Metallacarbatrane, Hydride, Fluoride, and Metal-Metal Bonded Compounds of the Main Group Elements: Synthesis and Applications

在这个由化学部化学合成计划资助的项目中，哥伦比亚大学化学系的Gerard Parkin教授研究了地球上丰富的主族金属化合物的基础化学。 这项研究是必要的，以开发使用这些化合物作为催化剂的有机转化和构建新材料。 催化剂对于将化学原料转化为更有用的化合物至关重要，并且一个重要的目标是发现不包含贵金属的新催化剂。 镁和钙是被研究的地球丰富的主族金属的两个例子。调查的重点是使用多齿配体，以执行良好定义的协调环境的主族元素。 在这项研究中使用的配体的具体实例包括（i）三齿三脚架配体，如三（吡唑基）硼氢化物和三（2-巯基咪唑基）硼氢化物，和（ii）四齿三脚架配体，如三（2吡啶硫基）甲基，而目标化合物的实例包括那些与末端烷基，氢化物，和氟化物配体，以及那些功能金属？金属键 该研究涉及使用单晶X射线衍射和NMR光谱方法来确定合成分子的结构，以及计算方法来分析键合。 活动的一个重要方面是，它涉及培养学生成为未来的专业人士，无论是在学术或工业环境。作为研究小组的惯例，研究活动不仅涉及研究生和本科生，而且还涉及高中生，从而在他们的教育的关键点为他们提供了重要的STEM经验。 此外，该研究小组还参与为来自种族多样化的纽约市公立中学的儿童进行化学演示。

In this project funded by the Chemical Synthesis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Gerard Parkin of the Department of Chemistry at Columbia University investigates fundamental chemistry of compounds of Earth-abundant main group metals. This research is required for developing the use of such compounds as catalysts for organic transformations and for constructing new materials. Catalysts are critical for the conversion of chemical feedstocks into more useful compounds, and an important objective is to discover new catalysts that do not incorporate precious metals. Magnesium and calcium are two examples of Earth-abundant main group metals that are investigated. The investigation focuses on the use of multidentate ligands to enforce well-defined coordination environments for main group elements. Specific examples of ligands that are used in this research include (i) tridentate tripodal ligands, such as tris(pyrazolyl)hydroborato and tris(2-mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato, and (ii) tetradentate tripodal ligands, such as tris(2 pyridylthio)methyl, while examples of target compounds include those with terminal alkyl, hydride, and fluoride ligands, and also those which feature metal?metal bonds. The research involves the use of single crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopic methods to determine the structures of the synthesized molecules, and computational methods to analyze the bonding. An important aspect of the activities is that it involves training students to be future professionals, be it in an academic or industrial setting. As is customary for the research group, the research activities not only involve graduate and undergraduate students, but also involve high school students, thereby providing a significant STEM experience for them at a critical point in their education. In addition, the research group is also involved in performing chemistry demonstrations for children from ethnically diverse New York City public middle schools.