Catalytic production of cyclic products via a [2+2+2] cycloaddition, mediated by electron-withdrawing organocobalt complexes

CHED 1147

Sarah E. Leshinski, seleshin@bloomu.edu, Jessica Pursel, jlpursel@bloomu.edu, and Eric J Hawrelak, ehawrela@bloomu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, 400 E Second St, Hartline Science Center, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Organocobalt complexes have been shown to mediate the catalytic synthesis of substituted pyridines via a cyclotrimerization reaction. Experimental evidence supports the idea that a more electron-deficient metal center will result in a higher catalytic activity and sterically bulky organocobalt complexes are more regioselective. Two pentafluorophenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl cobalt complexes [(C6F5)C5H5Co(CO)2 and (C6F5)C5H5Co(COD) (COD = cyclooctadiene)] have been prepared and characterized using 1H and 19F NMR, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystal analysis. While the dicarbonyl complex has proven to be difficult to activate without extreme conditions, the COD complex has been shown to catalytically produce substituted benzenes and pyridines. Determination of the catalytic reaction rates and comparisons to known catalysts are underway.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Inorganic Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008