Transition metal complexes in which two or more metal atoms are linked by various aryldiimido bridging bridging groups will be synthesized and studied. These bridging groups have the important advantage that electronic communication in a new domain of high oxidation state metal complexes can be systematically examined. First homo- and then heterometallic dimeric systems will be studied to probe the fundamental chemistry of the linked transition metal fragments and to identify perturbations caused by the introduction of the heterometal-imido unit, respectively. In the final stage of the project the chemistry of multimetallic systems, i.e., polymers with aryldiimido linkages, will be investigated. Electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, variable-temperature magnetic, and diffraction studies will be performed in collaboration with workers at other instututions. %%% In this project in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program of the Chemistry Division, Dr. Eric A. Maatta of Kansas State University will synthesize and characterize complexes of early transition metals, in high oxidation states, that are bridged or held together by aryldiimido ligands. These compounds will include a variety of polymeric materials that may have very useful properties as conductors.
