Highly Reduced Complexes of the Early Transition Metals and the Lanthanides

John Ellis博士，明尼苏达大学化学系，由化学部无机、生物无机和有机金属化学项目支持，研究早期过渡金属和稀土元素的高度还原的络合物。该项目的目标是开发一种试剂，可用作“裸露”金属原子或高度不饱和有机金属基团的可储存来源。前人的研究结果表明，二(聚芳烃)和三(聚芳烃)金属物种可以方便地与早期过渡金属卤化物反应生成两个或三个金属物种。这些络合物具有特殊的意义，因为它们为早期过渡金属提供了第一批可用的“裸露”金属阴离子试剂。在这项研究中，将评估早期过渡和稀土金属聚芳烃化学的范围。将特别关注新的异氰化物、亚硝基、羰基和氮素金属化学的发展。该项目将有助于对研究生和博士后助理进行非常苛刻的实验化学方面的培训。过渡金属及其化合物在许多重要的化学反应中往往是独特的媒介或催化剂。该项目将开发新的战略，用于在不寻常或前所未有的环境中合成含有过渡金属和稀土金属的化合物，这些环境类似于有效的介体和催化剂中存在的那些环境。一个具体的目标将是能够提供高活性金属原子的化合物。这些“裸露的”金属原子试剂将作为催化剂和反应物与一氧化碳、氮气、氢气和各种相关物质等工业上重要的原料进行检验。预计会出现有助于改进工业流程的新的、新颖的变革。

Dr. John Ellis, Chemistry Department, University of Minnesota, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division for research into highly reduced complexes of the early transition metals and the lanthanides. The goal of the project is to develop reagents that function as storable sources of "naked" metal atoms or highly unsaturated organometallic groups. Prior results demonstrate that bis- and tris(polyarene) metal species can be conveniently produced by reactions of naphthalene and anthracene radical anions with early transition metal halides. These complexes are of special interest since they provide the first available "naked" metal anion reagents of the early transition metals. In this research the scope of early transition and lanthanide metal polyarene chemistry will be assessed. Special interest will be paid to the development of distinctly new isocyanide, nitrosyl, carbonyl, and dinitrogen metal chemistry. The project will contribute to the training of graduate students and postdoctoral associates in very demanding experimental chemistry.Transition metals and their compounds are often unique mediators or catalysts in many significant chemical reactions. This project will develop new strategies for the synthesis of compounds containing transition and lanthanide metals in unusual or unprecedented environments that resemble those that are present in effective mediators and catalysts. One specific objective will be compounds that can provide highly reactive metal atoms. These "naked" metal atom reagents will be examined as catalysts and reactants with industrially important feedstocks such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and a variety of related substances. New, novel transformations that may contribute to the improvement of industrial processes are anticipated.