Multiple Metal-Carbon Bonds, Metallacycles, and Catalytic Reactions Involving Olefins & Acetylenes

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

The Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports the efforts of Professor Richard R. Schrock for the study of MonoAlkoxide Pyrrolide (MAP) catalysts that contain molybdenum or tungsten. MAP catalysts are very useful in olefin metathesis due to their unusually high reactivity and their ability to exploit the chirality of the metal center. These catalysts are much more stable, long-lived and reactive than previous generations. This research focuses on maximizing the subtle steric interactions of the ligand coordination sphere. New heterogeneous catalysts are prepared by attachment to silica supports. The high oxidation state chemistry of compounds containing multiple metal-carbon bonds has a significant impact on organic, polymer, pharmaceutical and materials chemistries both in academic and industrial settings.