Novel Reagents, Polymerization Initiators and Superbases--Advances in the Organometallic Chemistry of the Heavy Alkaline Earth Metals

Syracuse University, Syracuse NY

Investigators

Abstract

Karin Ruhlandt-Senge, Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program for research into the molecular chemistry of calcium, strontium and barium and related studies with the trivalent lanthanides. Metal-based methods, alkyl/arene elimination, desilylation, and transmetallations will be developed for the facile synthesis of sigma-bonded alkaline earth alkyls, aryls and thiolates. As a part of this effort, new ligands, such as terphenyls, will be utilized to support novel organometallic compounds containing group II metals. Compounds containing an organo alkaline earth or lanthanide cations will be prepared and evaluated as initiators in living anionic or ring opening polymerization. Fundamental studies of bonding and reactivity of these alkaline earth compounds will lead to an increased understanding of the organometallic chemistry of these relatively unexplored metals. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students involved in the work will learn valuable skills in synthesis, characterization and catalysis by studying these reactive species.