Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
Research interests in the group includes the design, synthesis, and applications of Inorganic and Organometallic compounds. In addition to learning basics of synthesis of organic molecules and metal complexes, group members utilize a range of synthetic and characterization techniques including multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, ultraviolet & infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.
N-heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Chemistry
The chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes dates back to almost a century ago, even though a scientific look into their true geometries and properties started in mid 1950s. Since the seminal work of Arduengo in 1991 on the generation of stable and free NHCs, there has been renaissance in the field of carbene chemistry that led to the discovery of important metal-carbene complexes with a wide range of applications.
NHC ligands are stable, relatively easy to prepare and their metal bonds are thermodynamically stable. Furthermore, electronic and steric properties in NHCs are easily tuned by the modification of heteroatom substituents. Because of these fundamental properties they are highly popular among coordination and organometallic chemists. Research projects in the group revolves around the preparation of new variations of NHC ligands and investigation of their metal complexation, in particular with late transition metals. Students interested in this fascinating filed of research are encouraged to have a look at the following references to gain a general idea about NHC chemistry.
Bidentate and tridentate (Scorpionate-type) N or S donor ligands
As opposed to the heterogeneous catalysts, homogeneous catalysts lack durability and ease of separation. Despite these shortcomings, homogeneous catalysts are more selective and their mechanistic pathways are easier to study. In this regard, ligands, in particular “actor ligands” play an important role in the reactivity and the overall stabilization of metal center/centers in a metal-complex based catalyst. We are particularly interested in boron containing or borate-based ligands, where it can act as an electron acceptor (Z-type) ligand. Among borate based ligands, polydentate pyrazolyl borates, commonly known as "scorpionate ligands", have greatly influenced coordination chemistry of transition metals. Among scorpionate ligands, those containing softer donor atoms such as sulfur were investigated for the development of coordination complexes with later electron rich and low valent transition metals from group 10 and 11. Second research project in our group deals with the preparation, structural characterization and investigation of catalytic properties of borate-based S, N or P donor ligands and their transition metal complexes. Some important references relevant to this topic are shown below.