This Research Opportunities for Women Research Planning Grant is in the general area of inorganic, bioinorganic, and organometallic chemistry and in the subfields of synthetic and physical inorganic chemistry. During the twelve month period beginning 1 July 1989, Professor Bruce will conduct preliminary experiments to assist in delineating how the structure at the nitrogen center in imido complexes influences their reactivity. Her Research Planning Grant pursuits will focus on the synthesis of imido complexes of coordinately saturated metals in which the imido ligand lone pair remains nonbonding. These activities should contribute to Professor Bruce's establishing a competitive, independent research program in her laboratory at the University of Maine. The research area that will be explored in this project is of potential importance in organic synthesis and in catalytic and biological processes.
