paula L. J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100, 2039-2044.

124. Spatiotemporal control for integrated catalysis. Deng, Shijie; Jolly, Brandon J.; Wilkes, James R.; Mu, Yu; Byers, Jeffery A.; Do, Loi H.; Miller, Alexander J. M.; Wang, Dunwei; Liu, Chong; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Nat. Rev. Methods Primers, 2023, 28

123. Vanadium-photocatalyzed C−C bond cleavage of aliphatic alcohols Jung, H. -J.; Diaconescu, Paula L.Chem Catalysis 3, 100570, 2023

122. Polyketones from Carbon Dioxide and Ethylene by Integrating Electrochemical and Organometallic Catalysis Dodge, Henry M.; Natinsky, Benjamin S.; Jolly, Brandon J.; Zhang, Haochuan; Mu, Yu; Chapp, Soctt M.; Tran, Thi V.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Do, Loi H.; Wang, Dunwei; Liu, Chong; Miller, Alexander J. M. ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 4053-4059

121. The art of compartment design for synthetic catalysts. Davis, Ashton R.; Liu, C.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 1402-1410

120. Post-functionalization and Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactide-cyclohexadiene oxide) Block Copolymers Dai, Ruxi; Deng, Shijie; Peng, Zihang; Pei, Qibing; Diaconescu, Paula L. ChemRxiv. 2023

119. Synthesis and Self-assembly of Limonene Oxide – Lactide Block Copolymers Dai, Ruxi; Valloppilly, Shah; Watuthanthrige, Nethmi D. A.; Chakma, Progyateg; Deng, Shijie; Konkolewicz, Dominiik; Diaconescu, Paula L. ChemRxiv. 2023

118. N-Carboxyanhydrides directly from amino acids and carbon dioxide and their tandem reactions to therapeutic alkaloids Tran, Thi V.; Shen, Yi; Nguyen, Hieu D.; Deng, Shijie; Roshandel, Hootan; Cooper, Mason D.; Waston, Jose R.; Byers, Jeffrey A.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Do, Loi H. Green Chem., 2022, 24, 9245-9252

117. A generalized kinetic model for compartmentalization of organometallic catalysis. Brandon J Jolly, Nathalie H Co, Ashton R Davis, Paula L. Diaconescu and Chong Liu Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 1101-1110.

116. ABC and ABAB Block Copolymers by Electrochemically Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerization. C. Hern, Zach; Stephanie M. Quan, Stephanie; Ruxi; Lai, Amy; Yihang Wang, Yihang; Liu, Chong; Diaconescu, Paula L.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021 , 143, 47, 19802–19808

115. A switchable dimeric yttrium complex and its three catalytic states in ring opening polymerization. Deng, Shijie; Diaconescu, Paula L. Inorg. Chem. Front. 2021 , 8, 2088-2096.

114. Distinct Electronic Structures and Bonding Interactions in Inverse-Sandwich Samarium and Ytterbium Biphenyl Complexes. Xiao, Yuyuan; Zhao, Xiao-Kun; Wu, Tianpin; Miller, Jeffrey T.; Hu, Han-Shi; Li, Jun; Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 227-238

113. Arene-Bridged Dithorium Complexes: Inverse Sandwiches Supported by a delta Bonding Interaction. Yu, Chao; Liand, Jiefend; Deng, Chong; Lefevre, Guillaume; Cantat, Thibault; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Huang, Wenliang J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 5, 21292-21297

112. Developing a Virtual Reality Approach toward a Better Understanding of Coordination Chemistry and Molecular Orbitals. Dai, Ruxi; Laureanti, Joseph A.; Kopelevich, Max; Diaconescu, Paula L. J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97, 10, 3647-3651

111.  Switchable Ring-Opening Polymerization by a Ferrocene Supported Aluminum Complex. Lai, Amy; Hern, Zachary C.; Diaconescu, Paula L. ChemCatChem 2019, 11, 4210-4218

110. Computational mapping of redox-switchable metal complexes based on ferrocene derivatives. Lai, Amy; Clifton, Jamie; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Fey, Natalie Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 7021-7024

109. Zirconium Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene-Based Ligand as Redox Switches for Hydroamination Reactions. Shen, Yi; Shepard, Scott M.; Reed, Christopher J.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 5587-5590

108.  Investigation of a Zirconium Compound for Redox Switchable Ring Opening Polymerization. Dai, Ruxi; Diaconescu, Paula L. Dalton Transactions 2019, 48, 2996-3002

107.  Redox-Switchable Ring-Opening Polymerization with Ferrocene Derivatives. Wei, Junnian; Diaconescu, Paula L. Accounts of Chemical Research 2019, 52 (2) , 415-424

106.  Geometry Change in a Series of Zirconium Compounds during Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization.Dai, Ruxi; Lai, Amy; Alexandrova, Anastassia N.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2018, 37 (21) , 4040-4047

105.  Exploring Oxidation State-Dependent Selectivity in Polymerization of Cyclic Esters and Carbonates with Zinc(II) Complexes. Abubekerov, Mark; Vlcek, Vojtech; Wei, Junnian; Miehlich, Matthias E.; Quan, Stephanie M.; Meyer, Karsten; Neuhauser, Daniel; Diaconescu, Paula L. iScience 2018, 7, 120-131

104.  Preparation of Multiblock Copolymers via Step-wise Addition of L-lactide and Trimethylene Carbonate.Abubekerov, Mark; Wei, Junnian; Swartz, Kevin R.; Xie, Zhixin; Pei, Qibing; Diaconescu, Paula L. Chem. Sci. 2018, 9, 2168-2178

103.   Mechanistic Studies of Redox-Switchable Copolymerization of Lactide and Cyclohexene Oxide by a Zirconium Complex. Quan, Stephanie M.; Wei, Junnian; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2017, 36 (22), 4451-4457

102.   Ferrocene-bis(phosphinimine) Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Alkyl Complexes: Influence of the FeM (M = Ni and Pd) Interaction on Redox Activity and Olefin Coordination. Abubekerov, Mark; Wei, Khan, Saeed I.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2017, 36 (22), 4394-4402

101.  Investigation of redox switchable titanium and zirconium catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters and epoxides. Lowe, Miranda Y.; Shu, Sisheng; Quan, Stephanie M.; Diaconescu, Paula L Inorg. Chem. Front. 2017, 4, 1798-1805

100.  Reduction of Diphenylacetylene Mediated by Rare-Earth Ferrocene Diamide Complexes. Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2017, 36 (23), 4643-4648

99.   Intramolecular Crossed [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition Through Visible Light-Induced Energy Transfer. Zhao, Jiannan; Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Tang, Qingxuan; Yang, Zhongyue; Houk, Kendall N.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Kwon, Ohyun J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139 (29), 4394-4402

98.   Monodentate phosphine substitution in [Pd(k3-dppf)(PR3)][BF4]2 (dppf = 1,1′- bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) compounds. Cabrera, K. D.; Rowland, A. T.; Szarko, J. M.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Bezpalko, M. W.; Kassel, W. S.; Nataro, Chip Dalton Trans. 2017, (46) , 5702-5710

97.   Redox Control of Aluminum Ring-Opening Polymerization: A Combined Experimental and DFT Investigation. Wei, Junnian; Riffel, Madeline N.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Macromolecules 2017, 50 (5), 1847-1861

96.   A Comparison of Gallium and Indium Alkoxide Complexes as Catalysts for Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide.Kremer, Alexandre B.; Andrews, Ryan J.; Milner, Matthew J.; Zhang, Xu R.; Ebrahimi, Tannaz; Patrick, Brian O.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Mehrkhodavandi, Parisa Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56 (3), 1375-1385

95.   Pursuit of Record Breaking Energy Barriers: A Study of Magnetic Axiality in Diamide Ligated Dy(III) Single-Molecule Magnet. Harriman, Katie L. M.; Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Ungur, Liviu; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Murugesu, Muralee J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139 (4), 1420-1423

94.   Aromatic C-F Bond Activation by Rare-Earth-Metal Complexes . Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2017, 36 (1), 89-96

93.   Reactivity and Properties of Rare-Earth Metal Complexes Enabled by Flexible and Redox Active Ligands with a Ferrocene Backbone. Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Inorg. Chem 2016, 55 (20), 10013-10023

92.   Redox Switchable Copolymerization of Cyclic Esters and Epoxides by a Zirconium Complex. Quan, Stephanie M.; Wang, Xinke; Zhang, Rongjia; Diaconescu, Paula L. Macromolecules 2016, 49 (18), 6768–6778

91.   Redox-Switchable Hydroelementation of a Cobalt Complex Supported by a Ferrocene-Based Ligand. Shepard, Scott M.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2016, 35 (15), 2446-2453

90.  Structural, Computational, and Spectroscopic Investigation of [Pd(k3-1,1′-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocenediyl)X]+ (X = Cl, Br, I) Compound. Blass, Brittany L.; Hernandez Sanchez, Raul; Decker, Victoria A.; Robinson, Michael J.; Piro, Nicholas A.; Kassel, W. Scott; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Nataro, Chip Organometallics 2016, 35 (4), 462-470

89.   Switchable Polymerization of Norbornene Derivatives by a Ferrocene-Palladium(II) Heteroscorpionate Complex.Abubekerov, Mark; Shepard, Scott M.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2016, 2016 (15-16, SI: The Significance of Scorpionate Ligands 50 Years on), 2634-2640

88.   C-H Bond Activation of Hydrocarbons Mediated by Rare-Earth Metals and Actinides: Beyond sigma-Bond Metathesis and 1,2-Addition. Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Advances in Organometallic Chemistry 2015, Edited by Pedro J. Pérez, vol. 64, 41-75

87.   Highly Active Yttrium Catalysts for the Ring-Opening Polymerization of epsilon-Caprolactone and delta-Valerolactone.Wang, Xinke; Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Thevenon, Arnaud; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2015, 34 (19), 4700–4706

86.   Rare-earth metal pi-complexes of reduced arenes, alkenes, and alkynes: bonding, electronic structure, and comparison with actinides and other electropositive metal. Huang, Wenliang; Diaconescu, Paula L. Dalton Trans. 2015, 44 (35), 15360-15371

85.   In situ synthesis of lanthanide complexes supported by a ferrocene diamide ligand: extension to redox-active lanthanide ion. Huang, Wenliang; Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Diaconescu, Paula L. New J. Chem. 2015, 39, 7696-7702

84.   Yttrium-Alkyl Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene-Based Phosphinimine Ligand. Brosmer, Jonathan L.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Organometallics 2015, 34 (11), 2567-2572

83.   High activity of an indium alkoxide complex toward ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters. Quan, Stephanie M.; Diaconescu, Paula L. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 9643-9646

82.   Tetraanionic Biphenyl Lanthanide Complexes as Single-Molecule Magnets . Wenliang Huang; Jennifer J. Le Roy; Khan, Saeed I.; Ungur, Liviu; Murugesu, Muralee; Diaconescu, Paula L. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54 (5) , 2374-2382

81.   Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene-Chelating Heteroscorpionate Complexes of Nickel(II) and Zinc(II). Mark Abubekerov, Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54 (4), 1778-1784

80.   A Mechanistic Study of Cross-coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Polyaniline Nanofiber. William M. Lemke, Richard B. Kaner, Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. Front. 2015, 2(1), 35-41

79.   Radical Anionic versus Neutral 2,2′-Bipyridyl Coordination in Uranium Complexes Supported by Amide and Ketimide Ligand. Paula L. Diaconescu, Christopher C. Cummins Dalton Trans. 2015, 44, 2676-2683

78.   Bimetallic Cleavage of Aromatic C-H Bonds by Rare Earth Metal Complexes. Wenliang Huang; Florian Dulong; Saeed I. Khan; Thibault Cantat; Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (50), 17410-17413

77.   Redox Control of Group 4 Metal Ring-Opening Polymerization Activity toward l-Lactide and e-Caprolactone. Xinke Wang, Arnaud Thevenon, Jonathan L. Brosmer, Insun Yu, Saeed I. Khan, Parisa Mehrkhodavandi, Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (32), 11264-11267

76.   Rare Earth Arene-bridged Complexes Obtained by Reduction of Organometallic Precursors. Wenliang Huang, Paula L. Diaconescu Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths 2014, 45, 261-329

75.   Group 3 metal stilbene complexes: synthesis, reactivity, and electronic structure studies. Wenliang Huang, Paul M. Abukhalil, Saeed I. Khan, Paula L. Diaconescu Chem. Commun. 2014, 50 (SI: 2014 Emerging Investigators), 5221-5223

74.   Synthesis of ferrocene-functionalized monomers for biodegradable polymer formation. Brianna M. Upton, Raymond M. Gipson, Selma Duhović, Brian R. Lydon, Nicholas M. Matsumoto, Heather D. Maynard, Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. Front. 2014, 1 (3), 271-277

73.   Investigation of the Electronic Structure of Mono(1,1′-Diamidoferrocene) Uranium(IV) Complexes. Selma Duhovic, Jeremy V. Oria, Samuel O. Odoh, Georg Schreckenbach, Enrique R. Batista, Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2013, 32 (20, SI: Ferrocene: Beauty and Function), 6012-6021

72.   Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Compounds of 1,1′-Bis(phosphino)metallocene (M = Fe or Ru) Ligands with Metal-Metal Interactions. Kathryn M. Gramigna, Chelsea L. Mandell, Jeremy V. Oria, Margaret A. Tiedemann, William G. Dougherty, Nicholas A. Piro, W. Scott Kassel, Paula L. Diaconescu, Chip Nataro Organometallics 2013, 32 (20, SI: Ferrocene: Beauty and Function), 5966-5979

71.   P4 Activation by Lanthanum and Lutetium Naphthalene Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene Diamide Ligand.Wenliang Huang and Paula L. Diaconescu Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 2013 (22-23, SI: Small-Molecule Activation by Reactive Metal Complexes), 4090-4096

70.   Characterization of an Iron-Ruthenium Interaction in a Ferrocene Diamide Complex. Aaron G. Green, Matthew D. Kiesz, Jeremy V. Oria, Andrew G. Elliott, Andrew K. Buechler, Johannes Hohenberger, Karsten Meyer, Jeffrey I. Zink, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52 (9), 5603-5610

69.   Investigations of the Electronic Structure of Arene-Bridged Diuranium Complexes. Bess Vlaisavljevich, Paula L. Diaconescu, Wayne L. Lukens, Jr., Laura Gagliardi, and Christopher C. Cummins Organometallics 2013, 32 (5, SI: Recent Advances in Organo-f-Element Chemistry), 1341-1352

68.   Synthesis and Characterization of Paramagnetic Lanthanide Benzyl Complexes. Wenliang Huang, Brianna M. Upton, Saeed I. Khan, and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2013, 32 (5, SI: Recent Advances in Organo-f-Element Chemistry), 1379-1386

67.   An Experimental and Computational Study of 1,1′-Ferrocene Diamines. Selma Duhovic and Paula L. Diaconescu Polyhedron 2013, 52 (SI: 100th Anniversary of the award of the 1913 Nobel prize in chemistry to Alfred Werner: A celebration), 377-388

66.   A six-carbon 10π-electron aromatic system supported by group 3 metals. Wenliang Huang, Florian Dulong, Tianpin Wu, Saeed I. Khan, Jeffrey T. Miller, Thibault Cantat, and Paula L. Diaconescu Nat. Commun. 2013, 4, 1448

65.   Transfer hydrogenation with a ferrocene diamide ruthenium complex. Andrew G. Elliott, Aaron G. Green, and Paula L. Diaconescu Dalton Trans. 2012, 41 (26, New Talent: Americas Special Issue), 7852 – 7854

64.   Arene-Bridged Diuranium Hexakisketimide Complexes Isolable in Two States of Charge. Paula L. Diaconescu and Christopher C. Cummins Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51 (5), 2902-2916

63.   P4 activation by group 3 metal arene complexes. Wenliang Huang and Paula L. Diaconescu Chem. Commun. 2012, 48 (16), 2216-2218

62.   Visible-light-induced reversible C-C bond formation of an imidazole-derived scandium complex. Wenliang Huang and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chim. Acta 2012, 380 (Young Investigator Award Special Issue), 274-277

61.   Synthesis of symmetrically and unsymmetrically 3,5-dimethylbenzyl-substituted 1,1′-ferrocene diamines.Jason A. Lee, Bryan N. Williams, Kevin R. Ogilby, Kevin L. Miller and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Organomet. Chem. 2011, ASAP DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2011.06.043

60.   Redox control of a polymerization catalyst by changing the oxidation state of the metal center.Erin M. Broderick, Neng Guo, Tianpin Wu, Carola S. Vogel, Cuiling Xu, Jörg Sutter, Jeffrey T. Miller, Karsten Meyer, Thibault Cantat and Paula L. Diaconescu Chem. Commun. 2011, 47 9897-9899

59.   Molecular quadrangle formation from a diuranium mu-eta6,eta6-toluene complex.Marisa J. Monreal, Saeed I. Khan, Jaqueline L. Kiplinger and Paula L. Diaconescu Chem. Commun. 2011, 47 9119-9121

58.   Scandium Arene Inverted-Sandwich Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene Diamide Ligand.Wenliang Huang, Saeed I. Khan, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133(27) 10410-10413

57.   Redox Control of a Ring-Opening Polymerization Catalyst.Erin M. Broderick, Neng Guo, Carola S. Vogel, Cuiling Xu, Joerg Sutter, Jeffrey T. Miller, Karsten Meyer, Parisa Mehrkhodavandi, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133(24) 9278–9281

56.   Complexes of Gold(I), Silver(I), and Copper(I) with Pentaaryl[60]fullerides.Merissa Halim, Robert D. Kennedy, Mitsuharu Suzuki, Saeed I. Khan, Paula L. Diaconescu, and Yves Rubin J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133(17) 6841–6851

55.   An Unusual Hydrogen Migration/C–H Activation Reaction with Group 3 Metals.Bryan N. Williams, Diego Benitez, Kevin L. Miller, Ekaterina Tkatchouk, William A. Goddard, III, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133(13) 4680–4683

54.   Synthesis and Characterization of Cerium(III/IV) Alkoxide Complexes Supported by Chelating-Ferrocene Ligands.Erin M. Broderick, Peter S. Thuy-Boun, Neng Guo, Carola S. Vogel, Joerg Sutter, Jeffrey T. Miller, Karsten Meyer, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50(7) 2870-2877

53.   Transmetallation Reactions of a Scandium Complex Supported by a Ferrocene-Diamide Ligand.Wenliang Huang, Colin T. Carver, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50(3) 978–984

52.   d0fn-Metal Complexes Supported by Ferrocene-Based Chelating Ligands.Paula L. Diaconescu Comments Inorg. Chem. 2010, 31(5-6) 196–241

51.   Group 3 Metal Complexes of Radical-Anionic 2,2′-Bipyridyl Ligands.Bryan N. Williams, Wenliang Huang, Kevin L. Miller, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49(24) 11493–11498

50.   Phosphine-Tethered Carbene Ligands: Template Synthesis and Reactivity of Cyclic and Acyclic Functionalized Carbenes.Insun Yu, Christopher J. Wallis, Brian O. Patrick, Paula L. Diaconescu, and Parisa Mehrkhodavandi Organometallics 2010, 29(22) 6065–6076

49.   Ring opening of aromatic heterocycles by uranium complexes.Selma Duhovic, Marisa J. Monreal, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Organomet. Chem. 2010, Pacifichem2010 issue 695(25) 2822-2826

48.   A Tale of Two Nitrides.Paula L. Diaconescu Nature Chem. 2010, 2(8) 705-706

47.   Reactions of Aromatic N-Heterocycles with d0fn-Metal Alkyl Complexes Supported by Chelating-Diamide Ligands.Paula L. Diaconescu Acc. Chem. Res. 2010, 43(10) 1352-1363

46.   Reactions of Aromatic Heterocycles with Uranium Alkyl Complexes.Selma Duhovic, Marisa J. Monreal, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49(15) 7165–7169

45.   Inter- and Intramolecular Hydroamination with a Uranium Dialkyl Precursor.Erin M. Broderick, Nathaniel P. Gutzwiller, and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2010, 29(15) 3242–3251

44.   Synthesis and Structural Studies of Chiral Indium(III) Complexes Supported by Tridentate Diaminophenol Ligands.Alberto Acosta-Ramirez, Amy F. Douglas, Insun Yu, Brian O. Patrick, Paula L. Diaconescu, and Parisa Mehrkhodavandi Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49(12) 5444-5452

43.   Reactions of Aromatic N-heterocycles with a Lutetium Benzyl Complex Supported by a Ferrocene-diamide Ligand.Allison W. Wong, Kevin L. Miller, and Paula L. Diaconescu Dalton Trans. 2010, 39(29) New Horizons in Organo-f-element Chemistry 6726-6731

42.   The Riches of Uranium.Marisa J. Monreal and Paula L. Diaconescu Nature Chem. 2010, 2(5) 424-424

41.   Reactions of Imidazoles with Electrophilic Metal Alkyl Complexes.Kevin L. Miller, Colin T. Carver, Bryan N. Williams, and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2010, 29(10) 2272-2281

40.   In Situ Generation of Uranium Alkyl Complexes.Selma Duhovic, Saeed Khan, and Paula Diaconescu Chem. Commun. 2010, 46 3390-3392

39.   Reversible C−C Coupling in a Uranium Biheterocyclic Complex.Marisa J. Monreal and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132(22) 7676-7683

38.   Reactions of Aromatic N-Heterocycles with Yttrium and Lutetium Benzyl Complexes Supported by a Pyridine-Diamide Ligand.Suyun Jie and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2010, 29(5) 1222-1230

37.   Coupling of Aromatic N-Heterocycles Mediated by Group 3 Complexes.Colin T. Carver, Bryan N. Williams, Kevin R. Ogilby, and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2010, 29(4) 835-846

36.   Dearomatization Reactions of N-Heterocycles Mediated by Group 3 Complexes.Kevin L. Miller, Bryan N. Williams, Diego Benitez, Colin T. Carver, Kevin R. Ogilby, Ekaterina Tkatchouk, William A. Goddard, III, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 132(1) 342-355

35.   Reactions of Group III Biheterocyclic Complexes.Colin T. Carver, Diego Benitez, Kevin L. Miller, Bryan N. Williams, Ekaterina Tkatchouk, William A. Goddard, III, and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131(19) 10269-10278

34.   Beyond C-H Bond Activation with Uranium: A Cascade of Reactions Mediated by a Uranium Dialkyl Complex.Marisa J. Monreal, Saeed Khan, and Paula L. Diaconescu Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48(44) 8352-8355

33.   Cerium(IV) Catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide.Erin M. Broderick and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48(11) 4701-4706

32.   Insertion Reactions of Scandium Pyridyl Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene Diamide Ligand.Colin T. Carver and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Alloys Compd. 2009, 488 Proceedings of the 25th Rare Earth Research Conference 518-523

31.   Reactions of Early Transition Metal – Carbon Bonds with N-Heterocycles.Paula L. Diaconescu Curr. Org. Chem. 2008, 12 1388-1405

30.   Ring-Opening Reactions of Aromatic N-Heterocycles by Scandium and Yttrium Alkyl Complexes.Colin T. Carver and Paula L. Diaconescu J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130(24) 7558-7559

29.   A Weak Interaction between Iron and Uranium in Uranium Alkyl Complexes Supported by Ferrocene Diamide Ligands.Marisa J. Monreal and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2008, 27(8) 1702-1706

28.   Scandium Alkyl Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene Diamide Ligand.Colin T. Carver, Marisa J. Monreal, and Paula L. Diaconescu Organometallics 2008, 27(3) 363-370

27.   Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Polyaniline Nanofibers as Semi-Heterogeneous Catalysts in Water.Benjamin J. Gallon, Robert W. Kojima, Richard B. Kaner, and Paula L. Diaconescu Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46(38) 7251-7254

26.   Redox Processes in a Uranium Bis(1,1′-diamidoferrocene) Complex.Marisa J. Monreal, Colin T. Carver, and Paula L. Diaconescu Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46(18) 7226-7228

Pre-UCLA Publications

25 The Conversion of Methanol to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane (Triptane) over Indium(III) Iodide. Bercaw, John E.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Grubbs, Robert H.; Hazari, N.; Kay, Richard D.; Labinger, Jay A.; Mehrkhodavandi, Parisa; Morris, George E.; Sunley, Glenn J.; Vagner, Patrick Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46(26), 11371-11380. »
24 On the Mechanism of the Conversion of Methanol to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane (Triptane) over Zinc Iodide. Bercaw, John E.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Grubbs, Robert H.; Kay, Richard D.; Kitching, Sarah; Labinger, Jay A.; Li, Xingwei; Mehrkhodavandi, Parisa; Morris, George E.; Sunley, Glenn J.; Vagner, Patrick. J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71(23), 8907-8917. »
23 On the Mechanism of the Conversion of Methanol to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane (Triptane) over Zinc Iodide. Labinger, Jay A.; Bercaw, John E.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Grubbs, Robert H.; Kay, Richard D.; Kitching, Sarah; Li, Xingwei; Mehrkhodavandi, Parisa; Morris, George E.; Sunley, Glenn J.; Vagner, Patrick. Preprints of Symposia – American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry 2006, 51(2), 839-840. »
22 Portability of the RNNMo(3+) core – Application to the Synthesis of Dinitrogen-Derived Trialkoxymolybdenum Organodiazenido Complexes. Cherry, John-Paul F.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. Can. J. Chem. 2005, 83(4), 302-307. »
21 Organic Nitriles from Acid Chlorides: An Isovalent N for (O)Cl Exchange Reactions Mediated by a Tungsten Nitride Complex Clough Christopher R.; Greco, Jane B.; Figueroa, Joshua S.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Davis, William M.; Cummins, Christopher C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 127(25), 7742-7743. »
20 A Sterically Demanding Enolate Ligand: Tantalum Ligation and Pyridine Coupling Soo, han Sen; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. Organometallics 2004, 23(3), 498-503. »
19 Molybdenum-Phosphorus Triple Bond Stabilization by Ancillary Alkoxide Ligation: Synthesis and Structure of a Terminal Phosphide Tris-1-methylcyclohexanoxide Complex Stephens, Frances H.; Figueroa, Joshua S.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125(31), 9264-9265. »
18 Diuranium Inverted Sandwiches Involving Napthalene and Cyclooctatetraene Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124(26), 7660-7661. »
17 Radical Scission of Symmetrical 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds: C-C Bond Cleavage with Titanium(IV) Enolate Formation and Related Reactions Agapie, Theodor; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Mindiola, Daniel J.; Cummins, Christopher C. Organometallics 2002, 21(7), 1329-1340. »
16 Methine (CH) Transfer via a Chlorine Atom Abstraction/Benzene-Elimination Strategy: Molybdenum Methylidyne Synthesis and Elaboration to a Phosphaisocyanide Complex. Agapie, Theodor; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. J. Am. Chem. Soc 2002, 124(11), 2412-2413. »
15 Vanadium nitride functionalization and denitrogenation by carbon disulfide and dioxide. Brask, Justin K., Dura-Vila, Victor, Diaconescu, Paula L., Cummins, Christopher C. Chem. Commun. 2002, 902-903. »
14 Uranium-Group 14 Element Single Bonds: Isolation and Characterization of a Uranium(IV) Silyl Species. Diaconescu, Paula L.; Odom, Aaron L.; Agapie, Theodor; Cummins, Christopher C. Organometallics 2001, 20(24), 4993-4995. »
13 Terminal Phosphide and Dinitrogen Molybdenum Compounds Obtained from Pnictide- Bridged Precursors. Cherry, John-Paul F.; Stephens, Frances H.; Johnson, Marc J. A.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40(27), 6860-6862. »
12 Coordination Chemistry of a Chelating Amidoximato Ligand. Barybin, Mikhail V.; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40(12), 2892-2897. »
11 Arene-Bridged Diuranium Complexes: Inverted Sandwiches Supported by δ Backbonding. Diaconescu, Paula L.; Arnold, Polly L.; Baker, Thomas A.; Mindiola, Daniel J.; Cummins, Christopher C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122(25), 6108-6109. »
10 Facile Synthesis of Trialkoxymolybdenum(VI) Alkylidyne Complexes for Alkyne Metathesis. Tsai, Yi-Chou; Diaconescu, Paula L.; Cummins, Christopher C. Organometallics 2000, 19(25), 5260-5262. »
9 Heteropolynuclear complex precursors used in mixed oxide synthesis. Guran, Cornelia; Diaconescu, Paula; Barboiu, Mihai; Iluc, Vlad; Stan, Claudiu British Ceramic Proceedings 2000, 61 (Novel Chemistry and Processing of Ceramics), 33-39.
8 Mono and polynuclear complexes of Cr(III) with dichloro-tetramorpholinocyclotriphosphazatriene. Guran, Cornelia; Barboiu, Mihai; Diaconescu, Paula; Iluc, Vlad; Stan, Claudiu Rev. Roum. Chim. 2000, 44(9), 917-921.
7 Pyridazinyl-hydrazine derivatives as polydentate ligand generators of Pt(II) and Pd(II) ciscomplexes. Guran, Cornelia; Iluc, Vlad; Diaconescu, Paula; Bicher, Mariana; Ciocoiu, Calin Roum. Biotechnol. Lett. 1999, 4(5), 369-374.
6 Functionalized derivatives of benzo-crown ethers. Part 4. Antifungal macrocyclic supramolecular complexes of transition metal ions acting as lanosterol-14-α-demethylase inhibitors. Barboiu, Mihai; Supuran, Claudiu T.; Scozzafava, Andrea; Guran, Cornelia; Diaconescu, Paula; Bojin, Mihaela; Iluc, Vlad; Cot, Louis Met.-Based Drugs 1999, 6(2), 101-110.
5 Synthesis and antifungal activity of metal complexes containing dichloro tetramorpholinocyclophosphazatriene. Guran, Cornelia; Barboiu, Mihai; Diaconescu, Paula; Iluc, Vlad; Bojin, Mihaela; Scozzafava, Andrea; Supuran, Claudiu T. Met.-Based Drugs 1998, 5(5), 287-294.
4 Complex compounds with phenothiazine derivatives as biologically active ligands. 4. Mono and polynuclear complex compounds of Fe(III). Guran, Cornelia; Bacu, Elena; Ciocoiu, Ioana; Carp, Nicoleta; Iluc, Vlad; Diaconescu, Paula; Bojin, Mihaela; Nicolae, Simona Roum. Biotechnol. Lett. 1998, 3(2), 123-130.
3 Contribution to the cyclophosphazene chemistry. 3. Complex compounds of Cu(II) with substituted cyclophosphazatriene derivatives. Guran, Cornelia; Barboiu, Mihai; Meghea, Aurelia; Jitaru, Ioana; Cimpoesu, Marilena; Berger, Daniela; Diaconescu, Paula; Bojin, Mihaela; Iluc, Vlad; Bita, Ion Rev. Roum. Chim. 1997, 42(7), 609-614.
2 Complex compounds of copper(II) with phenothiazine derivatives. Guran, Cornelia; Bicu, Elena; Jitaru, Ioana; Ciocoiu, Ioana; Meghea, Aurelia; Iluc, Vlad; Bojin, Mihaela; Diaconescu, Paula Rev. Roum. Chim. 1997, 42(9), 891-896.
1 Complex compounds with phenothiazine derivatives as biological active ligands III. Guran, Cornelia; Bicu, Elena; Ciocoiu, Ioana; Bojin, Mihaela; Diaconescu, Paula; Iluc, Vlad; Jinga, Oana Roum. Biotechnol. Lett. 1997, 2(3), 243-252.