Catalysis underpins countless processes, from large-scale industrial production to the creation of life-saving drugs. Yet, despite its importance, the inner workings of many catalytic reactions remain poorly understood.

That puzzle is what drives Binghamton University Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jennifer Hirschi. She recently received a $1.93 million Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award MIRA R35 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to probe the mechanisms behind catalytic transformations.

“I care about how bonds are formed and broken during chemical reactions,” Hirschi explained. “If we can understand that in detail, we can design new catalysts, develop new transformations, and control chemical selectivity.”

In the past year, Hirschi co authored two papers on biocatalysis with Nobel laureate Frances Arnold of Caltech. With support from the MIRA grant, she will expand her studies in biocatalysis and photoredox catalysis, working alongside postdoctoral researcher Sharath Chandra Mallojjala. A specialist in kinetic isotope effects, Hirschi blends experimental techniques with computational modeling to reveal how catalytic processes operate at the atomic scale and how they can be improved.

“In pharmaceuticals, common starting chemicals can be converted into high value drugs,” she said. “Catalysis is what makes that possible.”

Her lab is focusing on two emerging approaches:

Photoredox catalysis, where blue light supplies just the right amount of energy to activate chemical bonds.

Biocatalysis, which uses engineered enzymes to drive transformations.

Both methods offer greener alternatives to traditional metal-based catalysts, which often rely on scarce and toxic elements such as palladium and platinum. The catch? Scientists still don’t fully understand the mechanisms behind these novel approaches.

Even the foundations of organic chemistry remain under active investigation. When Hirschi began exploring photoredox and biocatalysis two years ago, the field was still wide open.

Unlocking their secrets could help researchers better control reactions with direct applications in pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and beyond. And because these approaches harness light and enzymes rather than heavy metals, they also promise environmental benefits a growing priority in modern chemistry.

Source: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/3915/light-of-transformation-research-explores-the-inner-workings-of-chemical-change