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Department of Chemistry Emeriti

Organometallic and Coordination Chemistry

Organometallic homogeneous catalysis

Activation of small molecules with transition metal hydride complexes. Optimizations of catalytic hydrogenations and hydrosilations. Development of new catalytic processes utilizing heterolytic splitting of H2 and silanes. The project aims at the development of new hydrogenation and hydrosilation catalysts operating on the basis of a formal heterolytic splitting of H2 or R3SiH (ionic hydrogenation, hydrosilation). The new catalyses are expected to result in new chemo- and regioselectivities with respect to hydrogenation and hydrosilation processes of the Wilkinson type. Furthermore the difficult catalytic hydrogenation and hydrosilation processes of CO and N2 are sought to be developed by this new route. Development of new homogeneous for C-C coupling reactions: ketene formation from alkyl halides and CO and the development of new catalysts for olefin metathesis The project deals with the development of efficient homogeneous catalysts for the preparation of ketenes as versatile intermediates in organic synthesis. Furthermore new rhenium based catalysts for olefin metathesis are sought to be developed to tackle the general problems of low activity and low functional group tolerance of existing systems.

Molecular electronics

Development of synthetic accesses to single-electron-devices based on new approaches for access to low energy work function compounds. The project contributes to the modern field of molecular electronics, where miniaturization of electronic devices is approached down to the molecular dimensions. Special types of paramagnetic organometallic molecules are probed. The electronic properties of new systems will be explored.

Biological chemistry

NO complexes as prodrugs: NO is one of the most important signaling molecule in biology. Physiological NO deficiency or NO excess leads to pathological states of man, animals and plants. The development of physiological NO donors or NO scavengers is expected to lead to second generation NO prodrugs.

Solid state chemistry

Archaeometrical studies of ancient blue and purple pigments: In the project archaeometrical studies of ancient man-made blue and purple pigment samples are carried out. The original preparations of the pigments are traced by modern synthetic and analytical methodologies. Emphasis is placed on studies of the pigments Egyptian Blue, Chinese Blue and Purple and Ultramarine Blue. A search for new High-Temperature-Supraconductors: A search for new materials with High-Temperature superconducting properties was initiated using low temperature sol-gel methods for their preparations.

Chemical hydrogen storage

Chemical hydrogen storage based on amine boranes and porous materials is approached utilizing appropriate catalysis and metal organic frameworks.

Weiterführende Informationen

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