The focus of this research is the synthesis of new organosilicon compounds that have unusual chemical bonding . Targets include silynes, silaallenes and silamones. Silole anions and dianions with be reacted with transition metals to obtain new types of silole-metal complexes and the chemical reactions of stable silylenes will be investigated. Also, by vaporization of carbon mixed with silicon carbide or elemental phosphorus, new fullerene carbon cages, containing silicon or phosphorus atoms in the cage framework, will be prepared. With this renewal award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. Robert West of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin. Professor West will focus his work on the synthesis of new types of organosilicon compounds that contain unusual chemical bonding patterns. The molecules to be constructed test the limits of the ability of silicon to bond with carbon and are expected to have interesting chemical properties.
