Marianne Engeser

My research is in the field of supramolecular chemistry and the elucidation of reaction mechanisms using a combination of chemical synthesis, sophisticated mass spectrometric methods and electrochemistry. Modern mass spectrometry allows the targeted study of chemical properties and the reactivity of individual, mass-selected species under precisely defined conditions. Soft electrospray ionization allows access to weakly bound supramolecular aggregates accessible to this method which provides extremely valuable insights into bonding and reactivity. We currently focus on mechanistic questions in supramolecular chemistry, gold catalysis and organocatalysis, with a special interest in the direct detection and mass spectrometric characterization of reactive intermediates.