EXC 314/1: Carbonylation of Alkanes (AG Braun)

Catalytic processes for C-H carbonylation will be developed by using heterobinuclear catalysts, which will involve a double C-H activation of an alkane such as cyclohexane or methane followed by a carbonylation. This can be achieved by implementing two metal centers which show a different character. We will apply binuclear complexes containing rhodium and iridium centers as well as systems which possess either rhodium or iridium in addition to an early transition metal center (Ti or Zr). An important tool to tune the reactivity of the complexes is given by the distance between the metal centers. Thus, the influence of ligands bridging the two metals centers with respect to their distance will be investigated. In addition, ligands will be applied that can be modified by an external stimulus such as protonation, which will in turn influence the metal-metal separation. Ideally, a switching between two configurations will be possible. Non-innocent ligands will additionally alter metal-metal distances during a putative catalytic cycle.