NHC-Ligands for Olefin Metathesis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Herbert Plenio
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2010 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 175185861

The project aims towards synthesizing new N-heterocyclic carbenes to obtain improved catalysts for the application in various olefin metathesis reactions. N,N-Diarylimidazol(in)ylidene are known to constitute a very favorable class of ligands and we therefore intend to synthetically broaden the scope of such ligands in their use for catalytic transformation. Based on new catalysts the project will mainly focus on the development of cross metathesis reactions with terpenes and on the synthesis and application of catalysts for stereoselective olefin metathesis reactions. Squalene and natural rubber are to be converted into low molecular weight terpenes, which might constitute valuable building blocks for organic synthesis. The synthesis of iptycene-NHC ligands with triptycene and pentiptycene units, whose aryl wings extend far below and above the plane of the respective N-aryl group should lead to ligands, in which certain areas around the respective metal are blocked and thus might enable stereoselective catalysis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants