Small to Gigantic Metal Clusters

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9310428 Dahl This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program provides continued support for research on transition metal carbonyl cluster compounds by Dr. Lawrence F. Dahl of the Chemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison. A major goal is to provide a unified correlation between molecular geometries and electronic configuration for various kinds of metal clusters, many of which gain or lose electrons without rupture of their atomic frameworks. Research will be focused in two areas: 1) isolation, structural determination, and physical-chemical characterization of high nuclearity platinum, nickel, and mixed-metal carbonyl clusters; and 2) synthesis, stereochemical-bonding analysis, and electrochemical reactivity of small electron-rich metal clusters. Rational methods for preparing large clusters and appropriate separation techniques to isolate and crystallize pure species for characterization remain to be developed. In addition to determining the structure of these complexes, their magnetic properties and modes of carbon monoxide adsoption will be investigated. The reactivity of metal clusters with main group reagents, which may be able to stabilize the species, will also be studied. Attempts will be made to isolate metal phosphide and metal arsenic clusters with novel bonding features. %%% Large metal clusters that can be characterized using standard chemical methods may be useful models for understanding the behavior of solid metal surfaces or lattice fragments, which are often used in catalysis. Of particular interest are reactivity characteristics and electronic features. The work may result in materials that are effective as catalysts or in the improvement of reaction conditions or surface preparation of catalytic materials currently in industrial use. ***