Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Ni-CAT (Ni-CAT)
Berichtszeitraum: 2015-04-01 bis 2017-03-31
Hence, the key objective of the Ni-Cat project is to develop efficient catalysts for C-C coupling based on nickel complexes that contain donor-flexible mesoionic ligands, with the ultimate goal to activate C-H bonds for functionalization.
This overarching objective will encompass
i) successful application of synergistic metal/ligand effects for inducing catalytic activity.
ii) solid understanding of mechanistic key principles to tailor and improve performance in catalysis.
iii) a gradual shift to more challenging substrates for C–C cross coupling reactions
iv) expansion of the coupling reaction to halide-free substrates in order to induce nickel-catalyzed C–H bond activation, thus breaking into new grounds of catalysis using this cheap and Earth-abundant metal.
In these ligands both fragments, triazolylidene and pyridylidene, may adapt their donor properties and toggle between a mesoionic and a neutral state, a behaviour that could be ideal for inducing catalytic activity at redox-active metals centers. The coordination of ligands 1 and 2 to different transition metals such as Ru and Ir was achieved (Scheme 2), unfortunately the first attempts to coordinate both ligands to nickel precursors has not been successful yet.
The project provides an excellent training in one of the most topical areas of catalysis and its successful completion will greatly enhances the career profile and the research competence of the researcher, thus actively contributing to the fostering of young talents and for prospering scientific excellence in Europe.