Six-coordinate Carbon In-class Activity

Submitted by Kyle Grice / DePaul University on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 22:29
Description

This is an in-class exercise developed based on a recent paper in Angewandte Chemie International Edition that reported a crystal structure of "six-coordinate" carbon. We normally think of carbon being four-coordinate at most, but this case has definitive evidence otherwise. However, we can use our inorganic chemistry knowledge to understand the structure and bonding of this molecule and rationalize its stability. Students do a pre-class exercise and then construct the MO of fhe molecule in class together. 

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.

Isotope Effects in Arene C-H Bond Activation by Cp*Rh(PMe3)

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 13:20
Description

This literature discussion is based on a paper by Bill Jones and Frank Feher (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1986, 108, 4814-4819). In this paper, they study the activation of aromatic C-H bonds by a rhodium complex. Through careful experimental design, they were able to examine isotope effects on the selectivity of the reaction. Analysis of the rate data allowed them to prepare a reaction coordinate free energy diagram. This paper also introduces the effects of C-H bond breaking in early or late transition states on the vibrational energy spacing at both ground and excited states.

Binding dinitrogen to titanium sandwich compounds

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 12:06
Description

The literature discussion is based on one of the early papers from the Chirik group (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 14688). In this communication, the coordination of N2 to a series of (C5H4R)2Ti fragments is examined. Being a communication, it is very short and that helps make it less intimidating for undergraduates. But don't be fooled, it is very rich in the fundamental concepts of orgnaometallic chemistry.

Molecular Hydrogen Complexes of Mo and W

Submitted by Kyle Grice / DePaul University on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 19:28
Description

Literature discussion about the first examples of molecular hydrogen complexes isolated by Gregory J. Kubas in the early 80s. The questions are divided into groups with two levels of difficulty.

The more basic group of questions includes topics on:

1)      Coordination Chemistry: electron count, geometry, oxidation state, orbital interactions, types of ligands, binding modes, cis/trans and fac/mer isomers.

2)      Symmetry elements and point groups.

3)      Basic concepts on spectroscopy: NMR, Raman, IR, UV/Vis, XANES, EXAFS, neutron and X-ray diffraction

Uses for Character Tables: IR and Raman Spectroscopy

Submitted by Kristy L. Mardis / Chicago State University on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 10:11
Description

A guided inquiry activity where students use group theory and character tables to practice determining reducible representations for all atoms and the individual bonds (like CO stretches).  The students then reduce the representation, determine which are vibrational modes, and then determine which are IR active using the character table.  For the second portion, they practice using this approach to differentiate between two metal isomers.

George Stanley Organometallics

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 06/10/2016 - 14:53

This is an LO for the collection of organometallics LOs by George Stanley. Adam Johnson is curating the material that was written by George.

For many years, George hosted his organometallics lecture notes, powerpoint slides, and handouts, on his personal website at LSU. He always wanted that material available to the public. Recently, they moved to a CMS and that material is no longer available. Adam is working with George to get the 2016-2017 version of his materials up on VIPEr for everyone to use.

The lecture notes are freely available to all.

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