Transition Metal Chemistry

Full course description

This skill is devoted to the multi-step synthesis, characterization and further exploration of organometallic complexes. These complexes allow for an introduction to organometallic (coordination) chemistry, geometrical distortions, ligand isomerism, back-bonding interactions, and catalysis. Each week a different class of compound will be synthesized including arene complexes, carbonyls, ferrocene and its derivatives, complexes with metal-metal multiple bonding, coordination complexes with phosphane ligands etc. Synthesis and detailed data analysis via spectroscopy are the cornerstone of this skill and learning to work with complexes under inter conditions (under nitrogen).

Concepts from the Transition Metal Chemistry Lecture (CHE3002) can be related back to this practical, and provide a foundation that can be utilized in order to successfully complete this course.

Course objectives

To adapt common synthetic techniques towards inorganic and organometallic compounds;
To learn Schlenk-line and glovebox techniques in order to work with air-sensitive transition metal compounds;
To apply the theoretical knowledge gained in CHE3002 in a laboratory setting;
To use diverse analytical techniques to explore the physical, electronic and spectroscopic properties of the transition metal complexes synthesized;
To experimentally perform catalytic reactions to test the complexes synthesized.

Prerequisites

PRA2002
PRA2004
CHE2004

Co-requisites

CHE3002

Recommended:

CHE3001
PRA3014

Corequisites