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The first chapter is an introduction to the f-elements, with a focus on the synthesis and chemistry of tetravalent cerium complexes. The synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of carbenes, particularly N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), and anionic-functionalised NHC ligands is discussed. The synthesis and reactivity of s-block, Group three and fblock NHC complexes is reviewed. The synthesis of the alcohol-functionalised unsaturated imidazolium proligand, [H2L]I [H2L = HOCMe2CH2(1-CH{NCHCHNiPr})], is extended to saturated imidazolinium analogues, [H2LR]X, [HOCMe2CH2(1-CH{NCH2CH2NR})]X (R = iPr, abbreviated to P; R = Mes, abbreviated to M; R = Dipp, abbreviated to D, X = Cl, I). Mono-deprotonation results in the isolation of bicyclic imidazolidines HLR, which can be ring-opened and silylated by treatment with Me3SiI, to afford [HLR, OSiMe3]I, R = iPr and Mes. Further deprotonation of HLR with MN"2 (M = Mg, Zn; N" = N(SiMe3)2) affords LRMN" (M = Mg and Zn) and ZnLR 2. These complexes proved active for the polymerisation of raclactide at room temperature without the need for an initiator. The third chapter focuses on cerium chemistry. Repetition of the literature synthesis of CeIV tert-butoxide compounds affords the unsolvated Ce(OtBu)4 and also the cluster Ce3(OtBu)11. Treatment of Ce(OtBu)4 with HL did not yield a CeIV-NHC complex, but one bearing a tethered imidazolium group, (OtBu)3Ce( -OtBu)2( -HL)Ce(OtBu)3. The synthesis of a CeIII-NHC complex, CeL3, and the oxidation of this forms an unprecedented CeIV-NHC complex, CeL4, via ligand redistribution; the complex contains two bidentate ligands and two alkoxide-tethered free NHC groups. Functionalisation of the free NHCs with boranes affords the adducts Ce(L)2(L-B)2, where B = BH3 or 9-BBN (9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane). A number of cerium complexes of the saturated-backbone NHC, LR, LRCeN"2 and LR 2CeN", have been synthesised and their oxidation chemistry and reactivity investigated. The final chapter contains an NMR study of the synthesis of a series of yttrium LR adducts, LP xYN"(3-x) (x = 1, 2 or 3), and of the synthesis of uranium complexes LRUN"2, R = Mes or Dipp, including a range of small molecule reaction chemistry. The uranyl NHC complexes, UO2LR 2, R = Mes or Dipp, have also been synthesised and characterised; these possess very high frequency carbene carbon chemical shifts.

Soluble polymers as supports are gaining more attention now. Developing new polymers, new reagents and catalysts, new separation systems are thus of great interest as these sorts of materials' applications in synthesis and catalysis increase. The work described in the succeeding chapters describes my efforts to synthesize new catalysts that can be attached to polymer supports, to study their catalytic activity and to study separation efficiency. Most of the work focus is on polyacrylamide polymers. Both organometallic catalysts and organic catalysts have been studied. Liquid/liquid separation was the technique mainly investigated. In addition, a new separation scheme called latent biphasic system which is a new liquid/liquid separation method is described. Finally, studies with the Cremer group where the LCST behavior of polyacrylamides was studied using dark field methods are also discussed.

Soluble polymers as supports are gaining more attention now. Developing new polymers, new reagents and catalysts, new separation systems are thus of great interest as these sorts of materials' applications in synthesis and catalysis increase. The work described in the succeeding chapters describes my efforts to synthesize new catalysts that can be attached to polymer supports, to study their catalytic activity and to study separation efficiency. Most of the work focus is on polyacrylamide polymers. Both organometallic catalysts and organic catalysts have been studied. Liquid/liquid separation was the technique mainly investigated. In addition, a new separation scheme called latent biphasic system which is a new liquid/liquid separation method is described. Finally, studies with the Cremer group where the LCST behavior of polyacrylamides was studied using dark field methods are also discussed.

Although the use of silicon-based reagents has undergone rapid development during the last twenty years, the application of organosilicon chemistry to asymmetric synthesis has been somewhat slower to develop. The many problems associated with the use of 'Si-centred' chiral organosilicon compounds has led to the application of 'C-centred' chiral organosilicon compounds. This work has been aimed at the synthesis and application of cyclic silicon species. Routes towards the synthesis of medium-sized rings have been investigated as a potential application of enantiomerically pure silacycles. This work has led to the discovery of an unusual tandem cycloaddition-bond fragmentation reaction of 3-(dienylacyloxy)cycloalk-2- en-l-ones, which affords a-tetralone as the principal product. Most work has been directed at the synthesis of asymmetric silacycles. Two routes have been explored. Firstly, the double asymmetric hydrosilylation of dienes, catalysts based on many transition metals were used but little evidence of hydrosilylation was observed. The second route is that of the double asymmetric hydroboration of divinylsilanes. Asymmetric stoichiometric hydroboration led to products of moderate to high enantiomeric excess, whilst rhodium-catalysed hydroboration led to high yields of the achiral syn isomer. The diastereoselectivity has been found to vary according to the length of the tether between two phosphine ligands, with maximum diastereoselectivity being observed for butanodiphosphines. NMR studies have investigated the possibility that this is related to the stability of a divinylsilane-diphosphine rhodium complex. Finally, the formation of a variety of silacycles has been attempted. Boron- redistribution of the product of hydroboration with (-)-diisopinocampheylborane has been shown to occur with retention of stereochemistry and subsequent carbonylation led to the formation of asymmetric silacyclohexanones. Oxidation of the hydroboration product led to the formation of a silyldiol species. Reactions of this silyldiol have provided the basis for encouraging preliminary attempts at the formation of other heterosilacycles.

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This thesis describes the synthesis, characterization and study of a series of organometallic compounds which all contain the same new ligand, l-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl. The ligand forms a chiral complex once coordinated, and is relatively bulky when compared with ligands such as cyclopentadienyl or 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl.Chapter one of this thesis introduces cyclopentadienyl ligand chirality, cyclopentadienyl metal complex chirality and sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl systems. The synthesis and chemistry of tetrahydroindenes and some applications of chiral cyclopentadienyl metal complexes and their bulky analogues are also reviewed. Chapter two describes modifications to a literature preparation of the tetrahydroindenone precursor of the new tetrahydroindenyl ligand which lead to higher yields. The synthesis of the ligand itself is described, as well as the synthesis of a benzylidene-substituted hexahydroindene, which demonstrates a limitation in the flexibility of the synthetic route chosen. The synthesis, characterization and various properties of the following iron(II) compounds are discussed in chapter two; bis-l-phenyl-3-methyl- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl iron (II), 2.3, l-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl iron(II) dicarbonyl dimer, 2.4, and l-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindaiyl methyl dicarbonyl iron(II), 2.5. For all these iron complexes, the solid state molecular structures and the absolute configuration of the chiral ligand were determined using single crystal X-ray d iffraction. For 23 and 2.4, three isomers are possible, two enantiomers that are collectively termed the rac-isomer and a third isomer, the meso- isomer. Cyclic voltammetric studies on 2.3 indicate that it has a reversible one electron oxidation at 0.187 V (with respect to a non-aqueous Ag/AgCl standard electrode). The difference between this and the reversible one electron oxidation for (η-C(_5)H(_5))(_2)Fe (with respect to the same standard) is -0.314 V, therefore 2.3 is shown to be much more easily oxidized than (η-C(_5)H(_5))(_2)Fe. The solution-state infi-a-red spectrum of 2.4 is explained, with reference to a literature analysis of the unsubstituted analogue [CpFe(CO)(_2)](_2). The steric forces present in the various molecular environments are discussed in connection with the degree of phenyl-ring tilt relative to the cyclopentadienyl mean plane and the deviation of the other cyclopentadimyl substituents away from the metal centre. Subsequent reactions of compounds 2.4 and 2.5 are described. Attempts to make linked analogues of the new ligand are summarized in chapter two. In chapter three, two Zr(rV) compounds are prepared, bis (l-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyi) zirconium(fV) dichloride, 3.1, and bis (l-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl) dimethyl zirconium(TV), 3.2. Upon crystallization, rac-3.1 spontaneously resolves into crystals containing only one enantiomer. The similarities and differences in the spectroscopic data for the iron(n) compounds of chapter two and the zirconium(IV) compounds of chapter three are discussed and possible explanations offered . The solid state molecular structures of 3.1 and 3.2 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Experimental details are given in chapter four, whilst the characterizing data are presented in chapter five. Details of the X-ray structure determinations are given in Appendix A.

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