Organometallic Chemistry seminars

Two presentations examine selective nitrogen installation in organic molecules. The first studies how changing rhodium nitrene catalysts can direct amination toward different carbon–hydrogen bonds, including normally unreactive sites, beyond the limits of substrate-directed approaches. The second addresses the sustainability problems of scarce metals and conventional nitrene precursors through iron catalysts and hydroxylamine derivatives. Applications include aziridination, alkene difunctionalization within and between molecules, and direct carbon–hydrogen functionalization without an additional external oxidant.

The first presentation develops doubly metalated organozinc reagents whose two nucleophilic sites can react sequentially. Examples include silyl- and germylzincation of alkynes, rearrangements producing metalated allenes and enantioselective activation of geminal diorganozincs. The second examines nitrogen extrusion as a driving force for carbanion formation. It surveys synthetic applications and describes decomposition of silylated diazenes to obtain group-one organometallic reagents with tertiary alkyl centres.

Photocatalyst interfaces influence both reaction efficiency and catalyst stability. This seminar examines anchoring soluble organic or organometallic catalysts onto solid supports to control those interfaces, enable greener or solvent-free conditions and simplify reuse. Combining these designs with continuous-flow processing links molecular-level improvements to scalable organic synthesis.