N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands as Supports for Metal-Metal Interactions: Coordination Polymers and Dimers

在无机，生物无机和有机金属化学计划的支持下，内华达州大学里诺化学系的Vincent J. Catalano教授正在探索使用N-杂环卡宾（NHC）配体来创建发光的多金属组件。 NHC配体被认为是比大多数膦更好的σ供体，更容易合成，并且具有增加π-背键的潜力。 这些特性允许其过渡金属络合物的键合和光学性质的微妙调整。 特别地，在该提议中描述的具有NHC骨架的聚合物Au-Ag络合物是强烈的光致发光的，并且特别适合于充当小分子的传感器。 首先，将研究长链Au-Ag聚合物的制备和光学性质。 以后的研究将集中在铑，铱，铂和钯的NHC配合物，预计将形成扩展的线性链结构，具有不寻常的基态光学性质。 该提案的最终目标将是开发简单的多金属模型复合物，以了解更大的多金属系统的基本性质。 该提案包含了广泛的主题，为各级学生提供广泛的化学教育。 Catalano教授通过直接监督位于里诺的内华达州大学的新X射线晶体学设施，为研究和教育的基础设施做出了贡献。 该设施服务于几个地区主要的本科院校，如西方学院，内华达州，拉斯维加斯，黎巴嫩谷学院和西佛罗里达大学以及在希腊和土耳其的国际合作者。 一个新的“动手”课程在晶体学方法，特别是针对有机研究生，将开发作为这个奖项的结果和本科生的参与将通过独立的研究和高级合成课程大力鼓励。

With the support of the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallics Chemistry Program, Professor Vincent J. Catalano of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno is exploring the use of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands to create luminescent, multimetallic assemblies. The NHC ligands are considered better sigma donors than most phosphines, are easier to synthesize, and have the potential for increased pi-backbonding. These characteristics allow for subtle tuning of the bonding and optical properties of their transition metal complexes. In particular, polymeric Au-Ag complexes with NHC backbones described in this proposal are intensely photo-luminescent and are particularly well-suited to act as sensors for small molecules. Initially, the preparation and optical properties of long-chain, Au-Ag polymers will be studied. Later studies will focus on rhodium, iridium, platinum and palladium NHC complexes which are expected to form extended linear chain structures, with unusual ground-state optical properties. The final goal of the proposal will be to develop simple bimetallic model complexes to understand the fundamental properties of the larger poly-metallic systems. This proposal incorporates a broad range of topics giving students at all levels a broad education in chemistry. Professor Catalano contributes to the infrastructure for research and education by directly overseeing the new X-ray crystallographic facility at the University of Nevada at Reno. This facility serves several regional primarily undergraduate institutions such as Occidental College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Lebanon Valley College and the University of West Florida as well as international collaborators in Greece and Turkey. A new "hands-on" course in crystallographic methods, targeted especially to organic graduate students, will be developed as a result of this award and undergraduate participation will be strongly encouraged through independent research and the Advanced Synthesis course.