1,3-Diene complexes: a gateway to two-electron reactive processes of group 3 metals and lanthanides

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bart Hessen
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2006 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 23958894

Mononuclear group 3 and lanthanide metal compounds with 1,3-diene ligands will be targeted. These are expected to show a (2(-metallacyclopentene ground state structure, with the metal formally in the (normal) trivalent oxidation state. Nevertheless, they are expected to react with certain substrates via elimination of the free 1,3-diene ligand. This generates in situ a monovalent group 3 or lanthanide metal centre that can then either perform two separate one-electron processes, or a single two electron process (such as oxidative addition or oxidative coupling). As most reactions that involve a change in oxidation state for this class of metals are single electron processes, this approach should provide an interesting and potentially useful addition to the arsenal of reactive possibilities of group 3 and lanthanide organometallics.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1166: Lanthanide Specific Functionalities in Molecules and Materials
• International Connection: Netherlands