Synthesis and characterization of fullerene – transition metal complexes. Electronic and geometric structure of fullerene – transition metal complexes and the relationship of their structure with the complexes chemical reactivities. Integration of high school biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics using calculator-based laboratory technology.

Representative Publications:

Tamara Félix, Jose E. Cortés Figueroa, Consecutive C60 Fullerene Dissociation from Ir(η2-C60)(CO)(Cl)(PPh3)2 and the Oxidative Addition of Benzene, Journal of Chemical Education, 2010, 87(4), 426-428.

T. Félix-Massa, J.E. Cortés-Figueroa, “Solvent/C60 exchange on Ir(CO)(PPH3)2(Cl)(h2-C60) and solven/solvent’ Exchange on Ir(CO)(PPH3)2(Cl)(solvent)”, Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2009, 12, 347-350.

Elvin Igartúa-Nieves, Yessenia Ocasio-Delgado, and José E. Cortés-Figueroa,  Ligand Exchange reactions of fac-(dihapto-[60]fullerene)(dihapto-1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane tricarbonyl chromium(0), Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 2007, 60(4), 449 – 456.

Luis A. Rivera-Rivera, Yessenia Ocasio, Gisela Crespo, Debora Acevedo and José E. Cortés-Figueroa, [60]fullerene Displacement from Fac-(Dihapto-[60]fullerene)(Dihapto-1, 2-Bis-(1,10-Phenanthroline) Tricarbonyl Tungsten(0). Inorg. Chimi. Acta, 2004, 357 (3), 881 – 887.

F. Colón-Padilla, L. Rivera-Rivera, Y. Ocasio-Delgado and J. E. Cortés-Figueroa, Kinetics and Mechanisms of Ligand Exchange Reactions on (Dihapto-Buckminsterfullerene) Pentacarbonyl Tungsten (0)., Inorg. Reac. Mech.  2002, 4, 49-56.

Luis Rivera-Rivera,  Frisia Colón-Padilla,  Ana Del Toro-Novalés, José E. Cortés-Figueroa, PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF (DIHAPTO-BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE) PENTACARBONYL TUNGSTEN (O),  Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 2001, 54(2), 143–151.

W. De Jesus, J. Cortes, J. López-Garriga, Formation of Compounds I and Compound II Ferryl Species in the Reactions of Hemoglobin I from Lucina pectinata with Hydrogen Peroxide, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 2001, 390, 304‑308.

J. E. Cortés-Figueroa, M.  S. León-Velázquez, J.  Ramos, J. P. Jasinski, D. A. Keene, J. D. Zubkowski, and E. J. Valente, Crystal Structures of cis-tetracarbonylbis(tricyclohehylphosphine) Molybdenum (0) and Pentacarbonyl(tricyclohehylphosphine) Molybdenum (0), Acta Cryst. Secc. C  2000, C56, 1435-1437.

Formation of Compound I and Compound II Ferryl Species in the Reaction of Hemoglobin I from Lucina Pectinata with Hydrogen Peroxide. W. De Jesús, J. E. Cortés-Figueroa, F. A. Souto-Bachiller, L. Rodríguez, and J. López-Garriga, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 2001, 390, 304-308.

Photosynthesis of (Dihapto-Buckminsterfullerene) Pentacarbonyl Tungsten (0). L. Rivera-Rivera, F. Colón- Padilla, A. Del Toro-Novalés and J. E. Cortés-Figueroa J. Coord. Chem. 2001, 54, 143.

Kinetics and Mechanisms of Ligand Exchange Reactions on (Dihapto-Buckminsterfullerene) Pentacarbonyl Tungsten (0). F. Colón-Padilla, L. Rivera-Rivera, Y. Ocasio-Delgado and J. E. Cortés-Figueroa, Inorg. React. Mech. 2002, 4, 49-56.

Using a Graphing Calculator to Determine a First-Order Rate Constant when the Infinity Reading is Unknown. J. E. Cortés-Figueroa and D. A. Moore J. Chem. Ed. 2002, 79, 1462-1464.

An Experiment for the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory: The Sunlight Induced Photosynthesis of (h2-C60)M(CO)5 Complexes (M = W, Mo). J. E. Cortés-Figueroa J. Chem. Ed. 2003, 80, 799-800.