Highly Reduced Complexes of the Early Transition Metals and the Lanthanides

明尼苏达大学化学系的John Ellis博士得到化学系无机，生物无机和有机化学计划的支持，研究早期过渡金属和镧系元素的高度还原络合物。该项目的目标是开发试剂，作为“裸”金属原子或高度不饱和有机金属基团的可储存来源。先前的结果表明，双和三（聚芳烃）金属物种可以方便地通过反应的萘和蒽自由基阴离子与前过渡金属卤化物。这些配合物是特别感兴趣的，因为它们提供了第一个可用的“裸”的早期过渡金属的金属阴离子试剂。在这项研究中，早期过渡和镧系金属聚芳烃化学的范围将进行评估。特别的兴趣将支付给明显新的异氰化物，亚硝酰基，羰基和二氮金属化学的发展。该项目将有助于培养研究生和博士后助理在非常苛刻的实验化学。过渡金属及其化合物往往是独特的介体或催化剂在许多重要的化学反应。该项目将开发新的策略，用于在不寻常或前所未有的环境中合成含有过渡金属和镧系金属的化合物，这些环境类似于有效介质和催化剂中存在的环境。一个具体的目标将是可以提供高活性金属原子的化合物。这些“裸”金属原子试剂将作为催化剂和反应物与工业上重要的原料，如一氧化碳，氮气，氢气和各种相关物质进行研究。新的，新颖的转变，可能有助于改善工业过程的预期。

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.