Activation of C-H and C-F bonds at rhodium complexes for the functionalization of fluorinated olefins and ethers

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Braun
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461089492

The objectives of the application are based on the results obtained of the results from the first funding period. However, these will not only to be further developed; instead, some of the unusual reaction routes that have been developed also serve as inspiration for the development of new synthetic strategies. C-H and C-F bond activations of fluorinated alkenes and ethers play an important role here, as do insertion reactions of alkenes into C-H and C-F bonds on rhodium complexes and the associated evaluation of the stability of fluoroalkyl complexes. It is important to develop a mechanistic understanding of elementary steps on the basis of which catalytic processes will be established. One focus will be on the production of lower fluorinated compounds that, according to the current state of knowledge, do not fall under the PFAS classification. However, higher-fluorinated compounds will be important for identifying elementary steps and intermediates, as more stable complexes are to be expected here. The following specific objectives are being pursued: - C-C, C-O, C-Si, and C-Ge coupling reactions of fluorinated olefins by metal-mediated C-H bond activation and outer-sphere C-F bond activation, - The production of fluorinated alkanes by hydrosilylation/hydrogermylation and fluorosilylation/fluorogermylation of olefins. - The silylation/germylation of fluorinated ethers by C-F bond activation

• DFG Programme: Research Grants