Dynamic Metal-to-Element Dative Bonds and their Applications Beyond the Molecule

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Braunschweig
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2010 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192178519

The Lewis basicity of transition metal complexes forms a foundation of both inorganic chemistry and catalysis, however, unambiguous examples of Lewis adducts based on transition metal Lewis bases are still very rare. This proposal requests renewal of our previous DFG grant (2011-2014) related to dative bonds between main groups and transition metals, during which we elaborated on the concept of metal-only Lewis pairs (MOLPs). This project witnessed the significant expansion of the range of both Lewis base and acid components suitable for forming MOLPs, a number of borderline cases, and in some cases unusual alternative reaction outcomes. The scope of MOLP reactivity was also considerably widened. The future work proposed herein takes two distinct directions. Subproject A: Development of new Lewis acid and base components, their combination to form MOLPs, and further reactivity and spectroscopic studies to better understand the nature of metal-to-element dative bonds. Subproject B: The use of dynamic metal-to-element dative bonds as structural elements for supramolecular chemistry, a type of bond never before used in this field. This subproject aims to first develop synthetic routes to multitopic Lewis acid and base building blocks, and their combination to construct proof-of-principle supramolecular assemblies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants