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Christopher C. Cummins is a Henry Dreyfus Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research group focuses on the development of new methods in inorganic synthesis to address a variety of interesting questions. His work spans chemical synthesis, reaction discovery, reagent development, and mechanistic studies. The group is known for developing anthracene-based precursors for reactive intermediates such as phosphinidenes and phosphinidene chalcogenides, and exploring heavier main-group multiply bonded species stabilized by sterically demanding substituents. The Cummins group employs a building block approach to synthesizing poly-oligophosphate containing compounds and investigates transition-metal mediated processes for phosphinidene transfer to olefins. Their synthetic strategies are complemented by quantum chemical investigations aimed at illuminating potential energy surfaces and revealing subtleties in chemical bonding in novel systems. Additionally, their research initiatives address phosphorus sustainability by uncovering energy-efficient and waste-minimal methods for producing value-added phosphorus chemicals from recycled materials.