Research at the Interface of Inorganic, Organic &
Green Chemistries
Our current research activities are focused in the synthesis of aluminum (as well as gallium and indium) complexes of redox-active and/or non-innocent ligands. Our ultimate goal is to enable new reaction profiles for these Group 13 metals to expand the utility of the complexes in catalysis. The catalytic application of the metal complexes we prepare are guided by an understanding of the electronic structure and fundamental reactivity patterns of the compounds, as well as theory. Current work focuses on two different ligand sets: Diimines and Nitroxides.
Diimine
We have been investigating the coordination chemistry of N-aryl substituted diimine ligands to aluminum. Our interest in this class of ligands are two-fold. First, diimines are well known to exhibit rich redox behavior and can be singly or doubly reduced to form the radical anionic (LAr–) and dianionic (LAr2–) species, respectively. Second, diimines are easily prepared and highly modifiable. The N−C−C−N backbone can be derivatized with a wide array of substituents in either the C or N positions that alter both their steric and electronic properties, and those of their metal complexes.
We have prepared and structurally characterized aluminum complexes across all three oxidation states of the diimine ligand with varying substituents on the Ar group.
Nitroxide
The nitroxide functional group is well known to exist over three oxidation states: The reduced aminoxyl anion (NO−), the neutral radical (NO•), and the oxidized oxoammonium cation (NO+).
We have prepared Group 13 metal complexes of several different classes on nitroxide-containing ligands.
Funding
We are grateful for the following agencies for their support of our research.