Date of Award

Spring 5-12-2016

Track

Chemistry

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences (MSCB)

Department

Chemistry

Committee Chair

Dr. Daniela Tapu

Committee Member

Dr. Christopher Alexander

Committee Member

Dr. Michael Van Dyke

Abstract

In the last few decades, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as a powerful class of carbon-based ligands. Owing to their unique electronic and steric properties, they have been incorporated in a large variety of catalytically active metal complexes. One of the strategies that have been used to modify the ligand properties of NHCs is annulation with different carbo- and heterocyclic groups. It has been shown that annulation in the 4-5 position of the imidazole ring significantly influences the stability and the σ-donor/π- acceptor properties of the carbene species, and this may be used as a versatile tool for the fine-tuning of their electronic properties. Following a brief review of NHC history, the synthesis and structural characterization of a new class of fused N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with a rigid bidentate architecture will be reported. Complexes of type [(NHC)M(COD)Cl], [(NHC)M(CO)2Cl] (M = Rh and Ir) and [(NHC)MCl] (M = Au) were prepared and characterized using spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The results of preliminary catalytic studies using these new complexes is also reported.

Included in

Chemistry Commons

COinS