Research interests
Our chemistry divides into three areas: 1) Design of new ligand frameworks, which can work either as actor or spectator; 2) Synthesis and characterization of new organometallic compounds, supported by our designed ligands; 3) Utilization of the new organometallic compounds as catalyst in atom economic catalytic transformations.
3-Iminophosphine ligands
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In this project, our goal has been to synthesize tunable hemilabile 3-iminophosphine (3IP) ligands bearing soft phosphine-donor and hard nitrogen-donor groups. A variety of these ligands have been synthesized in our lab in high yields and in just a few steps. We have also investigated coordination chemistry of our 3IP ligands to palladium and nickel (see the publications). Hemilabile characteristic of these type of ligands has been a very useful tool to change their reactivity and open a vacant coordination site on the metal during catalysis.
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Alpha-metalated dimethylbenzylamine ligands
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This research project focuses on the development of new lanthanide complexes and investigating their catalytic activity. Using simple synthetic and isolation procedures, we were able to synthesize homoleptic trialkyl rare-earth metal complexes supported by alpha-metalated dimethylbenzylamine ligands. These complexes were then found to be highly active precatalysts for the hydrophosphination of heterocumulenes (carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates) under mild reaction conditions. Currently, we are broadening the substrate scope for both hydrophosphination and hydrophosphynilation to include C-C and C-X unsaturated species.
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Catalysis
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Our Current focus in catalysis is listed below (Check publications):
* Palladium and nickel-catalyzed hydroamination, hydrosilylation and isomerization of unsaturated systems and mechanistic investigations.
* Lanthanum-catalyzed hydrophosphination and hydrophosphonylation of unsaturated C-X multiple bonds and mechanistic investigations.
