Control of London Dispersion Interactions in Metal-Catalyzed C-H Activation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Lutz Ackermann
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2015 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271384665

In this project, we will explore the use of attractive London dispersion energy interactions to influence activity and selectivity in metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization chemistry. Despite of considerable recent advances in C–H functionalizations, fundamental aspects of the key C–H activation continue to be poorly understood. Thus, a systematic study on attractive London dispersion energy interactions for catalyst formation and transition-state stabilization has unfortunately as of yet proven elusive. This program will address three key challenges, namely (i) the quantification of dispersion interactions for C–H activations, (ii) the development of dispersion-energy donors DEDs for transition-metal catalysis, and (iii) the rational design of catalysts for the diastereo-, meta- and enantio-selective activation of C–H bonds through dispersion interactions. The detailed understanding of attractive dispersion interactions by experimental and computational mechanistic studies will stimulate the development of DEDs for transition-metal catalysis in C–H functionalizations and beyond. Success will entirely rely on a tight interplay between preparative chemistry, spectroscopy and theoreticians. The project will thus yield strong interactions with other activities in the collaborative network.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1807: Control of London Dispersion Interactions in Molecular Chemistry