1. Alkylidene Complexes and Olefin Metathesis This research involves the inorganic and organometallic chemistry of high oxidation state early metal complexes that contain an alkylidene ligand. Since 2007 the vast majority of investigations involve new monoalkoxide pyrrolide (MAP) olefin metathesis catalysts, in which the metal is a stereogenic center. MAP catalysts offer many practical advantages over previous bisalkoxide or diolate catalysts, and also address several fundamental issues for the first time. Studies include new catalytic metathesis reactions, kinetics, and mechanisms, enantioselective metathesis reactions, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and the conversion of selected homogeneous catalysts into heterogeneous catalysts with retention of all metathesis selectivity. A detailed description (pdf file) can be found here. 2. Catalytic Reduction of Dinitrogen under Mild Conditions This project is concerned with the chemistry of high oxidation state dinitrogen and related complexes. We have been able to reduce dinitrogen catalytically with protons and electrons at room temperature and pressure with molybdenum catalysts that contain triamidoamine ligands substituted with hexaisopropylterphenyl groups. We have elucidated several of the proposed steps in the catalytic reaction and have explored less catalytically successful "hybrid" catalysts in which the steric protection of the catalytic site has been reduced. The ultimate goal is to design a catalytic reduction at room temperature and pressure that is practical. A detailed description (pdf file) can be found here. |
Copyright 2001 Richard Schrock / The Schrock Group, MIT