The Iluc research group focuses on the activation of inert molecules, with an emphasis on the functionalization of C–H bonds in a catalytic manner. These are imperative scientific problems since less expensive and more readily available feedstocks than those currently used could be employed to meet some of the energy demands of our society. In a broad sense, the group is interested in green chemistry both in its approach (catalysis) and emphasis on using inert substrates (activation of C-H bonds). The focus is on organometallic chemistry and especially on design of metal complexes that take advantage of latent reactivity. Two major areas are targeted: (1) the synthesis of ligand-based cabenoid centers with different reactivity and (2) the characterization of suntethered carbenes. Both areas aim towards small molecule activation with the ultimate goal of catalytic reactions.

Nucleophilic Carbenes

Ligand-based nucleophilic cabenes that show metal-ligand cooperativity in bond (C-H, O-H, N-H, Si-H etc.) activation.

Electrophilic Carbenes

Electrophilic carbenes generated throgh oxidation reactions that show reactivity with nucleophiles.

Radical Carbenes

First example of structural characterisation of a radical carbene (M= Pd, Pt).

Metathesis

Reactivity of carbenes towards multiple bonds for metathesis.

The group span synthesis, characterization, and mechanistic studies with an emphasis on understanding reactivity and design of new catalytic cycles. Students who are part of the group will become versatile scientists with skills drawing both on the synthesis of air-sensitive and air-stable metal complexes and on their characterization. Characterization methods include multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography on a routine basis with other types of spectroscopy (UV-vis-NIR, IR, EPR, Mossbauer, X-ray absorption) and characterization techniques (magnetism, cyclic voltammetry) employed in order to understand the properties of the newly synthesized metal complexes in detail. Reactivity behavior will be informed both by kinetics analysis and DFT calculations. All these results will be used in designing systems with better catalytic performance than those existing at the present.