Introducing Organometallics á la Carte
Having uncovered a new cycle for a titanium catalyzed dehydrogenation of linear and volatile alkanes to -olefins has inspired us to pursue, trap and isolate similar intermediates species involved in this important transformation (see Scheme below). We will begin by discussing the chemistry of titanium alkylidynes and methylidenes, and extending this work to vanadium alkylidynes and their application in the cyclic polymerization of phenylacetylene via the formation of highly charged and unsaturated deprotiometallacyclobutadienes (Course 1 and 2 on the menu). C-H bond activation, including the activation of methane and the inspiration behind the Tebbe reagent will be briefly discussed. Next in the menu (Course 3) will include the science uncovered with a TiII fragment supported by a chelating phosphino-anilide ligand, thus granting us access to an arsenal of one-coordinate pnictides including its extension to Zr and V.