This research project, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, focuses on the study of the coordination chemistry of odd-electron organometallic systems and metal-olefin complexes. Professor Weber and his students at the University Vermont will use a variety of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods together with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in this work. The organometallic systems to be studied include cyclopentdienyl and tris-(pyrazolyl)borate ligand complexes and these compounds have relevance to applications involving electronic devices. Metal-olefin complexes will be studied to better understand Ziegler-Natta catalysis and to search for ways to enhance the reactivities of these materials. The electron transfer properties of organometallic complexes, while extensively studied, remain poorly correlated with the ability of these compounds to catalyze selective molecular transformations. Odd-electron metal complexes will be the focus of this work in order to further understanding of these reactions so that they can be better exploited as catalysts and electronic devices. Electrochemical and spectroscopic methods will be used in this work.
