This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports research on alkane functionalization by Dr. Dean M. Roddick of the Chemistry Department, University of Wyoming. Iridium complexes of (fluoroalkyl)phospine ligands will be surveyed for catalytic cycloalkane dehydrogenation activity and, in some cases, the mechanism of the reaction will be determined. New iridum complexes containing weakly coordinating ligands and new ruthenium hydride compounds will by synthesized and examined for alkane activation reactivity. Because of the stability of (fluoroalkyl)phospine ligands in acidic and in oxidizing conditions, the possibility of C-H activation followed by hydrogen scavenging, olefin oxidation or direct metal-alkyl oxidations will be investigated. The suitability of this class of compounds for catalytic aldehyde and alcohol decarbonylation will also be tested. %%% The fluoronated alkylphosphine group which is attached to the metal withdraws electronic charge from the vicinity of the metal but, unlike other groups which can also accomplish this, is resistant to thermal or oxidative degradation. Because of this stability, the compounds synthesized have potential for practical use in the design of reagents and catalysts to functionalize alkanes. Petroleum and natural gas technology would be influenced by a successful outcome.
