Prof. V.W.W. Yam

Prof. V.W.W. Yam　　　任詠華教授

B.Sc., Ph.D. H.K.;
Member of Chinese Academy of Science (China);
C.Chem.; F.R.S.C.; Chair of Chemistry

Office:

Room 504
Chong Yuet Ming Chemistry Building
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong

Tel. No.:
E-Mail:

(852) 2859 2153
wwyam@hku.hk

Research Interest

Luminescent Transition Metal Acetylides

The growing interests in the synthesis of alkynyl metal complexes owing to the recent reports on their potential applications as nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and molecular wires as well as their capability for a wide variety of different bonding modes have attracted much attention. The project involves the design and synthesis of soluble luminescent metal acetylides; their photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical behaviour will be studied. Luminescent rigid-rod metal acetylides of Cu(I), Ag(I), Au(I), Pt(II) and Re(I) will also be investigated and extension to oligomeric and polymeric units will be pursued.

Luminescent Polynuclear Metal Clusters / Metal-Sulfur and -Chalcogen Clusters

There has been a growing interest in the spectroscopic and photophysical studies of polynuclear metal clusters by virtue of their multi-electron redox centres and metal-metal bonding characters. In addition, the wide applications of non-stoichiometric metal oxides and chalcogenides in heterogeneous catalysis, photovoltaic and semiconductor fabrication, and in materials science have prompted us to synthesize soluble metal clusters, in particular the metal-chalcogen clusters, which would serve as model compounds for the study of structure-property relationships in such materials. The project involves the design and synthesis of soluble luminescent polynuclear d8 and d10 metal complexes using bridging ligands or atoms. The photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical behaviour will be studied.

Supramolecular Metal Complexes / Surfactant Photophysics and Photochemistry

Mechanistic studies on photo-induced electron transfer reactions are of importance to the understanding of photosynthesis and in the design of photochemical molecular devices. This project aims to synthesize both Werner-type and organometallic supramolecular metal complexes and to study their photophysical, photochemical and redox properties. The use of charged colloidal surfactants in photochemical studies will also be investigated. Incorporation of metal surfactant complexes into monolayers and LB films will also be studied; some of which may exhibit NLO behaviour.

Luminescent Metal Ion Probes / Photoswitches and Complexes for DNA Recognition and Cleavage

Studies in the ion-selective binding properties as well as molecular recognition and selective cleavage of DNA using transition metal complexes are of paramount importance and interests for the design of selective ion probes, synthetic restriction enzymes, and for the understanding of metal complex - DNA interactions. The project involves the design and synthesis of luminescent metal complexes capable of selective binding to cations or anions, or to DNA as well as selective and specific cleavage of DNA. The binding and cleavage characteristics will be studied. Extension of the work to the design of metal-based molecular functional materials for applications in luminescence signalling, optoelectronics, photoswitching, photomemory, photochromics, light-emitting diodes, sensors and molecular devices will also be pursued.

Organometallic Synthesis and Reactivities

The project involves the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of novel luminescent high-valent organometallics and metal-carbon multiply bonded systems.

V.W.W. Yam, S.W.K. Choi, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1996, 1173.
V.W.W. Yam, P.K.Y. Yeung, K.K. Cheung, Angew.Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, 35, 739.
V.W.W. Yam, W.K.M. Fung, K.K. Cheung, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, 35, 1100.
V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, Comments Inorg. Chem., 1997, 19, 209.
V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, C.R. Wang, K.K. Cheung, J. Phys. Chem. A, 1997, 101, 4666.
V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, K.K. Cheung, R.Y.C. Kong, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1997, 2067.
V.W.W. Yam, W.K.M. Fung,. K.M.C. Wong, V.C.Y. Lau, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1998, 777.
V.W.W. Yam, S.H.F. Chong, K.M.C. Wong, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1999, 1013.
V.W.W. Yam, E.C.C. Cheng, K.K. Cheung, Angew.Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1999, 38, 197.
A. Mayr, M.P.Y. Yu, V.W.W. Yam, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1999, 121, 1760.
V.W.W. Yam, Y. Yang, H.P. Yang, K.K. Cheung, Organometallics, 1999, 18, 5252.
V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, Chem. Soc. Rev., 1999, 28, 323.

Selected Publication

Prof. V.W.W. Yam　　　任詠華教授 B.Sc., Ph.D. H.K.; Member of Chinese Academy of Science (China); C.Chem.; F.R.S.C.; Chair of Chemistry


Office:		Room 504 Chong Yuet Ming Chemistry Building The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong
Office:			Tel. No.: E-Mail:		(852) 2859 2153 wwyam@hku.hk

	Research Interest Luminescent Transition Metal Acetylides The growing interests in the synthesis of alkynyl metal complexes owing to the recent reports on their potential applications as nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and molecular wires as well as their capability for a wide variety of different bonding modes have attracted much attention. The project involves the design and synthesis of soluble luminescent metal acetylides; their photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical behaviour will be studied. Luminescent rigid-rod metal acetylides of Cu(I), Ag(I), Au(I), Pt(II) and Re(I) will also be investigated and extension to oligomeric and polymeric units will be pursued. Luminescent Polynuclear Metal Clusters / Metal-Sulfur and -Chalcogen Clusters There has been a growing interest in the spectroscopic and photophysical studies of polynuclear metal clusters by virtue of their multi-electron redox centres and metal-metal bonding characters. In addition, the wide applications of non-stoichiometric metal oxides and chalcogenides in heterogeneous catalysis, photovoltaic and semiconductor fabrication, and in materials science have prompted us to synthesize soluble metal clusters, in particular the metal-chalcogen clusters, which would serve as model compounds for the study of structure-property relationships in such materials. The project involves the design and synthesis of soluble luminescent polynuclear d8 and d10 metal complexes using bridging ligands or atoms. The photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical behaviour will be studied. Supramolecular Metal Complexes / Surfactant Photophysics and Photochemistry Mechanistic studies on photo-induced electron transfer reactions are of importance to the understanding of photosynthesis and in the design of photochemical molecular devices. This project aims to synthesize both Werner-type and organometallic supramolecular metal complexes and to study their photophysical, photochemical and redox properties. The use of charged colloidal surfactants in photochemical studies will also be investigated. Incorporation of metal surfactant complexes into monolayers and LB films will also be studied; some of which may exhibit NLO behaviour. Luminescent Metal Ion Probes / Photoswitches and Complexes for DNA Recognition and Cleavage Studies in the ion-selective binding properties as well as molecular recognition and selective cleavage of DNA using transition metal complexes are of paramount importance and interests for the design of selective ion probes, synthetic restriction enzymes, and for the understanding of metal complex - DNA interactions. The project involves the design and synthesis of luminescent metal complexes capable of selective binding to cations or anions, or to DNA as well as selective and specific cleavage of DNA. The binding and cleavage characteristics will be studied. Extension of the work to the design of metal-based molecular functional materials for applications in luminescence signalling, optoelectronics, photoswitching, photomemory, photochromics, light-emitting diodes, sensors and molecular devices will also be pursued. Organometallic Synthesis and Reactivities The project involves the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of novel luminescent high-valent organometallics and metal-carbon multiply bonded systems. Luminescent Transition Metal Acetylides Luminescent Polynuclear Metal Clusters / Metal-Sulfur and -Chalcogen Clusters Supramolecular Metal Complexes / Surfactant Photophysics and Photochemistry Luminescent Metal Ion Probes / Photoswitches and Complexes for DNA Recognition and Cleavage Organometallic Synthesis and Reactivities			V.W.W. Yam, S.W.K. Choi, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1996, 1173. V.W.W. Yam, P.K.Y. Yeung, K.K. Cheung, Angew.Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, 35, 739. V.W.W. Yam, W.K.M. Fung, K.K. Cheung, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, 35, 1100. V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, Comments Inorg. Chem., 1997, 19, 209. V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, C.R. Wang, K.K. Cheung, J. Phys. Chem. A, 1997, 101, 4666. V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, K.K. Cheung, R.Y.C. Kong, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1997, 2067. V.W.W. Yam, W.K.M. Fung,. K.M.C. Wong, V.C.Y. Lau, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1998, 777. V.W.W. Yam, S.H.F. Chong, K.M.C. Wong, K.K. Cheung, Chem. Commun., 1999, 1013. V.W.W. Yam, E.C.C. Cheng, K.K. Cheung, Angew.Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1999, 38, 197. A. Mayr, M.P.Y. Yu, V.W.W. Yam, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1999, 121, 1760. V.W.W. Yam, Y. Yang, H.P. Yang, K.K. Cheung, Organometallics, 1999, 18, 5252. V.W.W. Yam, K.K.W. Lo, Chem. Soc. Rev., 1999, 28, 323. Selected Publication