1. Abnormal Pincer-Type Carbenes for Functionalization of Hydrocarbons
Dmitri G. Goussev, Department of Chemistry, Wilfrid Laurier University,
A comparison of TEP values for a series of Ni(CO)3(NHC) complexes established that pyridylidene ligands have electron donor properties significantly exceeding those of ‘conventional’ N-heterocyclic carbenes, e.g. IMes, particularly when equipped with two phosphinite (-OPR2) groups:
Pincer complexes of the powerful PyC3 carbene donor - pyridylidene ligand have been synthesized and successfully tested for alkane dehydrogenation:
The synthesis of 2,4-(OPPri2)2-6-Me-C5H2N (PyC3-Pri) is currently under development. Pincer complexes of this modified ligand are expected to show enhanced catalytic activity due to reduced sterics.