The Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports research in the area of organometallic catalysis. In this project William H. Hersh of the University of California at Los Angeles will investigate the chemical synthesis and reactivity of mono- and di-functional metal clusters. These cluster molecules are potential catalysts for carbon-carbon bond formation which is an important process in organic synthesis and especially in the production of petrochemicals from non-petroleum feedstocks. In addition the clusters may serve as model compounds for understanding the mechanisms of reactions at the surface of metals. Heteronuclear bi- and tri-metallic cluster molecules containing either molybdenum and iron or manganese and iron will be synthesized, using bridging carbyne or acyl groups and ancillary ligands such as cyclopentadienide and carbon monoxide. The reactions of these clusters will be studied, including the isomerization of a bridging methoxycarbyne to a bridging acyl via methyl migration to one of the metal atoms of the cluster. Difunctional clusters will also be synthesized, and reactions in which two organic substituents on different metals of the cluster join via carbon-carbon bond formation will be investigated. Special emphasis will be placed on the kinetics and mechanisms of these reactions. studied.
