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.