Towards the Synthesis and Characterization of New Zwitterionic NHC-Coinage Metal Complexes
Disciplines
Organic Chemicals
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Since Arduengo’s discovery of the first stable nucleophilic carbene over three decades ago, carbene chemistry has emerged as one of the most explored and promising fields of study in modern chemistry. Due to their synthetic and functional diversity, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have shown significant potential not only as ligands in catalysis, but also as coveted entities in medicinal, luminescent, and functional materials. While the chemistry of neutral NHCs has been well-explored in recent years, limited progress has been made in the development of their anionic counterparts. This project targeted the synthesis of a new anionic carbene. Capitalizing on its unique electronic properties, we used this carbene as building blocks for the development of two new coinage metal complexes. Due to their unique electronic makeup, these zwitterionic NHC-metal species are expected to exhibit valuable advantages such as enhanced catalytic activity and solubility relative to the classical cationic metal complexes of the neutral NHCs.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Daniela Tapu
Towards the Synthesis and Characterization of New Zwitterionic NHC-Coinage Metal Complexes
Since Arduengo’s discovery of the first stable nucleophilic carbene over three decades ago, carbene chemistry has emerged as one of the most explored and promising fields of study in modern chemistry. Due to their synthetic and functional diversity, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have shown significant potential not only as ligands in catalysis, but also as coveted entities in medicinal, luminescent, and functional materials. While the chemistry of neutral NHCs has been well-explored in recent years, limited progress has been made in the development of their anionic counterparts. This project targeted the synthesis of a new anionic carbene. Capitalizing on its unique electronic properties, we used this carbene as building blocks for the development of two new coinage metal complexes. Due to their unique electronic makeup, these zwitterionic NHC-metal species are expected to exhibit valuable advantages such as enhanced catalytic activity and solubility relative to the classical cationic metal complexes of the neutral NHCs.