Taking the Concept of Frustrated Lewis Pairs beyond Main Group Systems

• Applicant: Dr. Annika Stute
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 245388628

In the solution phase initial combinations of LEWIS bases and LEWIS acids for FLP chemistry focused mainly on intra- or intermolecular main group systems, most often bulky phosphanes or amines together with electron deficient boranes or allanes. Recently, the Wass group and others extended the scope of LEWIS acids in FLPs to group 3 transition metals in the expectation that the propensity of transition metals to expand their coordination sphere and undergo catalytically important reactions such as migratory insertion would unlock yet new chemistries that may be catalytic.There are still limitations for the ultimate goal of obtaining catalytic reactivity in cases where main group systems or the investigated metal FLPs are stoichiometric. This project seeks to overcome these limitations by focusing on exploration of further metal based LEWIS acids in combination with different LEWIS bases and the variation of their substituents. In addition, first steps towards the immobilization of FLPs on surfaces are envisioned which may lead to the first example of a heterogeneous FLP system for catalytic reactions.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Duncan Wass