Electrochemical Studies of Important Organometallic Compounds in New Types of Electrolytes

University Of Vermont & State Agricultural College, Burlington VT

Investigators

Abstract

Professor William Geiger of the University of Vermont is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry program to study organometallic compounds electrochemically in novel electrolytes. Of particular interest are noncoordinating fluoroarylborate anions. These substances afford increased solubilities and conductivities in low-to-medium polarity solvents including fluorous solvents. Work in fluorous solvents is attractive because of possibilities of product/reactant/catalyst separation. There are electrochemical advantages which allow the study of ion-pairing interactions in these systems. The PI also proposes to study rhodium-based complexes electrochemically for the purpose of developing new synthetic pathways. The outcomes of the work will be relevant to many areas including electroanalytical chemistry, materials and sensor development, synthetic and industrial chemistry employing homogeneous inorganic or organometallic catalysis and in efforts to replace toxic organic solvents with environmentally benign substitutes.