Research

My general research interest is in the area where inorganic, physical, and biological chemistry all come together. Inorganic chemistry concerns the structure and reactions of all of the elements of the Periodic Table, although my interest focuses on the transition metals (d block), such as iron, manganese, and nickel. Physical chemistry involves the use of experimental techniques, such as spectroscopy, and theory to understand the basic properties of chemical compounds. My spectroscopic method of choice is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), which is a magnetic resonance technique similar to NMR. I am also interested in magnetic measurements on inorganic compounds. The biological relevance stems from the fact that many metal ions are extremely important in living systems. Metal ions are often at the active site in enzymes and other proteins found throughout Nature. There are many such examples: hemoglobin in animals and the many cytochromes contain iron; the oxygen-evolving complex in photosynthesis by plants is a Mn-containing protein; methane-producing microorganisms use a nickel enzyme. Spectroscopic methods, such as EPR, can provide valuable information on the structure and mechanism of the metal-containing active site in metalloproteins. Advanced EPR and magnetic measurements require very specialized equipment and are done off-campus, however, the synthesis and characterization of inorganic model compounds can be done at Roosevelt.

Outside laboratories/research projects

Some projects with which I am associated include:

Research Project A

  • The ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance) group in Prof. Brian M. Hoffman‘s laboratory at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. ENDOR spectroscopy provides detailed information on metalloenzyme active site structure and function. Areas of interest include iron-sulfur proteins and heme proteins. See: https://sites.northwestern.edu/hoffmanchem/

Research Project B

In September 2023, I attended an in-person UC Meeting in Tallahassee.

Research Project C

Dr. Alexander Schnegg (HZB) and J. Telser, BESSY II, July 2012 sitting at a desk with papers in a laboratory.
Dr. Alexander Schnegg (HZB) and J. Telser, BESSY II, July 2012.
Photo of a laboratory with FD-FT THz-EPR work station, BESSY II
FD-FT THz-EPR work station, BESSY II.

Research Project D

  • I have also been collaborating for many years with scientists at the Slovak Technical University, Bratislava, Slovakia; primarily with Prof. Marian Valko. This has led to other collaborations on copper(II) and on ruthenium and osmium chemistry with other scientists in Slovakia and in Austria (notably the group of Prof. Dr. Vladimir B. Arion, Uni. Wien) and in Romania and Portugal.

Research Project E

  • Other EPR-related projects. These are in collaboration with scientists in many areas involving paramagnetic transition metal ions.

Selected Publications

Research papers

Research area (a)

“EPR and 57Fe ENDOR Investigation of 2Fe Ferredoxins from Aquifex aeolicus”
Cutsail, G. E., III; Doan, P. E.; Hoffman, B .M.; Meyer, J.; Telser, J. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 17, 1137–1150. (DOI: 10.1007/s00775-012-0927-7)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00775-012-0927-7

“Mechanistic Studies of the Spore Photoproduct Lyase via a Single Cysteine Mutation”
Linlin Yang, Gengjie Lin, Renae S. Nelson, Yajun Jian, Joshua Telser, and Lei Li
Biochemistry 2012, 51, 7173–7188.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/bi3010945

“A Radical Transfer Pathway in Spore Photoproduct Lyase”
Linlin Yang, Renae S. Nelson, Alhosna Benjdia, Gengjie Lin, Joshua Telser, Stefan Stoll, Ilme Schlichting, and Lei Li
Biochemistry 2013, 52, 3041–3050.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/bi3016247

“Structural and spectroscopic characterization of an Fe(VI) bis(imido) complex”
Jorge L. Martinez, Sean A. Lutz, Hao Yang, Jiaze Xie, Joshua Telser, Brian M. Hoffman, Veronica Carta, Maren Pink, Yaroslav Losovyj, Jeremy M. Smith*
Science 2020, 370, 356-359.
https://www.science.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abd3054

“Hydrogen atom abstraction by a high-spin [FeIII=S] complex”
Juan A. Valdez-Moreira; Duleeka C. Wannipurage; Maren Pink; Veronica Carta; Pierre Moënne-Loccoz; Joshua Telser; Jeremy M. Smith*
Chem 2023, 9, 2601-2609.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2023.05.007

“The Active-Site [4Fe-4S] Cluster in the Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Enzyme IspH Adopts Unexpected Redox States during Ligand Binding and Catalysis”
Selamawit Ghebreamlak, Sebastian A. Stoian, Nicholas S. Lees, Bryan Cronin, Forrest Smith, Matthew O. Ross, Joshua Telser, Brian M. Hoffman, and Evert C. Duin
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 3926–3942. (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11674)
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c11674

Research areas (b) and (c):

“Low-Spin Hexacoordinate Mn(III): Synthesis and Spectroscopic Investigation of Homoleptic Tris(pyrazolyl)borate and Tris(carbene)borate Complexes”
Adam P. Forshaw, Jeremy M. Smith, Andrew Ozarowski, J. Krzystek, Dmitry Smirnov, S. A. Zvyagin, T. David Harris, Hemamala I. Karunadasa, Joseph M. Zadrozny, Alexander Schnegg, Karsten Holldack, Timothy A. Jackson, Ahmad Alamiri (RU student), Diane M. Barnes (RU student), and Joshua Telser
Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 144–159.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ic301630d

“Crystallographic Evidence for a Sterically Induced Ferryl Tilt in a Non‐Heme Oxoiron(IV) Complex that Makes it a Better Oxidant”
Waqas Rasheed, Dr. Apparao Draksharapu, Saikat Banerjee, Dr. Victor G. Young Jr., Ruixi Fan, Prof. Dr. Yisong Guo, Dr. M. Ozerov, Dr. Joscha Nehrkorn, Dr. J. Krzystek, Prof. Dr. Joshua Telser, Prof. Dr. Lawrence Que, Jr. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 9387-9391. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201804836

Research areas (a) and (b)

“Electronic Structure of Three-Coordinate FeII and CoII β-Diketiminate Complexes”
Alexandra L. Nagelski, Mykhaylo Ozerov, Majed S. Fataftah, J. Krzystek, Samuel M. Greer, Patrick L. Holland, and Joshua Telser
Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 4511–4526.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03388

Research areas (b), (c) and (d):

“Spectroscopic and Computational Studies of Spin States of Iron(IV) Nitrido and Imido Complexes”
Lukas Bucinsky, Martin Breza, Wei-Tsung Lee, Anne K. Hickey, Diane A. Dickie, Ismael Nieto, Jordan A. DeGayner, T. David Harris, Karsten Meyer, J. Krzystek, Andrew Ozarowski, Joscha Nehrkorn, Alexander Schnegg, Karsten Holldack, Rolfe H. Herber, Joshua Telser, and Jeremy M. Smith
Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56 (8), 4751–4768.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b00512

Research area (b):

“A mononuclear, terminal titanium(III) imido”
Jacob S. Mohar, Anders Reinholdt, Taylor M. Keller, Patrick J. Carroll, Joshua Telser and Daniel J. Mindiola
Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 10101-10104.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/CC/D3CC01758C Cover article:

“Vanadocene de Novo: Spectroscopic and Computational Analysis of Bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)vanadium(II)”
Timothy A. Jackson, J. Krzystek, Andrew Ozarowski, Gayan B. Wijeratne, Benjamin F. Wicker, Daniel J. Mindiola, and Joshua Telser
Organometallics 2012, 31, 8265–8274.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/om300892y

“Spectroscopic Characterization of L-ascorbic Acid-induced Reduction of Vanadium(V) Dipicolinates: Formation of Vanadium(III) and Vanadium(IV) Complexes from Vanadium(V) Dipicolinate Derivatives”
Horton, D. C.; VanDerveer, D.; Krzystek, J.; Telser, J.; Pittman, T.; Crans, D. C.; Holder, A. A. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2014, 420, 112-119.
(Special Issue: Recent Advances in Vanadium Chemistry; DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2013.12.001).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020169313006452

“Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Titanium(II) Coordination Complex”
Zolnhofer, E. M.; Wijeratne, G. B.; Jackson, T. A.; Fortier, S.; Heinemann, F. W.; Meyer, K.; Krzystek, J.; Ozarowski, A.; Mindiola, D. J.; Telser, J.
Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 6187-6201 (Editor’s Choice).
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00311

“Advanced Paramagnetic Resonance Studies on Manganese and Iron Corroles with a Formal d4 Electron Count”
Krzystek, J.; Schnegg, A.; Aliabadi, A.; Holldack, K.; Stoian, S. A.; Ozarowski, A.; Hicks, S. D.; Abu-Omar, M. M.; Thomas, K. E.; Ghosh, A.; Caulfield, K. P.; Tonzetich, Z. J.; Telser, J. Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 1075–1090.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02635

Research area (c):

“Simulating Frequency-Domain Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: Bridging the Gap between Experiment and Magnetic Parameters for High-Spin Transition-Metal Ion Complexes”
Nehrkorn, J.; Telser, J.; Holldack, K.; Stoll, S.; Schnegg, A.
J. Phys. Chem. B 2015, 119, 13816–13824.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b04156
Wolfgang Lubitz Festschrift.

Research areas (b) and (d):

“HFEPR and Computational Studies on the Electronic Structure of a High-Spin Oxidoiron(IV) Complex in Solution”
Lukas Bucinsky, Gregory T. Rohde, Lawrence Que Jr., Andrew Ozarowski, J. Krzystek, Martin Breza, and Joshua Telser
Inorg. Chem. 2016, 55, 3933–3945.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00169

“Tuning Magnetic Anisotropy Through Ligand Substitution in Five-Coordinate Co(II) Complexes”
David Schweinfurth, J. Krzystek, Mihail Atanasov, Johannes Klein, Stephan Hohloch, Joshua Telser, Serhiy Demeshko, Franc Meyer, Frank Neese, and Biprajit Sarkar
Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56 (9), 5253–5265.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b00371

“Charge and Spin States in Schiff Base Metal Complexes with a Disiloxane Unit Exhibiting a Strong Noninnocent Ligand Character: Synthesis, Structure, Spectroelectrochemistry, and Theoretical Calculations”
Maria Cazacu, Sergiu Shova, Alina Soroceanu, Peter Machata, Lukas Bucinsky, Martin Breza, Peter Rapta, Joshua Telser, J. Krzystek, and Vladimir B. Arion
Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 5691–5706.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b00229

“A five-coordinate manganese(III) complex of a salen type ligand with a positive axial anisotropy parameter D”
Sergiu Shova, Angelica Vlad, Maria Cazacu, J. Krzystek, Lukas Bucinsky, Martin Breza, Denisa Darvasiová, Peter Rapta, Joan Cano, Joshua Telser,* and Vladimir B. Arion*
Dalton Trans. 2017, 46, 11817–11829.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/DT/C7DT01809F Open Access

“High-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR) Investigation of a Pseudotetrahedral CrIV Siloxide Complex and Computational Studies of Related CrIVL4 Systems”;
Lukas Bucinsky, Martin Breza, Michal Malček, David C. Powers, Seung Jun Hwang, J. Krzystek, Daniel G. Nocera, and Joshua Telser*
Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58, 4907–4920.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b03512

Research area (d):

“Copper(II) Complexes with Schiff Bases Containing a Disiloxane Unit: Synthesis, Structure, Bonding Features and Catalytic Activity for Benzyl Alcohol Aerobic Oxidation”
Soroceanu, A.; Cazacu, M.; Shova, S.; Turta, C.; Kožišek, J.; Gall, M.; Breza, M.; Rapta, P.; Mac Leod, T. C. O.; Pombeiro, A. J. L.; Telser, J.; Dobrov, A. A.; Arion, V. B.
Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 1458-1474.
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejic.201201080

“cis-Tetrachlorido-bis(indazole)osmium(IV) and its osmium(III) analogues: paving the way towards the cis-isomer of the ruthenium anticancer drugs KP1019 and/or NKP1339
Gabriel E. Büchel, Susanne Kossatz, Ahmad Sadique, Peter Rapta,* Michal Zalibera, Lukas Bucinsky, Stanislav Komorovsky, Joshua Telser,* Jörg Eppinger, Thomas Reiner, and Vladimir B. Arion*
Dalton Trans. 2017, 46, 11925-11941.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/DT/C7DT02194A Open Access

Research area (e):

“Secondary Coordination Sphere Effects in Ruthenium(III) Tetraammine Complexes: Role of the Coordinated Water Molecule”
Souza, M. L.; Castellano, E. E.; Telser, J.; Franco, D. W. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 2067–2080.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ic5030857

“Quantifying the electron donor and acceptor ability of the ketimide ligands in M(N=CtBu2)4 (M = V, Nb, Ta)”;
Damon, P. L.; Cameron J. Liss (RU student); Lewis, R. A.; Morochnik, S.; Szpunar, D. E. (RU faculty); Telser, J.; Hayton, T. W. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 10081–10095.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b02017

“A PNNH Pincer Ligand Allows Access to Monovalent Iron”;
Polezhaev, A. V.; Cameron J. Liss (RU student); Telser, J.; Chen, C.-H.; Caulton, K. G. Chem. – Eur. J. 2018, 24, 1330–1341.
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/chem.201703795

“Probing Redox Noninnocence of Copper and Zinc Bis‐pyridylpyrrolides”; Flores, J. A.; Andino, J. G.; Lord, R. L.; Wolfe, R. J.; Park, H.; Pink, M.; Telser, J.; Caulton, K. G. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2018, 4893–4904. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejic.201800935

“Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Analyses of Vanadocene Tetrametaphosphate and Phosphinate Derivatives”; Carroll, T. G.; Garwick, R.; Telser, J.; Wu, G.; Ménard, G. Organometallics 2018, 37, 848–854. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00797

“Probing Hydrogen Atom Transfer at a Phosphorus(V) Oxide Bond Using a “Bulky Hydrogen Atom” Surrogate: Analogies to PCET”; Chu, J.; Carroll, T. G.; Wu, G.; Telser, J.; Dobrovetsky, R.; Ménard, G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 15375–15383. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/jacs.8b09063

“Homoleptic Imidophosphorane Stabilization of Tetravalent Cerium”; Natalie T. Rice, Jing Su , Thaige P. Gompa, Dominic R. Russo, Joshua Telser, Lukas Palatinus, John Bacsa, Ping Yang*, Enrique R. Batista*, and Henry S. La Pierre* Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58, 5289–5304.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b00368

“Selectivity of tungsten mediated dinitrogen splitting vs. proton reduction”; Bastian Schluschaß, Josh Abbenseth, Serhiy Demeshko, Markus Finger, Alicja Franke, Christian Herwig, Christian Würtele, Ivana Ivanovic-Burmazovic, Christian Limberg, Joshua Telser and Sven Schneider* Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 10275-10282.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/SC/C9SC03779A
Selected as a 2019 Chemical Science HOT article.

“Redox-Controlled Reactivity at Boron: Parallels to Frustrated Lewis/Radical Pair Chemistry”; Wong, A.; Chu, J.; Wu, G.; Telser, J.; Dobrovetsky, R.; Ménard, G.
Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 10343−10352.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01464

“Synthesis and Characterization of Heteromultinuclear Ni/M Clusters (M = Fe, Ru, W) Including a Paramagnetic (NHC)Ni–WCp*(CO)3 Heterobinuclear Complex”
Hsien-Cheng Yu; Joshua Telser; and Neal P. Mankad* Organometallics 2021, 40, 2123–2132.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.organomet.1c00263

“Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of a Zinc-Bound N‑Oxyphthalimide Radical”
Miguel Á. Baeza Cinco, Guang Wu, Joshua Telser, and Trevor W. Hayton* Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 13250-13255. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c01765

Review articles/Book chapters

Research area (a):

Joshua Telser; “Paramagnetic Resonance Investigation of Mono- and Di-Manganese-Containing Systems in Biochemistry”, Vol. 666 of Methods in Enzymology; R. D. Britt, Editor; 2022, pp 315–372. Elsevier Inc., ISSN 0076-6879
https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2022.02.005

George E. Cutsail, III; Joshua Telser; Brian M. Hoffman; “Advanced Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopies of Iron-Sulfur Proteins: Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) and Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM)”; Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Molecular Cell Research 2015, 1853, 1370–1394. (DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.01.025).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488915000403

Joshua Telser; “Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) Spectroscopy”; In Applications of Physical Methods to Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry; Scott, R. A., Lukehart, C. M., Eds.; Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2007; pp 99-124.
ISBN: 978-0-470-03217-6 (print); 978-1-118-62528-6 (E-book)
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Applications+of+Physical+Methods+to+Inorganic+and+Bioinorganic+Chemistry-p-9781118625286

Research area (b):

Joshua Telser, Andrew Ozarowski, and J. Krzystek; “High-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance of transition metal ion (d block) coordination complexes”;
Electron Paramag. Reson. 2013, 23, 209-263. (Royal Society of Chemistry, Specialist Periodical Report. (DOI: 10.1039/9781849734837-00209)
https://books.rsc.org/books/edited-volume/1775/chapter-abstract/1820404/High-frequency-and-field-electron-paramagnetic

Joshua Telser; Andrew Ozarowski, and J. Krzystek; “High-Frequency and High-Field Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (HFEPR) – A new spectroscopic tool for bioinorganic chemistry”; J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2014, 19, 297–318.
(DOI: 10.1007/s00775-013-1084-3).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00775-013-1084-3

J. Krzystek, and Joshua Telser; “Measuring giant anisotropy in paramagnetic transition metal complexes with relevance to single-ion magnetism”;
Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 16751–16763. (Perspectives article; DOI: 10.1039/C6DT01754A).
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/dt/c6dt01754a/

Joshua Telser; “EPR Interactions – Zero Field Splittings”; eMagRes 2017, 6(2), 207–234. (DOI: 10.1002/9780470034590.emrstm1501).
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9780470034590.emrstm1501

Research area (e):

Joshua Telser; “Overview of Ligand versus Metal Centered Redox Reactions in Tetraaza Macrocyclic Complexes of Nickel with a Focus on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies”;
J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2010, 21, 1139-1157. (Ícaro Moreira memorial issue).
https://jbcs.sbq.org.br/audiencia_pdf.asp?aid2=684&nomeArquivo=v21n7a02.pdf

Editorial

Together with Prof. Dr. Harald Schwalbe (University of Frankfurt, Germany), I had the honor of being a Guest Editor for a special issue of ChemBioChem in memory of Prof. Ivano Bertini (University of Florence, Italy) who was one of the all-time greatest bioinorganic chemists and died in July 2012.

Schwalbe, H.; Telser, J. “Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Bio(in)organic Chemistry and in Mechanistic Systems Biology: A Tribute to Ivano Bertini”; ChemBioChem 2013, 14, 1671–1675. DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201300451.
Free access: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cbic.201300451

Commentary

Joshua Telser “Linewidth, Field, and Frequency in Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy”; J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2022, 27, 605–609. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00775-022-01961-4