B.S. National Autonomous University of Mexico, 1992
Ph.D. National Autonomous University of Mexico, 1997

The Muñoz research group focuses on the design of novel coordination complexes based on main group and earth-abundant transition metals for a variety of chemical transformations and the design of supramolecular architectures for chemical transformations in confined spaces.
Current research in our laboratory include:

σ-bond activation and catalysis promoted by bimetallic main group-transition complexes.
We aim to understand how further electronic fine-tuning of a transition metal center with a group 13 acceptor modulate the activation of small molecules such as H₂, N₂, and CO₂ that are relevant in energy solving problems. Our bimetallic catalysts also activate unreactive bonds (C-H, C-N, C-O, Si-H) in organic molecules for energy-related problems and difficult organic transformations.

Bimetallic main group-transition complexes for C-C bond formation.
A current interest of our laboratory is to understand the effect of a group 13 metalloligand in the framework of transition metal complex to enhance the polymerization of substituted acetylenes. The σ-conjugated polymers are of interest in electronics and optoelectronics. Another reaction of interest in our group is metal-mediated Cross-Coupling which relies on main group-transition metal complexes. We seek to understand the mechanistic aspects of this reaction to implement more efficient methodologies with inexpensive metallic precursors.

Confinement effects on chemical transformations.
We are developing new synthetic methodologies to achieve metalla or boracalix[n]arenes with frameworks that incorporate heteroaromatics and group 13 moieties. Further functionalization of these species with transition metal moieties near the cavity is being targeted to effect organic transformations on the transition metal with unique steric and electronic effects imposed by the metalla or boracalix[n]arene.

Relevant publications

1. Ring-opening Polymerization of rac-Lactide by Al(III) and Zn(II) Complexes Incorporating Schiff Base Ligands Derived from Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, E. Rufino-Felipe, N. Lopez, F. A. Vengoechea-Gómez, L.-G. Guerrero-Ramírez, and M.-Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Applied Organomet. Chem., 32:e4315, 2018. DOI: 10.1002/aoc.4315.
2. Alkyl Al, Ga and Zn Complexes Chelated by Mono-O-thiocarbamate-phenol Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization and Activity as Diels-Alder Catalysts, P.-de-la Cruz-Burelo, J. Caballero-Jiménez, V. Montiel-Palma, M.-Á. Muñoz, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 473, 236-244, 2018, DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2017.12.031.
3. Novel Hexanuclear and Octanuclear Zinc Alkyl Cages Derived from a Bis-Oxamidate Ligand, E. Rufino-Felipe, J. Caballero-Jiménez, L.-G. Guerrero-Ramírez, M. Flores-Álamo, M.-Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 63, 107-110, 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2015.12.001.
4. Zinc β-enaminoketonate Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and ROP of rac-Lactide, Na. Crespo-Velasco, L.-G. Guerrero-Ramírez, M. Flores-Alamo, M.-Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Main Group Chem., 14, 141–157, 2015, DOI: 10.3233/MGC-150165.
5. Calix[4]arenes of aluminum and gallium with benzimidazolyl ligands: steric control of the conformation via substitution on the ligand, E. Rufino-Felipe, M. Á. Muñoz-Hernández, H. F. Saucedo-Azpeitia, S. A. Cortes-Llamas, Inorg. Chem., 51, 12834-12840, 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ic301718m.
6. Steric control of conformation in self-assembly metallacalix[4]arenes derived from AlMe₃ or GaMe₃ with benzimidazolyl ligands, E. Rufino-Felipe, M.-Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Chem. Commun., 47, 3210-3212, 2011, DOI:10.1039/C0CC05438K.
7. Aluminium complexes derived from tridentate thioetherbis(phenolate) ligands and their activity in Diels–Alder catalysis, N. Tiempos-Flores, A. J. Metta-Magaña, V. Montiel-Palma, S. A. Cortés-Llamas, M. Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Dalton Trans., 39, 4312-4320, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/B922657E.
8. Sodium Polypyrazolylaluminates: Synthesis, Characterization and Isolation of a Reaction Intermediate of a Tris-pyrazolylaluminate, S. A. Cortes-Llamas, M. Á. Muñoz-Hernández, Organometallics, 26, 6844-6851, 2007 DOI: 10.1021/om700828b.