Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/02/2021
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Title:     Metal catalysts,clusters and surfaces: Catalytic preparation of chiral bio-molecules and thechemistry of carbon-based monolayers 

Date:      Thursday, February11th, 2021 

Time:      1:30 p.m.   

Zoom:     available from sprucel@mcmaster.ca 

Host:       Dr. DavidEmslie 

Abstract:                    

The use of N-heterocyclic carbenes tomodify homogeneous metal catalysts is widespread since the high metal–NHC bondstrength renders high oxidative and chemical stability to NHC–ligated metalcomplexes. Despite this fact, the use of NHCs to modify metal surfacesis virtually unprecedented.

        We will describe the first example of the synthesis of gold surfaces, includingAu(111), Au nanoparticles and Au nanoclusters.  Films prepared by thedeposition of NHCs show molecular ordering on the surface and remarkable stability. Theimpact of this stability on the chemistry of nanoclusters will also bediscussed.

        We will also describe advances in organoboron chemistry that have dramatically broadened theapplicability of this versatile element. In particular, we will describe itsapplication in the preparation of complex chiral molecules of interest to thepharmaceutical industry and the ability to cross-couple seemingly identicalboron substituents with different aryliodides. The development of novelelectrophiles for Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling chemistry in the preparation ofbioactive molecules will also be presented as will our developments in the useof sulfones as electrophiles for cross-coupling reactions.