Alkyne dimerization yielding a double/triple bond fragment is an important step in the synthesis of conjugated bioactive molecules. Typically these reactions yield three isomeric products formed simultaneously, whereupon the desirable isomer has to be separated. Thus, achieving selectivity for a targeted isomer is desirable. Various rhodium pincer complexes have been shown to catalyze alkyne dimerization and polymerization, but very few of these examples (such as PNP(RhH2) , Figure 1) result in preferential formation of one of the isomers.Figure 1:  Presented research focuses on synthesis and catalytic reactivity studies of novel rhodium complexes with more sterically demanding phosphine groups on the pincer ligands, with a goal of improving selectivity of these catalytic processes. The second avenue of research pursues a group of related pincer PoCoP complexes, also with sterically demanding phosphines (Figure 2).Figure 2:  

Rhodium pincer complexes: Catalysts for alkyne polymerization

248th National Meeting (2014)

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