Main group chemistry
While transition metal catalysts have been used since decades in synthetic chemistry, the past years have revealed that also compounds of the p-block elements in unusual bonding situations can engage in bond activation reactions including strong bonds and small molecules such as CO2 or dihydrogen. This transition-metal like behavior suggests the possible design of main group element based catalysts as alternatives to conventional catalysts relying on rare and precious metals.
In an effort to better understand and control the electronic structure of low-valent main group compounds, we are particularly interested in the use and design of new ligand structures that either are capable of stabilizing unusual bonding situations or enabling bond activations via element ligand cooperativity. Previous projects in the group have particularly focussed on the exploitation of ylidic substituents and unraveled a series of fascinating structures of group 13 to 15 elements.
Selected publications:
V. S. V. S. N. Swamy, F. Krischer, C. Schwarz, H. Steinert, B. Mallick, V. H. Gessner*
Inverting the Electronic Structure of Diylidylgermylenes by Backbone Modification Chem. Eur. J. 2023, 29, e202300504; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.202300504
A. Sarbajna, V. S. V. S. N. Swamy, V. H. Gessner*Phosphorus-Ylides: Powerful Substituents for the Stabilization of Reactive Main Group Compounds.Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 2016-2024. DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03278FC.
Mohapatra, L. Scharf, T. Scherpf, B. Mallick, K.-S. Feichtner, C. Schwarz, V. H. Gessner*
Isolation of a Diylide-Stabilized Stannylene and Germylene: Enhanced Donor Strength through Coplanar Lone Pair Alignment
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 7459-7463. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201902831
T. Scherpf, K.-S. Feichtner, V. H. Gessner*
Using Ylide-Functionalization to Stabilize Boron Cations
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 3275-3279. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201611677