Chemistry Seminar: Nathaniel Rosi, Pitt

Nathaniel Rosi University of Pittsburgh Leveraging lability in MOFs: explorations in ligand exchange, interligand chemistry, and controlling compositional complexity Host: Kevin Noonan Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 4:00 p.m. Mellon Institute Conference Room 348 Abstract: This presentation will detail ligand exchange phenomena and associated opportunities in classes of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that contain either ligand bundles or multiple interconnected domains. Specific focus will be dedicated to explorations of how ligand bundling and ligand sterics influence ligand exchange outcomes and how consideration of these factors allows for systematic approaches to controlling ligand exchange. Finally, the presentation will detail how we are using this chemistry to control MOF compositional and structural complexity and to pursue new approaches for making molecules within the MOF milieu. Bio: Nathaniel Rosi received a B.A. degree in chemistry in 1999 from Grinnell College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan in 2003. After completing postdoctoral work at Northwestern University, he joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 2006. He was promoted to Associate Professor of Chemistry with tenure in 2012, Professor of Chemistry in 2015, and Covestro Chair of Chemistry in 2022. He is currently serving as Department Chair. He was the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, and he was recognized as a Kavli Fellow. His research programs focus on the design and discovery of new materials, investigation of their chemistry, and development of the science for precisely controlling and understanding their atomic/molecular structures, properties, and functions. His lab examines both molecular and nanoparticle assembly and has discovered new classes of chiral nanomaterials, new levels of structural and functional complexity in metal-organic f