P1.1 Synthesis, characterisation, and reactivity studies of mono- and bis-alkoxycarbonyl metal phosphine complexes, specifically based on Ru, Pd and Pt
Supervisors:
Topic and overall goal:
Bis-alkoxycarbonyl and related complexes of late transition metals constitute a largely overseen class of organometallic compounds, which have been only scarcely studied in the past, both with respect to their preparation and their general reactivity. While “simple” palladium alkoxycarbonyl complexes are known to be intermediates in industrially relevant large scale carbonylation reactions, the related bis-alkoxycarbonyl complexes remain unknown except for few specific cases. On the other hand, such metal complexes should allow for a direct and straightforward synthesis of oxalates via the corresponding reductive elimination reactions. In this respect, bis-alkoxycarbonyl metal complexes can be viewed as central intermediates for the direct creation of C-C bonds from CO or CO2. In previous projects, the Beller group has studied carbonylation reactions for more than two decades. As an example, a palladium-catalysed two-step synthesis of ethylene glycol via oxalates starting from CO2 has been developed. In this project, the coordination chemistry, activation, and reductive coupling of CO2 will be studied using late transition metal complexes. Organometallic studies will be complemented by catalytic, spectroscopic, and theoretical investigations to identify general reaction principles of CO2 coupling to oxalate and thus realizing C-C-bond forming reactions from CO2 under mild conditions.