The conversion of light hydrocarbons to value added products is of interest to the energy field for its promise in developing fuel sources and chemical precursors from otherwise wasted materials. Recent advances in surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) have provided heterogeneous systems which catalyze myriad alkane upgrading chemistries. Initial hypotheses posited electrophilic, site-isolated metal atoms as the active sites responsible for this remarkable reactivity. However, more recent evidence suggests proximal metals (dinuclear species) are present on the silica support. Difficulty in characterizing the active catalyst(s) and correlating catalyst structure with function are inherent challenges in the SOMC approach. To gain a better understanding of the factors that govern catalysis and elucidate the active intermediates, a small molecule model system is proposed. A phenolate decorated disiloxane core, paired with a silyl amide binding pocket, is targeted to capture silica-like ancillary ligand properties. This presentation details the synthesis and characterization of early transition metal complexes supported by this class of siloxane ligands, toward the goal of informing the fundamental mechanistic requirements of hydrocarbon enchainment.

Interrogating surface organometallic mechanism via molecular model complex synthesis

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

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