The successful synthesis of a chelating pincer ligand incorporating a central N-heterocyclic phosphenium cation (NHP) has opened a promising venue for investigating a variety potential coordination chemistry, especially in the field of organometallic catalysis and in comparison to the reactivity of the extensively studied N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The potential to coordinate the NHP ligand to various transition metals and to subsequently investigate the capability of these complexes to activate a wide range of small molecules has been of our particular interest. Most recently, efforts have been made to coordinate the NHP with group 8 and group 6 metals from corresponding reduced sodium metal salts; examples include iron, molybdenum and chromium NHP carbonyl complexes. We will present our latest results, with a focus on synthesizing metal NHP complexes with different organic and inorganic moieties and systematically investigate their geometric, electronic and catalytic properties through multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography.

Transition metal complexes containing tridentate N-heterocyclic phosphenium cations: Synthesis and reactivity

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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