Mechanisms of Alkene-Metal Oxide Interactions

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This grant from the Organic Dynamics Program supports the work of Professor Gable at Oregon State University to investigate mechanisms and synthetic applications of organometallic reactions relevant to catalysis. The key question to be addressed is whether olefins react with only the oxygen of metal oxides in a concerted fashion or whether an intermediate metallaoxetane is formed. Based on preliminary data on ethylene, norbornene, and norbornadiene, the initial systems to be studied are reversible reactions of olefins with various rhenium oxides. The objective is to determine quantitative structure-reactivity relationships, which include the thermodynamics, kinetics, isotope effects, and the Thorton analysis to probe the symmetry of the transition state. These mechanistic studies will then be extended to other alkene oxidants, in particular osmium tetraoxide. %%% In this project Professor Gable will investigate the mechanism of the oxidation reaction of olefins with metal oxides and thereby provide much needed insight into an area which is of fundamental importance. The main targets are to develop quantitative structure-reactivity relationships and probing transition states for rhenium oxides, which studies will then be extended to other oxidants in the pursuit of new catalysts for application in high volume industrial processes.