Organometallic Chemistry of Group 6 Imido Diamide Complexes

University Of Florida, Gainesville FL

Investigators

Abstract

James Boncella (University of Florida) is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program for his work with early transition metal imido/amido compounds. The presence of several pi donors in the coordination sphere and the two electron change between M(IV) and M(VI), where M= Mo or W, provide an opportunity for unusual reactivity. Complexes such as (N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)-o-phenylenediamide)M(=NPh)(arene) show olefin polymerization and hydrogenation activity. The arylimido and -amido ligands will be modified to determine the effects on bonding and reactivity, particularly oxidative addition. The complexes will also be used to model hydrodesulfurization using sulfur-containing substrates such as thiophene and hydrodeoxygenation chemistry using oxygenated aromatics. This fundamental study will explore the effects of subtle changes in a metal complex. Study of these organometallic species may lead to a new understanding of industrial processes such as olefin polymerization, hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurization and hydrodeoxygenation.