Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2002.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Kaiserslautern.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2003--Aachen.

As part of a worldwide effort to develop efficient catalysts for use in organic chemistry and in the synthesis of highly valuable molecules, work performed during the course of my stay in St Andrews has focused on the design and synthesis of new group 11 metal complexes for their applications in catalysis. The aim of this work was to develop new, active and stable, easy to synthesise group 11 complexes and investigate their catalytic activity as well as to try to understand their mode of action. Two different types of complexes were explored in order to develop more active catalysts: the neutral N-Heterocyclic carbene metal complexes and the cationic derivatives. More than 20 new catalysts were developed and their reactivity studied in different catalytic reactions. New hydroxide and tert-butoxide copper(I) or silver(I) complexes were developed and compared to the common NHC metal systems. Overall, the neutral NHC-metal catalysts showed to be highly active in a broad range of applications: in the methylation of amines using CO₂ as a C1 source, in a multicomponent reaction (A³ coupling) and in dual catalysis (hydrophenoxylation). Additionally, mechanistic studies were undertaken to obtain a greater understanding of these transformations and to possibly lead to the design of new generations of catalyst. Regarding the cationic NHC metal complexes, a straightforward methodology was developed leading to a library of highly stable catalysts. Bis-NHC, mixed NHC/ phosphine as well as NHC/pyridine species were efficiently synthesised using thermal or microwave heating, in high purity and yields. In addition, the effect of the presence of two different or identical ligands on catalytic reactivity was investigated in the 3+2 cycloaddition and in the alkynylation of ketones. Insight into the catalytic cycle was obtained via mechanistic studies. These showcased the release of one ligand during the catalytic cycle and the crucial role of this ligand displacement in generating the catalytically relevant active species. The results highlight the importance of understanding the reactivity of catalyst in order to develop new and improved ones.

See Abstract on Front Page 7 / Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Chemistry / unrestricted

Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und den Eigenschaften verschiedener NHC-stabilisierter Kobaltkomplexe. Der Fokus liegt dabei einerseits auf der Entwicklung geeigneter Organokobaltverbindungen, welche sich in CVD bzw. ALD-Prozessen zur Abscheidung von elementarem Kobalt eignen. Hierfür wurden verschiedene NHC-stabilisierte sowie gemischt substituierte Kobalt(carbonyl)(nitrosyl)komplexe dargestellt und die thermischen Eigenschaften dieser Verbindungen untersucht. Andererseits wurden Studien zur Synthese und Reaktivität NHC-stabilisierter Halbsandwichverbindungen des Kobalts durchgeführt. Dabei wurde unter anderem überprüft, inwiefern sich der sterische Einfluss des NHC-Liganden auf die Fähigkeiten auswirkt, Element-Element-Bindungen in Silanen und Diboranen zu aktivieren. Ferner wurden weitere Untersuchungen zur Reaktivität derartiger Komplexe, insbesondere gegenüber Alkinen, vorgenommen. Ein weiterer Teil dieser Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Darstellung und Reaktivität NHC-Phosphiniden-stabilisierter Kobaltverbindungen. / The present work concerns the synthesis and reactivity of various NHC-stabilized cobalt complexes. The first part focuses on the development of cobalt compounds suitable for depositing elemental cobalt in chemical vapor deposition processes (CVD and ALD). Therefore, a variety of NHC-stabilized cobalt carbonyl nitrosyl complexes, as well as asymmetrically substituted cobalt complexes, were synthesized and the thermal properties were investigated. Secondly, the thesis addresses the synthesis and reactivity of NHC-stabilized cobalt half sandwich complexes with a focus on the investigation of the influence of sterically demanding carbene ligands in the stoichiometric activation of element-element bonds, as well as further reactivity studies of this class of compounds. Furthermore, studies have been performed on the synthesis and reactivity of NHC-phosphinidene substituted cobalt complexes.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are one of the few ligand systems that can finely tune transition metal catalysts via sterics and electronics. The strong sigma-donating properties of these ancillary ligands allow the development of robust tridentate NHC pincer framework, which has emerged as an alternative to the phosphine pincer ligands. The combination of NHC and pincer systems has resulted in a new generation of catalytically active organometallic complexes reported throughout the literature. -NHC Rh pincer complexes were found to be catalytically active in C-C and C-B bond formation via 1,4dition reactions. In addition, the in-situ generated -NHC Ir(H) pincer complex demonstrated catalytic activity in borylation of arene C-H bonds. Preliminary results are comparable to the C-H borylation results published by Hartwig and co-workers. The -NHC Ir(H) pincer complex may also prove to be a suitable catalyst for alkane dehydrogenation, due to framework similarities of the highly active and durable PCP and POCOP pincer hydride systems. Expansion of group 9 metal sources for transmetalation of the -NHC Zr pincer complex afforded the development of -NHC Rh(CO) and -NHC Co complexes. Group 9 metal carbonyl complexes have been reported as active catalysts in photocatalytic C-H activation of small molecules. Testing of Co sources for transmetalation afforded three rare Co pincer complexes, and the first examples of -NHC Co pincer complexes to date. Development of -NHC pincer complexes with base metals provide cost-effect alternatives to pincer systems with precious metal centers, and is reported herein.

Die Reaktivität acyclischer Carbene, N-heterocyclischer Silylene und Germylene gegenüber verschiedenen Boranen sowie die weitere Reaktivtät der erhaltenen Verbindungen wird untersucht. Im zweiten Teil wird die Darstellung und Reaktiviert einiger Thorium- und Lanthanoidhydridoboratkomplexe genauer beleuchtet. / The reactivity of acyclic carbenes, N-heterocyclic silylenes and germylenes with different boranes and the reactivity of obtained substances is studied in detail. The second part deals with the synthesis and reactivity of thorium and lanthanide hydridoborate complexes.

Umsetzungen N-heterocyclischer Carbene mit Boranen führen zur Bildung von „Lewis-Säure-Base-Addukten“. In Abhängigkeit des Substitutionsmusters der eingesetzten Borane bzw. Carbene eignen sich die erhaltenen Addukte als Ausgangsverbindungen zur Realisierung verschiedener Strukturmotive. Mit geeigneten Übergangsmetallfragmenten gelingt die Darstellung von sigma-Boran-Komplexen bzw. Basen-stabilisierter Boryl-Komplexe, welche mittels spektroskopischer Methoden sowohl im Festkörper, als auch in Lösung untersucht wurden. Ebenfalls gelingt die Synthese Basen-stabilisierter Borirane und einer tetraedrischen Borid-Spezies. Zudem wird ein selektiver Zugang zu Basen-stabilisierten Diborenen entwickelt, wobei deren Bindungssituation und Reaktivität im Detail diskutiert wird. So kann das B=B-Fragment in polymere Spezies eingebunden werden oder als Ligand an Übergangsmetalle koordinieren. / Reaction of boranes with N-heterocyclic carbenes results in the formation of „Lewis-acid-base-adducts“. Depending on the substitution pattern of the boranes and carbenes, respectively, these adducts represent versatile starting materials for the realization of a diversity of different structural motifs. Treatment with suitable transition-metal fragments for instance afforded sigma-borane complexes and base-stabilized boryl complexes. These species are characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction, as well as by spectroscopy in solution. In addition, the synthesis of base-stabilized boriranes and a tetrahedral boride species is described. Moreover, a selective approach for the synthesis of base-stabilized diborenes is developed and their bonding situation and reactivity is studied in detail. Thus, the B=B moiety can be incorporated into polymeric structures or act as a ligand in the coordination sphere of transition-metals.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit war es möglich, diverse Lewis-Basen für deren Einsatz zur Stabilisierung niedervalenter Borverbindungen zu testen. Dabei wurden neuartige Mono- und Diboran(4)-Addukte mit mesoionischen Carbenen, Phosphanen und Alkyl-verbrückten Carbenen synthetisiert, charakterisiert und deren Reduktionsverhalten getestet. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass elektronenreiche Bis(amidinato)- und Bis(guanidinato)silylene eine diverse Vielfalt an Reaktionstypen induzieren und dabei zu Redox-Reaktionen und Ligandenübertrag neigen. / Within the scope of this work, a variety of Lewis-bases were tested for their capability to stabilize low-valent boron compounds. Thereby, novel adducts of mono- and diboranes with mesoionic carbenes, phosphines and alkyl-bridged carbenes were synthesized, characterized and their reduction behavior was tested. Furthermore, it was shown that electron-rich bis(amidinato)- and bis(guanidinato)silylenes induce a range of interesting reactions and are prone to ligand transfer as well as redox reactions.