Or Fischer and Schrock Carbenes A Brief Overview

Or Fischer and Schrock Carbenes: A Brief Overview Organic Pedagogical Electronic Network Alison Brown & Nathan Buehler University of Utah

Free Carbenes: A Brief Primer A carbene is any neutral carbon species which contains a non-bonding valance pair of electrons - The simplest example of a carbene is methylene - Traditional organic chemistry requires photolysis or thermolysis for carbene formation (specifically methylene) - Carbenes exist in either the singlet or triplet state Both singlet and triplet carbenes are highly reactive, reacting with all C—H and C=C bonds Singlet state carbenes have spin-paired electrons, and can be thought of as having Zwitter-ionic character As a result, the singlet state is highly reactive Triplet state carbenes are considered to be in the ground state, yet still highly reactive Chemical behavior similar to radical chemistry Wiki Page: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Carbene Other Helpful References: http: //chemistry. caltech. edu/courses/ch 242/L 20. pdf ,

Historical Metal-Carbene Complexes Early Examples The first transition metal stabilized carbene was developed by Fischer in 1964 The next major variety of carbene was developed by Schrock in 1974 Overview: Mechanistic Implications: The Fischer carbenes are electrophillic due to the formally empty pi orbital In contrast, Schrock carbenes are nucleophillic in nature, and behave as strong bases. To explain the differences in reactivity one should consider FMO theory, transition metal character, and available back-bonding. Schrock carbenes have a empty metal-like LUMO and a filled ligand-like HOMO, while in comparison the Fischer carbenes have filled metal based HOMO and a ligand based LUMO. As a result Schrock carbenes experience little backbonding and exhibit significant ionic character due to the early transition metal character. Fischer carbenes have a low lying metal orbital and a high lying empty ligand orbital, and this arrangement allows for particularly strong backbonding. Wiki Page: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Transition_metal_carbene_complex Other References: Schrock Paper, Fischer

Modern Metal-Carbene Complexes Overview Very recent work has focused on the use of Au as a catalyst capable of performing enantio-selective reactions with carbene intermediates. Other interesting work by de Bruin involves radical Co chemistry to generate a carbene intermediate Examples Wiki Page: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Transition_metal_carbene_complex Other References, Chem. Sci. , 2013, 4, 1053 -1058. , Acc. Chem. Res. , ASAP. , Chem. Eur. J. , 2013, 19, 12953 -12958. , J. Phys. Chem. A, 2013, 117, 9266 -9273. ,

Modern Metal-Carbene Complexes Example Mechanism Wiki Page: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Transition_metal_carbene_complex Other References, Chem. Sci. , 2013, 4, 1053 -1058. , Acc. Chem. Res. , ASAP. , Chem. Eur. J. , 2013, 19, 12953 -12958. , J. Phys. Chem. A, 2013, 117, 9266 -9273. ,

Modern Metal-Carbene Complexes Future Directions Generation of the ‘simplest carbene’, Be. CH 2. Computational studies indicate that formation of Be. CH 2 is thermodynamically favorable but that mechanistic or kinetic reasons prevent Be. CH 2 from being made or persisting. Wiki Page: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Transition_metal_carbene_complex Other References, Chem. Sci. , 2013, 4, 1053 -1058. , Acc. Chem. Res. , ASAP. , Chem. Eur. J. , 2013, 19, 12953 -12958. , J. Phys. Chem. A, 2013, 117, 9266 -9273. ,

Problems References Acc. Chem. Res. , ASAP. ,

Contributed by: Alison Brown & Nathan Buehler (Undergraduates) University of Utah, 2013 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution. Share. Alike 4. 0 International License.