Chapter 11
Frustrated Lewis Pair Pedagogy:
Expanding Core Undergraduate
Curriculum and Reinforcing
Fundamental Thermodynamic Concepts
Timothy C. Johnstone
Abstract For over a decade, the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) concept has helped
to extend the frontiers of main-group chemistry. The present-day maturity of the
field, coupled with recent research developments highlighting the continuity between
FLP chemistry and classical Lewis acid–base chemistry, suggests that FLP chemistry should be introduced into the mainstream undergraduate chemistry curriculum.
Herein is described the experience of a pilot project to incorporate FLP chemistry into the undergraduate main-group inorganic chemistry course at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The presentation of the material, which stresses the
thermodynamic-based continuity that links classical Lewis acid–base chemistry and
FLP chemistry, also suggested that coverage of the FLP material might provide a
means of solidifying fundamental concepts from chemical thermodynamics from
earlier courses. Preliminary quantitative and qualitative data have been acquired that
support this hypothesis.
Keywords Frustrated Lewis Pair · FLP · Lewis acid–base · Thermodynamics ·
Pedagogy · Undergraduate
11.1 Introduction
The articulation of the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) concept by Stephan and coworkers
less than 20 years ago helped contribute to a contemporaneous and ongoing resurgence in main-group inorganic chemistry. Viewing chemical systems through the FLP
lens has allowed significant discoveries to be made in the areas of small-molecule
activation and catalysis [1–3]. Reactions that had previously lain solely within the
purview of transitionmetal chemistry were now accessible with main-group systems.
T. C. Johnstone (B)
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High
Street, 95064 Santa Cruz, CA, USA
e-mail: johnstone@ucsc.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. Chris Slootweg and A. R. Jupp (eds.), Frustrated Lewis Pairs,
Molecular Catalysis 2, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58888-5_11
387
Frustrated Lewis Pair Pedagogy:
Expanding Core Undergraduate
Curriculum and Reinforcing
Fundamental Thermodynamic Concepts
Timothy C. Johnstone
Abstract For over a decade, the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) concept has helped
to extend the frontiers of main-group chemistry. The present-day maturity of the
field, coupled with recent research developments highlighting the continuity between
FLP chemistry and classical Lewis acid–base chemistry, suggests that FLP chemistry should be introduced into the mainstream undergraduate chemistry curriculum.
Herein is described the experience of a pilot project to incorporate FLP chemistry into the undergraduate main-group inorganic chemistry course at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The presentation of the material, which stresses the
thermodynamic-based continuity that links classical Lewis acid–base chemistry and
FLP chemistry, also suggested that coverage of the FLP material might provide a
means of solidifying fundamental concepts from chemical thermodynamics from
earlier courses. Preliminary quantitative and qualitative data have been acquired that
support this hypothesis.
Keywords Frustrated Lewis Pair · FLP · Lewis acid–base · Thermodynamics ·
Pedagogy · Undergraduate
11.1 Introduction
The articulation of the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) concept by Stephan and coworkers
less than 20 years ago helped contribute to a contemporaneous and ongoing resurgence in main-group inorganic chemistry. Viewing chemical systems through the FLP
lens has allowed significant discoveries to be made in the areas of small-molecule
activation and catalysis [1–3]. Reactions that had previously lain solely within the
purview of transitionmetal chemistry were now accessible with main-group systems.
T. C. Johnstone (B)
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High
Street, 95064 Santa Cruz, CA, USA
e-mail: johnstone@ucsc.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. Chris Slootweg and A. R. Jupp (eds.), Frustrated Lewis Pairs,
Molecular Catalysis 2, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58888-5_11
387