Organometallics in Superacidic Media

University Of Wyoming, Laramie WY

Investigators

Abstract

Dean Roddick, University of Wyoming, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program for continued work on organometallic compounds in superacidic environments. Using fluorinated chelating phosphines such as di(perfluoroethylphosphino)ethane (dfepe), Roddick has prepared platinum alkyls such as (dfepe)Pt(Me)(OTf) and [(dfepe)Pt(Me)(CO)]+ that are stable in superacidic solutions. A range of alkyls will be prepared to determine the relative proteolytic stability. The chemistry will be extended to explore carbenium ion chemistry in the coordination sphere of a metal. Hydrides, polyhydrides and dihydrogen complexes will also be studied in this unique environment. High pressure NMR and ATR-IR will be used to survey the interactions of these very electrophilic compounds with weak bases such as methane, xenon, nitrogen and oxygen. This work explores the limits of organometallic chemistry in the extreme superacid environment. The superelectrophilic metal complexes provide insight into alkane transformations on metal surfaces. Such transformations are critical in petroleum cracking and other important industrial processes.