Four-membered heterocyclic Biradicaloids: Reagents for Bond Activation and Ligands for 3d Transition-metals

• Applicant: Dr. Peter Coburger
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 438203135

Homogeneous catalysis is a main research area in modern chemistry due to its enourmos application potential. Molecular complexes of precious metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium are predominantly used as catalysts. Unfortunately, because of their low abundance, they are sensitive towards supply fluctuations and the cost of the precious metals and complexes thereof are usually very high. In addition, environmental implications are associated with their complex mining processes. Therefore, there is an ongoing interest to replace those metals by their lighter congeners or to use main-group compounds as catalysts instead.The proposed project deals with a promising class of compounds for both approaches, namely four-membered heterocyclic biradicaloids. These compounds constitute a subgroup of open-shell singlet species which usually show a high reactivity. Preliminary work by the groups of Schulz and Grützmacher include the activation of dihydrogen, ammonia and multiple-bond systems. The aim of this project is the further exploration of this intriguing class of compounds. Thereby, the ultimate goal is the incorporation of the studied reactivity into catalytic cycles. To achieve this goal, the reactivity of known systems is going to be studied further and also, new biradicaloid systems based on silicon and arsenic will be synthesised. Additionally, the heterocyclic biradicaloids will be utilised as redox-active sandwich ligands for 3d transition-metals in order to mimic precious-metal behaviour in catalytic reactions.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Host: Professor Dr. Hansjörg Grützmacher