Radicals in the coordination sphere of silicon

• Applicant: Professor Herbert Roesky, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278990444

The chemistry of NHC3 (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) has been intensively investigated. However, the chemistry of cAACs (cAAC = cyclic alkylamino carbene) is still in its infancy. The already known results of cAACs show a distinct direction for the development of practical useful species. According to the small HOMO-LUMO gap of cAAC compounds they can be used distinctively for the synthesis of molecules with radical character. This is a new route which we have established and which leads to intermediates or end products with radical character. In this research proposal dichlorosilylene-phosphinidenes and carbon-silylene radicals will be prepared and their applications studied in detail. Dichlorosilylene-phosphinidenes show an intramolecular charge transfer, which causes the different colors of the NHC and cAAC adducts. Moreover, we are aiming at preparing the first carbon-silylene radicals. The latter species will be used for the activation of small molecules such as CO2, H2, and N2, and also for the activation of C-H and N-H bonds and for selective preparations of transition metal complexes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants