Synthesis and reactivity of palladium and platinum carbenes

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:32
Description

The literature discussion is based on a paper (Organometallics ASAP) in which the synthesis and reactivity of a palladium and platinum carbene compound. The palladium and platinum compounds exhibit some interesting differences that show up throughout the paper.

Reactivity of a platinum benzyne compound

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Mon, 01/23/2017 - 14:02
Description

The literature discussion is based on a paper by Gagné (Organometallics 2015, 34, 2707).  In this work, the in situ generation of benzyne is examined. The benzyne coordinates to a platinum center with a tridentate (pincer) phosphine ligand and a methyl group. This provides an opportunity to discuss the characterization of compounds that have NMR active nuclei that are not 100% naturally abundant. Protonation of the benzyne compound results in the formation of toluene. Different mechanisms are considered.

Nucleophilic attack at an iridium arene

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Thu, 01/19/2017 - 15:23
Description

This literature discussion is based on a paper describing the nucelophilic attack on a coordinated arene (Organometallics, 2015, 34,

calistry calculators

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 01/18/2017 - 18:17
Description

I just stumbled on this site while refreshing myself on the use of Slater's rules for calculating Zeff for electrons. There are a variety of calculators on there including some for visualizing lattice planes and diffraction, equilibrium, pH and pKa, equation balancing, Born-Landé, radioactive decay, wavelengths, electronegativities, Curie Law, solution preparation crystal field stabilization energy, and more.

I checked and it calculated Zeff correctly but I can't vouch for the accuracy of any of the other calculators. 

Reactions of Cp*2Zr(2,3-dimethylbutadiene)

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 17:58
Description

This literature discussion is based on a paper detailing the structure and reactivity of the title compound (Organometallics, 201635,

Ruthenium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 11:06
Description

This literature discussion is based on a paper detailing catalytic transfer hydrogenation of various unsaturated organic molecules (Organometallics, 2016, 35

Group VI metal carbonyl compounds with pincer ligands

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 01/11/2017 - 16:43
Description

This literature discussion is based on a short paper describing a series of Group VI metal carbonyl compounds that have pincer ligands (Organometallics, 2016

Inorganic Chemistry for Geochemistry and Environmental Sciences Fundamentals and Applications by George W. Luther III

Submitted by Rachel Narehood Austin / Barnard College, Columbia University on Wed, 01/04/2017 - 16:10
Description

This is a great new textbook by George Luther III from the University of Delaware.  The textbook represents the results of a course he has taught for graduate students in chemical oceanography, geochemistry and related disciplines.  It is clear that the point of the book is to provide students with the core material from inorganic chemistry that they will  need to explain inorganic processes in the environment.

The Monsanto acetic acid process

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Thu, 12/29/2016 - 18:12
Description

This literature discussion is based on one of early papers detailing the mechanism for the Monsanto acetic acid process (J. Am. Chem.

Understanding the Mechanism of Grubbs-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis

Submitted by Richard Lord / Grand Valley State University on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 10:42
Description

A literature discussion has been developed for two courses: (i) a more basic set of questions appropriate for a sophomore level course or, possibly, a one semester upper level course that does not spend much time on organometallics, and (ii) an in-depth, in- and out-of-class set of assignments appropriate for an organometallics unit or course. Both sets of questions explore the mechanism of olefin metathesis in first- and second-generation Grubbs catalysts using a variety of spectroscopic kinetic techniques that were presented in the paper Sanford, M. S.; Love, J. A.; Grubbs, R. H. J.