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Polygence Scholar2023
Penelope Clark's profile

Penelope Clark

Class of 2025Arlington, Virginia

About

Hello! My name is Penelope Clark, and I came to Polygence because I want to learn how to conduct my own research before that becomes an essential skill. I also want to learn more about organic chemistry, which is one of my favorite topics. Once my project is finished, I would like to present my research at some symposiums/competitions, and potentially publish it.

Projects

  • "The History and Properties of Common Transition Metal Catalysts in Organic Synthesis" with mentor Sarah (Oct. 4, 2023)

Project Portfolio

The History and Properties of Common Transition Metal Catalysts in Organic Synthesis

Started Apr. 6, 2023

Abstract or project description

Penelope will be writing an academic review paper on common transition metal catalysts and their current uses in the field of chemical engineering. Specifically, she will detail the use of the four most common TM catalysts (iron, copper, nickel, and palladium) in organic synthesis. Her project will include a brief history of organic synthesis, current research surrounding each transition metal, and a description of the most relevant applications for each catalysis method. She may also want to include diagrams of specific chemical reactions relevant to each synthesis process. She will also comment on the future work that might be done in this field, including multimetal catalysis and medicinal applications.