Transition Metal Complexes with Redox-active Ligands: Understanding and Using Unusual Electronic Structures and Ligand-based reactivity

Fekl小组的研究重点是氧化还原活性有机分子与镍或铂等金属配位的反应。传统上，大多数含金属的分子含有氧化还原活性金属中心加上不具有氧化还原活性的有机部分（“无辜旁观者配体”）。使用氧化还原活性配体的概念对于有机合成（例如，制备药学上有用的分子）是非常有前途的，但仍处于起步阶段。正在开发具有许多有用应用的新反应。例如，我们正在开发一种新的反应，我们发现，用于制造手性分子，可以帮助合成不对称分子。这些新化合物将用作对映选择性催化剂，用于生产生物活性化合物。相关分子将被研究其导电或半导体特性，这可能导致电子产品的新材料。计算和实验的方法将被用来研究氧化还原活性配体的详细影响。其他化合物将在活细胞的显微成像中产生高得多的对比度。

Research in the Fekl group focuses on reactions of redox-active organic molecules coordinated to metals such as nickel or platinum. Traditionally, most metal-containing molecules contain a redox-active metal centre plus organic parts that are not redox-active ('innocent spectator ligand'). The concept of using redox-active ligands is very promising for organic synthesis (to make, for example, pharmaceutically useful molecules) but is in its infancy. Novel reactions are being developed that have many useful applications. For example, we are exploiting a new reaction we discovered for making chiral molecules that can aid the synthesis of unsymmetrical molecules. The new compounds will be used as enantioselective catalysts, for the production of bio-active compounds. Related molecules will be investigated for their conducting or semiconducting properties, which can lead to novel materials for electronics. Computational and experimental methods will be used to investigate the detailed effects of a redox-active ligand. Other compounds will lead to much higher contrast in microscopic imaging of living cells.