CRC 858 A05 - Olefin Ligands in Cooperative Catalysis

Basic data for this project

Description

Transition metal complexes of η2-bonded olefins have played an important role in the field of organometallic chemistry for decades. In catalysis, olefins have only functioned as substrates for a long time, being transformed further after decomplexation. In recent years, olefins have gained additional importance as steering ligands binding to the catalytically active metal and thus influencing the catalytic properties of the metal center. The aim of project A5 is to utilize and analyze olefin ligands in cooperative catalytic reactions. For this purpose, novel steering ligands based on olefins shall be developed. These shall then be used for the generation of bimetallic catalyst systems in combination with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. Furthermore, olefin and aromatic substrates shall be identified that can be activated via complexation at heterogeneous and homogeneous metal catalysts and thus act as dual catalysts. In addition, theoretical methods might give an insight into the olefin metal interactions and explain synergetic effects potentially involved on this particular field of catalysis.