Transition Metal Chemistry
Full course description
This course is divided into 6 main themes over a 6 week period. Each week a different important class of organometallic compound will be discussed in terms of synthesis, structure, properties, and bonding. In addition, the reactivity of each class of compound will be highlighted. Moreover, later in the course, advanced spectroscopic methods will be studied, including state of the art techniques such as EPR, 57Fe Moessbauer, Magnetochemical techniques, such as SQUID, and others. An introduction to very contemporary and innovative themes in organometallic chemistry will be provided. Survey of themes covered: Associative, Dissociative and Interchange mechanisms, Eigen-Wilkins mechanism, Inner and outer-sphere electron transfer, Marcus Theory. The MO description of the 18VE rule for the three classes of octahedral complexes (I, II and III); Transition metal alkyl complexes synthesis and reactivity, Transition metal Fischer and Schrock Type carbenes: synthesis and reactivity; Carbyne complexes; The molecular orbital description of ferrocene and related Cp complexes and reactivity; The Doetz Reaction and alkyne and alkene metathesis, Triple bonding in heavy alkynes and alkenes (Ge, Sn and Pb), Hydrides: classical and non-classical; An introduction to the notion of a catalyst cycle; Clusters, M-M bonding, and Isolobal Theory; N-Heterocyclic Ylenes.
Course objectives
- To build up on the student’s knowledge of d-block elements acquired during Inorganic Chemistry (CHE2002);
- To allow the student to gain deeper understanding of the electronic structure and properties of d-block elements;
- A solid introduction and careful analysis of organometallic chemistry;
- A survey of several important classes of compounds in organometallic chemistry;
- Introduction and survey of state of the art spectroscopic techniques (for example EPR, 57Fe Moessbauer, SQUID, Multinuclear NMR etc.);
- To give the student a brief introduction to molecular catalysis;
- Ultimately, to prepare the student for a Masters program in chemistry.
Prerequisites
- CHE2001
- CHE2002
Co-requisites
- PRA3008
Recommended
- CHE3001
Corequisites
Recommended reading
Robert H. Crabtree: The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, Wiley (any edition will do). Christoph Elschenbroich: Organometallics (any edition will do).