Early Transition Metal Complexes Containing Sterically Demanding Ligands

• Applicant: Dr. Elke Hoppe
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2008 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 70489452

To synthesize low valent early transition metal complexes ArMMAr (M = Mo, W) with sterically demanding ligands, transmetalation reactions with halogenides were unsuccessful. For that reason molybdenum carboxylates were investigated as starting materials and the complexes 1 (Mo2(OOCPh)3Ar', Ar' = 2,6-Dipp-C6H3) and 2 (Mo2(OOCTol)3(OC(t-Bu)3)2Li) could be obtained, but there are few more products of promising reactions that still have to be characterized. For comparison analogous reactions with tungsten and mixed metal carboxylates will be performed. Different starting materials ([Mo2(NCCH3)8]4+, Mo2(NMe2)6, Mo2(OR)6) will also be investigated as well as reactions with analgous tungsten materials. It will be attempted to synthesize vanadium compounds that are isolobal to group 6 compounds of the type ArMMAr. Therefore carbenes will be used as ligands in reactions with V(CO)6 and VCl2 * n THF and with VCl2 * n THF as educt more reactions will be performed. When the synthesis of the target molecules ArMMAr have been achieved, their reactivity toward a wide array of small molecules will be investigated.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Philip P. Power