This three-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in inorganic and organometallic chemistry between Kim Dunbar of Michigan State University and Patrick Batail of the University of Paris, South (Orsay). The objective of the research is to develop low dimensional materials that have useful electrical and magnetic properties. The investigators will use dinuclear and cluster metal-metal bonded compounds as precursors to reactions with redox-active organic molecules which have functional groups capable of attaching to a metal. They will synthesize three main types of materials: (1) covalently-linked one dimensional materials consisting of alternating metal and p-organic groups; (2) network polymers comprised of cross-linked metal units; and (3) metal complexes of new phosphorus ligands. These are interesting materials because of their potential for electrical and magnetic properties. The Michigan State group brings to this collaboration experience in molecular chemistry. They have been involved in the synthesis of new metal precursors for the design of molecular based charge transfer polymers and materials. This is complemented by the French group's expertise in theoretical solid state chemistry, conductivity, magnetism, and their work on transition metal clusters. The collaboration allows the U.S. investigator to expand her research to the materials area by taking advantage of French expertise.
