Ruhl, Kyle E., authorRovis, Tomislav, advisorMcNally, Andrew, committee memberNeilson, James R., committee memberKipper, Matthew J., committee member2017-06-092017-06-092017http://hdl.handle.net/10217/181308Transition metals are an important natural resource and an essential component of many industrial processes and applications. Examples of these include air-quality control, electronics manufacture, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and petro-chemistry. Within the field of synthetic chemistry, transition metal catalysts minimize waste, decrease expense, and enable rapid construction of small molecules. Over the past decade, transition-metal-based polypyridyl complexes have been the cornerstone of photo-redox catalysis which facilitate electron transfer and allow synthetic chemists to functionalize inert functionalities using visible-light energy. The first chapter of this work introduces rhodium- and cobalt-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloadditions as well as photo-redox catalysis. The following chapter covers our group's progress toward the merger of photo-redox and cobalt catalysis as well as the multi-disciplinary approach we have used to understand mechanism. The third chapter explores light-gated catalysis and its importance for spatially and temporally resolved methods. Finally, the fourth chapter focuses on the applications of light-gated cobalt catalysis. We have found a light-gated cobalt catalyst to temporally control the [2+2+2] cycloaddition, and when combined with photolithography, enable a spatially resolved method for arene formation.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.cobaltlightcatalysisphotoredoxgatedText