University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences

Faculty & Research

Dong-Sheng Yang

Dong-Sheng Yang
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D. University of Western Ontario, Canada

Email: dyang0@uky.edu
Phone: 859-257-4622 (Off) 257-6150 (Lab)
Office: 009 Chemistry-Physics Building
Graduate Training: Physical Chemistry

Research


Research Interests

  • Molecular structures, spectroscopy, and thermochemistry of transient metal clusters and organometallic complexes
  • Photoelectron, photoionization, and photodissociation spectroscopy
  • Mass spectrometry
  • Laser-assisted synthesis
  • Computational Chemistry

Research Funding

  • National Science Foundation
  • Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society
  • Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation

We study structures and dynamics of building blocks of organometallic networks, supramolecular architectures, and metal nanoclusters.  The long-term outcome of our research is a quantitative understanding of how metal centers activate organic molecules and mediate chemical reactions.  The research has impact in catalysis, materials synthesis, and environmental and biological technologies.

We use laser vaporization supersonic expansions to produce super-cold molecules, mass spectrometry to measure the mass distribution of reaction products, laser spectroscopy to determine precise ionization energies, metal-ligand bond energies, and electronic-vibrational and, in some cases, rotational energy levels.  We use ab initio and conformational sampling methods to narrow the search for new molecules and new spectra and to help interpretation of experimental spectra.  The combination of the experimental and theoretical methods determines electronic states and molecular structures.

Current research projects include (1) transition metal-aromatic hydrocarbons, (2) metal-heterocycles, (3) metal-DNA/RNA bases, and (4) metal atomic clusters, and (5) metal oxide, carbide and nitride clusters.

The most significant results from our research activities are the successful applications of pulsed field ionization-zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE), mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI), and IR-UV resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy to metal clusters and complexes.  These techniques not only offer high spectral resolution, but also provide the ability to study molecular systems more akin to condensed-phase inorganic and organometallic chemistry.  The field is wide open, and we are well positioned as a major player.  For the first time, we are able to do gas-phase laser electronic-vibrational spectroscopy in a systematic way that varies the ligands or metal elements, much as our synthetic colleagues do inorganic reactions.

Selected Publications
  • Y. Lei and D. –S. Yang, “Half-Sandwich Structure of Cyclopentadienyl Dialuminum [Al2(h5-C5H5)] from Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Ab Initio Calculations,” J. Phys. Chem. A, 112, 1430-1435 (2008).  
  • B. R. Sohnlein, Y. Lei and D.-S. Yang, "Electronic States of Neutral and Cationic Bis(benzene)Titanium and Vanadium Sandwich Complexes Studied by Pulsed Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy," J. Chem. Phys. 127, 114302/1-114302/10 (2007).
  • S. A. Krasnokutski and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure of Aluminum Uracil,” J. Phys. Chem. A 111, 10567-10573 (2007).
  • X. Wang, B. R. Sohnlein, S. Li, J. F. Fuller and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Molecular Structures of Copper-(Pyridine)1,2,” Can. J. Chem.(Bancroft Special Issue), 85, 714-723 (2007).
  • X. Wang, J. S. Lee and D.-S. Yang, "Electron Spectroscopy, Molecular Structures, and Binding Energies of Al- and Cu-Imidazole," J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 12777-12784 (2006).
  • B. R. Sohnlein, J. F. Fuller, and D. –S. Yang, “Clamshell Structure of Sc(biphenyl) from High Resolution Photoelectron Spectroscopy,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.  128, 10692-10693 (2006).
  • X. Wang, J. S. Lee and D.-S. Yang, "Electron Spectroscopy, Molecular Structures, and Binding Energies of Al- and Cu-Imidazole," J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 12777-12784 (2006).
  • B. R. Sohnlein and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy of Group 6 Metal (Cr. Mo, and W) Bis(benzene) Sandwich Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 124, 134305-1/8 (2006).
  • X. Wang and D. –S. Yang, “Spectroscopy and Structures of Copper Complexes with Ethylenediamine and Methyl-Substituted Derivatives,” J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 7568-7576(2006).
  • X. Wang, J. S. Lee, and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Ab Initio Calculations of Copper-Diazine Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 125, 014309/1-9 (2006).
  • S. Li, B. R. Sohnlein, D. –S. Yang, J. Miyawaki, and K. Sugawara “Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Conformation of Copper-Diammonia,” J. Chem. Phys., 122, 214316-1/8(2005).
  • J. Miyawaki, K. Sugawara, S. Li, and D. –S. Yang, “ZEKE Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations of Copper-Methylamine Complexes,” J. Phys. Chem. A, 109, 6697-6701(2005).
  • B. R. Sohnlein, S. Li, J. F. Fuller, and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed-Field Ionization Electron Spectroscopy and Binding Energies of Alkali Metal-Dimethyl Ether and –Dimethoxyethane Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 123, 14318-1/7(2005).
  • B.R. Sohnlein, S. Li, and D. –S. Yang, “Electron Spin Multiplicities and Molecular Structures of Neutral and Ionic Scandium Benzene Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 123, 214306-1/7 (2005).

2000-2004

  • S. Li, J. F. Fuller, X. Wang, B. R. Sohnlein, P. Bhowmik, and D. –S. Yang, “Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory of Puckered Ring Structures of Group 13 Metal-Ethylenediamine,” J. Chem. Phys. 121, 7692-7700 (2004).
  • X. Wang and D. –S. Yang, “A Hydrogen-Bond Stabilized Copper Complex: Cu-Ethylenediamine,” J. Phys. Chem. A 108, 6449-6451 (2004).
  • S. Li, J. F. Fuller, B. R. Sohnlein, G. K. Rothschopf, and D. –S. Yang, “Photoionization and Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Spectroscopy of M-P(CH3)3 and M-As(CH3)2 (M = Ga, In),” Can, J. Chem. (G. Herzberg Memorial Issue) 82, 1067-1076 (2004).
  • D.-S. Yang, "Photoelectron Spectroscopy," in Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry II:  From Biology to Nanotechnology, (J. McCleverty and T. Meyers, Editors-in-Chief), Vol. 1, Fundamentals, (A. B. P. Lever, Ed.), Elsevier:  Oxford, 2003, pp187-196
  • S. Li, G. K. Rothschopf, J. F. Fuller and D. –S. Yang, “Photoelectron and Photoionization Spectroscopy of Weakly Bound Aluminum-Methylamine Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 118, 8636-8644 (2003).
  • J. Miyawaki, D. –S. Yang, and K. Sugawara, “ZEKE Spectroscopy of the AgNH3 Complex,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 372, 627-631 (2003).
  • S. Li, B. R. Sohnlein, G. K. Rothschopf, J. F. Fuller and D. –S. Yang, “Pulsed-Field Ionization Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations of Copper Complexes: Cu-X(CH3)3 (X = N, P, As),” J. Chem. Phys. 119, 5406-5413 (2003).
  • S. Li, J. F. Fuller, B. R. Sohnlein and D. –S. Yang, “Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations of Gallium-Methylamine Complexes,” J. Chem. Phys. 119, 8882-8889 (2003).
  • S. Li, G. K. Rothschopf and D. S. Yang, "Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Calculations of Al-P(CH3)3 and Al-As(CH3)3," J. Chem. Phys., 116, 6589-6594 (2002).
  • S. Li, G. K. Rothschopf and D. S. Yang, "Ionization and Dissociation Energies of Group 13 Metal Complexes with Group 15 Hydrides," J. Phys. Chem. A, 106, 6941-6944 (2002).
  • G. K. Rothschopf, S. Li and D.-S. Yang, "Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Metal-Ether Complexes:  Y-O(CH3)2, Y-O(CD3)2, Y-[O(CH3)2]2, and Y‑[O(CD3)2]2," J. Chem. Phys., 117, 8800-8804 (2002).
  • J. F. Fuller, S. Li, B. R. Sohnlein, G. K. Rothschopf and D.-S. Yang, "A Photoionization and Photoelectron Study of Vibrational and Electronic Cooling in Metal Molecular Beams," Chem. Phys. Lett., 366, 141-146 (2002).
  • D.-S. Yang, "Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Photoelectron Spectra of Metal Clusters and Complexes," in Advances in Metal and Semiconductor Clusters, Vol. 5, Metal Ion Solvation and Metal-Ligand Interactions, (M. A. Duncan, Ed.), Elsevier:  Amsterdam, 2001, pp. 187-225.
  • D.-S. Yang, "Photoelectron Spectra of Metal-Containing Molecules with Resolutions Better Than 1 meV,"  Coord. Chem. Rev., 214, 187-213 (2001).
  • G. K. Rothschopf, S. Li, J. S. Perkins and D.-S. Yang, "Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Weakly Bound In-NH2CH3, In-NH(CH3)2, and In-N(CH3)3 Complexes," J. Chem. Phys., 115, 4565-4572 (2001).
  • S. Li, G. K. Rothschopf, D. Pillai, B. R. Sohnlein, B. M. Wilson and D.-S. Yang, "Spectroscopy and Calculations of Weakly Bound Gallium Complexes with Ammonia and Monomethylamine," J. Chem. Phys., 115, 7968-7974 (2001).
  • D. B. Pedersen, M. Z. Zgierski, S. Anderson, D. M. Rayner, B. Simard, S. Li and D.-S. Yang, "Bonding in Transition Metal-Ether Complexes:  The Spectroscopy and Reactivity of the Zr Atom-Dimethyl Ether System," J. Phys. Chem., 105, 11462-11469 (2001).
  • G. K. Rothschopf, J. S. Perkins, S. Li and D.-S. Yang, "Zero Electron Kinetic Energy Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations of InNH3," J. Phys. Chem. A, 104, 8178-8182 (2000).
  • D.-S. Yang and P. A. Hackett, "ZEKE Spectroscopy of Free Transition Metal Clusters,"  J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 106, 153-169 (2000).
  • B. Simard, S. A. Mitchell, D. M. Rayner and D.-S. Yang, "Structures, Energetics, and Reactivity of Metal Clusters and Metal-Ligand Species in the Gas Phase," in Metal-Ligand Interactions in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, (N. Russo and D. R. Salahub, Eds.), Kluwer:  Dordrecht, 2000, pp. 239-294.
  • A. Berces, M. Z. Zgierski and D.-S. Yang, "Study of the Electronic and Geometric Structures of Transition Metal Molecules and Cluster Compounds Using DFT Calculations and ZEKE Spectroscopy," in Computational Molecular Spectroscopy, (P. Jensen and P. R. Bunker, Eds.), John Wiley & Sons:  New York, 2000, pp. 109-134.

 
Back to Department Home»
« Back to University of Kentucky Homepage
Sign In