Research
Cooperative H2-Activation: Hydrogentaion and Dehydrogenation of Inorganic Substrates
We are investigating the mechanism of E-H (E = H, B, C, N) bond activation with electron rich metal complexes bearing ccoperating ligands such as amides. Heterolytic splitting of H2 is an important step in bifunctional (cooperative) hydrogenation of polar organic functional groups, such as ketones. We are expanding this reactivity towards inorganic substrates and developed, for example efficient metal-ligand cooperating catalysts for dehydrocoupling of borane-amines to polyaminoboranes. This reaction is of great current interest for chemical hydrogen storage and provides access to novel inorganic polymers. The same class of catalysts also mediates the hydrogenation of and azide to ammonia, providing a model system for Haber-Bosch type chemistry at mild conditions.
Selected Publications: Angew. Chem. 2009, 121, 922. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 10339. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 17552. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 13332. Nature. Chem. 2011, 3, 532.
Electronically and coordinatively highly unsaturated Platinum Metal Complexes
The versatile functionalization of our aliphatic PNP pincer ligand allows for easy tuning of its electronic (donor) properties. This reactivity allowed for the isolation of unusual square-planar platinum-metal amido complexes with d8, d7, and d6 configurations. We are currently examining the parameters which control spin-equilibria, the reactivity towards small molecules and stabilization of M-E (E = N, O, C) multiple bonds.
Selected Publications: Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 3699. Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 7728. Nature. Chem. 2011, 3, 532. Angew. Chem. 2011, in press.