Catalytic Hydrogenations of Organic and Inorganic C=O Bonds

New trialkylstannylium [R3Sn]+ triflates, triflimides, and tetra(fluoroaryl)borates will be synthesised using well-established organotin synthetic chemistry, which allows access to tin hydrides (simple inorganic reductions) and other counterions (salt metathesis). Reactions under catalytic direct hydrogenation conditions (H2, elevated T), with organic carbonyls, esters, and amides will be monitored primarily with 1H and 119Sn NMR. The same tin catalysts will be used for CO reduction, which will also utilise co-catalytic simple transition metal carbonyls [e.g. Fe(CO)5, Co2(CO)8] and will be carried out at 4-150 bar of syngas (CO+H2) 100-200 degrees C; this will be monitored by in situ GC-MS/IR analysis of gas aliquots (collaboration Christopher Tighe, Chem Eng) alongside 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy of products mixtures.