Event

Manipulating the Main Group with Transition Metal Isocyanides

Joshua S. Figueroa

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

University of California, San Diego

            Transition metal complexes supported by encumbering m-terphenyl isocyanides are adept platforms for the stabilization of unusual molecular species. It has recently been reported that an iron complex featuring two m-terphenyl isocyanide ligands can support a terminal boron monfluoride (BF) ligand. This simple 10e– molecule is isoelectronic to carbon monoxide, but possesses vastly different electronic structure properties. In this presentation, the electronic features of metal-coordinated BF are discussed. In addition, the reactivity properties coordinated BF are detailed, with an emphasis on reactions where BF is the primary chemical protagonist. Highlighted are a series of reactions between the BF complex and nucleophilic substrates. In certain cases, nucleophiles are shown to displace fluoride from BF to generate new boron-containing ligands. These reactions are compared and contrasted with transformations where fluoride remains bound to the boron atom. Also presented are reactions between transition metal isocyanide anions and other substrates that generate uncommon metal-bound main group species.