Highly electrophilic late metal centers undergo elementary reactions that are a part of catalytic transformations, ranging from C-H bond activation to alkene functionalization. Despite the proposed crucial role of electrophilicity in these reactions, systematic studies of metal complexes with variable electrophilicity but conserved ligand structures are lacking. We chose to investigate a tunable method to generate electrophilic intermediates by reversible Lewis acid binding to a site at the periphery of a ligand. Novel silicon Lewis acids have been prepared which coordinate two ligand donor sites simultaneously. The fundamental binding properties of these silicon Lewis acids will be presented, along with a discussion of their use as ligand triggers for platinum complexes. 

Remote triggers for the activation of unreactive bonds by late metal complexes

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.