Quantification of the interactions of group 8 and group 10 metal fluorides with hydrogen and halogen donors in solution - contributions to a better understanding of the nature of the metal fluoride bond

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Torsten Beweries
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2009 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 120053390

The activation and functionalisation of the exceptionally strong C F bond is a challenging goal for organometallic chemists. Moreover, the study of bond energies of metal fluorides with hydrogen or halogen bonds is of increasing interest for e. g. coordination and organometallic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering or molecular recognition. Metal halide complexes have shown to be suitable for the investigation of such interactions, being a good acceptor for hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds. The synthesis of an isostructural series of such complexes of one transition metal group has not been done before, except for group 4. For comparing the strength of different metal-fluorine bonds systematically, a number of complexes of group 8 and group 10 metals will be synthesised, utilising N-heterocyclic carbenes and bulky phosphines as ligands. The interactions of these compounds with organic donors will then be investigated by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Robin N. Perutz