Hemilabile Pincer-based Organometallic Complexes

  • The pincer ligand motif has proved especially useful for the stabilization of low-valent metal fragments capable of C–H bond activation and subsequent functionalization. With this respect, our research is focused on developing new hybrid pincer systems like NNN, PCN, POCN etc. by tuning the steric and electronic properties around the donor center. We synthesize the organometallic complexes of such ligands with inexpensive transition metals like Iron, cobalt and nickel. The reactivity of synthesized organometallic complexes are systematically studied with small organic molecules for C‒H bond activation, CO, CO2 activations.

 

C‒H Bond Activation and Functionalizations

  • Activation and subsequent functionalizations of C‒H bond are the green and sustainable approach for the generation of novel carbon-functionalities. As, pincer complexex are known for doing C‒H bond activation, our focus is on the employment of pincer complexes for various C‒H bond functionalizations like arylations, alkylations, alkenylation, alkynylation, fluorinations and carboxylations of (hetero)arenes. We are also interested in cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) via double C‒H bond activations, by using mild oxidant to work towards the sustainable chemical synthesis and organic transformations.

 

Asymmetric Hydrogenations

  • Hydrogenation of C=C, C=N, C=O bonds are very crucial in the synthesis of chiral API's. In this regards, we develop chiral pincer catalysts based on NNN and NNP ligands and earth-abundant metals such as Fe, Co and Ni. The well-defined complexes are being used for the asymmetric hydrogenation of pharmaceitically important intermediates.