New Directions in Cooperative Catalysis

Cooperative catalysis, in which multiple molecule sites act in concert to activate and transform small molecules, is a growing area of interest. We have previously explored so-called 'frustrated' Lewis pairs in which either the acidic or basic function is based on a transition metal complex. This project will build on these results using new ligand-metal combinations to impart higher functional group tolerance and potentially chirality. Mid-transitional metals will be a focus, since these have a good track record of other transformations in which these characteristics are important. We will study both the fundamental organometallic chemistry of such systems in small molecule activation, especially dynamic behaviour, as well as catalysis.