My research interests have been
in the area of studying the rates of reduction of both organic and inorganic
reactions using dilute metal ammonia solutions as sources of solvated electrons.
The reactions studies are such that their mechanisms could have general
application in a variety of cathodic electrochemical and dissolved metal
processes. I have been particularly interested in the role of the
metal cation in these reductions.
I have also investigated the chemistry
of the anions of the alkali metals. Metal anions are expected to
be strong bases by virtue of their electron pairs and their chemical behavior
should resemble that of the hydride ion. We have found that sodium
dissolves in 1,4,7,10 tetraoxacyclodeodecanes, forming stable and highly
concentrated blue metal anion solutions. These solutions will be
helpful in the investigation of the chemistry of the alkali metal anions.
