Synthesis and catalytic properties of imidazole based carbene iridium complexes

Student Researcher: Dan Gochnauer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Edward Rajaseelan 

Imidazole based carbenes have been relatively little studied thus far, but are very promising ligands for catalytic applications. A series of new imidazole based carbene iridium complexes with two monodentate carbene ligands will be synthesized and characterized using multinuclear NMR, X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis. Their catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation reactions in the reduction of ketones and imines will be studied.

Promising Ir(I) and Rh(I) NHC-Based Catalysts for Green Chemistry

Student Researcher: David Walton
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Edward Rajaseelan 

A new series of the little studied triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) was developed to investigate ligand sterics in iridium and rhodium complexes of the general form [(cod)M(NHC)L]BF₄ (cod = cyclooctadiene, L = PPh₃, NHC).  New compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Initial catalytic trials were promising, and future work will focus on the most successful of these catalysts.

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