Research Interests:
Development of novel catalyst systems
Carbon-carbon bond activation
Unusual organic compounds
Bio-organometallicchemistry
Frustrated Lewis Pairs: metal-free dihydrogenactivation
Metal catalyzed polymerization reactions

Recent publications:
1."Surface constrained alkyl C-H activation and C-C coupling reaction", D. Zhong, J.-H. Franke, S. K.
Podiyanachari, T. Blömker, H. Zhang, G. Kehr, G. Erker, H. Fuchs, L. Chi, Science 2011, 334, 213.
2. "Reaction of Frustrated Lewis Pairs with Conjugated Ynones - Selective Metal-Free Hydrogenation of
the Carbon-Carbon Triple Bond", B.-H. Xu, G. Kehr, R. Fröhlich, B. Wibbeling, B. Schirmer, S.
Grimme, G Erker, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 7183.
3. "Capture of NO by a Frustrated Lewis Pair: A New Type of Persistent N-Oxyl Radical", A. J. P.
Cardenas, B. J. Culotta, T. H. Warren, S. Grimme, A. Stute, R. Fröhlich, G. Kehr, G. Erker, Angew.
Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 7567.
4. "P-C Bond Activation Chemistry: Evidence for 1,1-Carboboration Reactions Proceeding with
Phosphorous-Carbon Bond Cleavage", O. Ekkert, R. Fröhlich, G. Kehr, G. Erker, J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2011, 133, 4610.
5. "Reaction of Aminodihydropentalenes with HB(C6 F5 )2 : The Crucial Role of Dihydrogen
Elimination", B.-H. Xu, G. Kehr, R. Fröhlich, S. Grimme. G. Erker, J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 133, 3480.