Development of Ruthenium-based Catalysts

Research project P 14681 Development of Ruthenium-based Catalysts Karl KIRCHNER 27.11.2000 The development of new type of complexes which may be able to act as catalysts which are selective (chemo-, stereo-, regio-, enantio-, and diastereoselectivity) and efficient (minimization of raw materials and waste production) in combining several simple substrates to afford unique functional molecules in high yields is an important goal of modem organometallic chemistry. Within the large body of transition metal catalyzed reactions ruthenium compounds play a prominent role because ruthenium containing catalysts allow often the stepwise addition of two or more different substrate molecules. In the underlying project we focus on the development of new, unique, and reactive complexes featuring metal carbon double bonds, new types of reactions, and the implementation of these compounds in new stoichiometrically and catalytically operating processes. Emphasis will be given to reactions where C-C and C-heteroatom bonds are formed. The project consists of three closely with each other interacting sub-parts which describe: (i) synthesis and characterization of unique and reactive compounds (e.g., vinyl carbenes, allyl carbenes, allenylcarbenes) and intermediates, (ii) mechanistic studies which include kinetic and theoretical studies in order to better understand and optimize the progress of reactions, and (iii) studies of selected organic reactions where C-C, C-N, C-P, and C-0 bonds are formed (examples will include oxidative coupling and cycloaddition reactions and C-H activation reactions of alkanes).