Date/Time
Date(s) - 19/09/2024
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Title: Late Transition Metal Complexes of Small Ambiphilic Ligands

Date: Thursday September 19, 2024

Time: 1:30pm

Room: ABB A304

Host: Dr. David Emslie

Abstract: Ambiphilic ligands are ligands which contain both classical Lewis basic electron donors, as well as electron-accepting Lewis acidic moieties within the same ligand framework. The work contained in this thesis expands the known coordination chemistry of ambiphilic ligands, with a focus on exploring the effects of the ligands upon the structure, stability and reactivity of the complexes. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the coordination chemistry of three small ambiphilic ligands 1) Me2PCH2AlMe2, 2) Me2PCH2BMe2 and 3) Ph2PCH2BMe2, all of which contain a single phosphine donor group, a short CH2 linker between Lewis base and Lewis acid, and small methyl substituents on the Group 13 Lewis acid, but vary in the identity of the Group 13 element (Al vs. B) and the substituents on phosphorus (Me vs. Ph). These ligands are used for the synthesis of a variety of late transition metal (e.g. Rh, Ir, Pt) complexes, and display divergent reactivity leading to a variety of metal?co-ligand?Lewis acid bonding interactions. Finally, some preliminary substrate bond activation facilitated by a rhodium complex of the Ph2PCH2BMe2 ligand is explored, which is relevant to future development of cooperative and catalytic reactivity using ambiphilic ligand transition metal complexes.