RUI: An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Stannylcarbenes

在这个由化学学部化学结构、动力学和机理B项目资助的RUI项目中，科尔比学院化学系的Thamattoor教授和他的本科生团队正在通过实验和理论方法研究锡取代的碳烯。碳烯是一种高活性的化学物质，其特征是碳只有两个键，而不是通常的四个键。与多种金属配合的碳烯在生产具有商业价值的材料中起着重要作用。然而，对于碳的一个或两个键都与金属相连的碳烯，人们所知甚少。本研究旨在解决这一知识缺口。该项目还包括努力说服高中生在大学里考虑STEM（科学、技术、工程和数学）学科。Thamattoor教授在实验室为高中生提供研究机会。该组织还与当地小学的教师合作，提供STEM学科的高质量教学。认识到全球科学合作的重要性，为本科生提供在国际实验室进行研究的机会。金属配位碳络合物是众所周知的化合物，对合成和催化产生了变革性的影响。相比之下，人们对金属取代的非络合碳烯知之甚少，其中金属是二价碳上的一个（或两个）取代基。通过这项本科院校研究（RUI）拨款，正在开展一系列全面的项目来研究羰基化合物。这些中间体是由基于环丙化菲和吲哚体系的新前体光化学合成的。通过稳态光解、电子顺磁共振光谱、基质隔离光谱、时间分辨激光光解以及现代计算方法对这些锡取代碳烯的结构和反应性进行了实验研究。此外，为本科生创造国际研究机会，以及促进地区学校K -12年级学生接受高质量STEM教育的若干举措正在实施中。综合研究和推广活动丰富了科尔比学院本科生的研究经验，也为当地社区服务。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this RUI project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Thamattoor of the Department of Chemistry at Colby College, and his team of undergraduate students, are investigating tin-substituted carbenes by experimental and theoretical methods. Carbenes are highly reactive chemical species which feature a carbon that has only two bonds instead of the usual four. Carbenes that are coordinated with a variety of metals have played important roles in the production of commercially valuable materials. However, much less is known about carbenes in which one or both bonds of the carbon are attached to a metal. This research aims to address this gap in knowledge. This project also includes efforts to persuade high school students to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines in college. Professor Thamattoor provides research opportunities to high school students in the laboratory. The group also works with teachers in the local grade schools to deliver quality instruction in STEM subjects. In recognition of the importance of global scientific cooperation, undergraduate students are provided with research opportunities in international laboratories.Metal-coordinated carbene complexes are well known compounds that have had a transformative impact on synthesis and catalysis. In contrast, very little is known about uncomplexed metal-substituted carbenes, where the metal is one (or both) of the substituents on the divalent carbon. Through this RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) grant, a comprehensive set of projects is being undertaken to study stannylcarbenes. These intermediates are generated photochemically from new precursors based on cyclopropanated phenanthrene and indan systems. The structure and reactivity of these tin-substitued carbenes are investigated experimentally by steady state photolysis, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix isolation spectroscopy, and time-resolved laser flash photolysis, as well as by modern computational methods. In addition, several initiatives to create international research opportunities for undergraduates, and to promote high-quality STEM education for grade K -12 students in area schools are being pursued. The integrated research and outreach activities enrich the undergraduate research experience at Colby College, and also serve the local community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.