Dr. Michael E. Silver of the Chemistry Department, Hope College, is being supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program for work on the synthesis and characterization of early transition metal allyl compounds. Specifically, compounds containing the moiety Cp(allyl)M, where M=Zr or Hf, will be synthesized. The allyl ligand will be methylated to improve stability of the product. The compounds prepared will then be used to synthesize early-late transition metal bimetallic compounds. In one attempt, the Grignard reagent prepared from the allyl species will be reacted with late transition metal carbonylates. In another, late metal hydrides will be used. The allyl species will also be used to study fluxionality of the allyl group. %%% The goal of the research is to enhance the catalytic reactivity of the early transition metal center by associating it with a late-transition metal. Although this strategy has not successed previously, positive results would have implications for the development of useful industrial catalysts. It is anticipated that the project will result in the synthesis of novel organometallic species and the work will be of considerable educational value to the undergraduate students who will participate in the program.
