Synthesis and Reactivity of Complexes of Transition Metals in Negative Oxidation States

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Two broad topics will be investigated - the synthesis of highly reduced carbene complexes of transition metals in negative oxidation states, and pericyclic reactions of reductively activated aromatic ligands. The principal objective of the studies is to answer three broad questions: 1) What range of pi-acceptor ligands is capable of stabilizing complexes of metals in negative oxidation states?, 2) How wide is the range of accessible complexes for those classes of ligands which do prove to be capable of stabilizing negative oxidation states?, and 3) Will pi-back-donation of electron density from highly reduced metal centers to the (typically unsaturated) pi-acceptor ligands activate the ligands towards electrophiles, coupling reactions, or other unprecedented reactivity modes? An important secondary objective is the development of new reactions with potential applications in organic synthesis. %%% In this project in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organo- metallic Program of the Chemistry Division, Dr. N. John Cooper of the University of Pittsburgh will synthesize and study the reactivity of complexes containing transition metals in negative oxidation states. These very unusual and highly reactive compounds may have applications in organic synthesis.