Low oxidation state main group chemistry

本提案中概述的研究计划需要开发和研究几种新的无机试剂系列。 特别是，这项研究的重点是主族的化学，其中包括元素周期表的s-和p-块的元素。 虽然这些元素是许多重要材料（如半导体砷化镓）和化合物（如磷酸盐）的组成部分，但与有机化学或过渡金属化学相比，对含有这些元素的许多分子的化学性质仍然知之甚少。 我们的研究包括新的主族化合物的合成和通过使用计算化学的化学物种和反应的准确建模。 目标化合物包括一类新的化学品，其中含有氧化态和配位数异常低的主族元素。 含有极低氧化态原子的化合物是富电子的，通常具有高反应性。 我们已经找到了介导我们的化合物的反应性的方法，使得它们足够稳定以被分离，但仍然具有所需的反应性特征。 我们的化合物可以方便地合成许多使用传统方法难以或不可能合成的化合物，我们努力使用我们的新试剂来获得许多前所未有的化学品。 我们还将探索我们的试剂（以及从中衍生的化学品）作为形成新材料或重要材料的前体的实用性。 特别重要的是我们对由磷和其他主族元素而不是碳组成的新型聚合物（塑料）的研究;这些材料将具有与传统塑料截然不同的特性。 除了它们的合成效用之外，所研究的化合物还将为主族元素化学的基本方面提供许多新的见解。 这些研究提供的理解形成了合理设计和开发主族化合物衍生的化学品和材料所必需的基础。

The research program outlined in this proposal entails the development and investigation of several new families of inorganic reagents.  In particular, this research is focused on the chemistry of the main group, which includes the elements of the s- and p-blocks of the periodic table.  Although these elements are components in many important materials (e.g. the semi-conductor gallium arsenide) and chemical compounds (e.g. phosphates), the chemistry of these many of the molecules containing such elements remains poorly understood in comparison to those of organic chemistry or transition metal chemistry.     Our studies include both the synthesis of new main group compounds and the accurate modeling of chemical species and reactions through the use of computational chemistry.  The target compounds consist of new classes of chemicals that contain main group elements in unusually low oxidation states and coordination numbers.  Compounds containing atoms in very low oxidation states are electron-rich and are typically highly reactive.  We have found ways to mediate the reactivity of our compounds so that they are stable enough to be isolated yet still possess the desired reactivity characteristics.  Our compounds allow for the convenient synthesis of many compounds that are difficult or impossible to make using traditional methods and we endeavour to use our new reagents to obtain many unprecedented types of chemicals.  We will also explore the utility of our reagents (and chemicals derived from them) as precursors for the formation of new or important materials.  Of particular importance are our investigations of new polymers (plastics) that are composed of phosphorus and other main group elements instead of carbon; these materials will have properties that are much different than conventional plastics.  In addition to their synthetic utility, the compounds studied will provide many new insights into the fundamental aspects of the chemistry of the main group elements.  The understanding provided by such studies form the foundation necessary for the rational design and development of chemicals and materials derived from main group compounds.