In this project in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program of the Chemistry Division, Pierpont will continue studies on transition metal complexes that contain electroactive organic ligands. The synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes that contain catecholate, semiquinone, and related electroactive organic ligands will be pursued. These complexes exhibit selective redox activity at either the metal or ligand, thus allowing investigation of intramolecular metal-quinone electron transfer reactions. The photochemical and photophysical properties of quinone complexes of the platinum group metals will be examined. Multinuclear complex ensembles will be investigated for their activity as catalysts in photoconversion processes. Electronic effects in intramolecular metal-quinone electron transfer reactions and their potential involvement with bioinorganic reactions will be studied in functional models for metalloenzymatic processes. %%% Catechols, quinones and other quinoid molecules are common components of biological systems, in which they usually function in association with metal ions. In some cases these molecules function in the binding and transport of metals, and in other cases their metal complexes have a role in electron transfer and/or substrate activation. The semiquinone and catecholate metal complexes which will be synthesized in this project will serve as models of the similar natural molecules.
