Organometallic Chemistry and Reactivity

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Transition Metal (TM) organometallic chemistry is nowadays prolific in fundamental, synthetic as well as applied chemistry subjects. Many (catalytic) reactions are mediated by TM complexes and involve a plethora of single steps leading to products. The main line of this course concerns the understanding of the concepts of organometallic chemistry and some of its applications. Students are familiarized with important parameters that determine the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of organometallic compounds and concepts of basic inorganic chemistry such as crystal and ligand field, mutual influence of metal and ligands expressed by back-bonding and the trans effect, are rehearsed. General properties such as oxidation states, the 18e rule, electron counting and the like will be treated.

The main part of the course consists of a discussion of ligand types such as alkyls, hydrides, carbonyls, and phosphines, carbenes, pi-bonded ligands such as alkenes, alkynes, alkenyls, dienes, polyenes, and the important group of cyclopentadienyl ligands. Also metal-ligand multiple bonds receive attention. Synthesis and reactivity of these and other systems will be highlighted.

Special chapters are devoted to organometallic reactivity (concerted, stepwise, radical processes) and selectivity and typical reactions such as (oxidative) addition and (reductive) elimination, substitution, metal and ligand centered reactivity.

Students will learn about the factors that influence stability, lability and reactivity of TM compounds.

Study materials

Literature

• Manfred Bochmann; Organometallics and Catalysis, An Introduction; Oxford University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-19-966821-2

Objectives

• The course aims at familiarizing the student with elementary and advanced concepts in molecular inorganic chemistry, with an emphasis on the organometallic chemistry of the transition metals.
• Using the 18 electron rule and knowledge about basic elementary steps to understand and predict reaction mechanisms of catalytic reactions.
• Understanding and predicting the stabilty of organometallic compounds.
• Applying knowlegde about electronic properties to understand and predict stability and reactivity.
• Designing reaction pathways to synthesize specific (organic) compound based on the elementary steps discussed in the classes.
• Analysing reaction pathways in terms of the several elementary reaction steps known for organometallic compounds.
• Contructing catalytic pathways by combining differetn elementary reaction steps, the 18 VE rules, common sense and general chemistry knowledge.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study

Learning activities

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Canvas page is available

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Bas de Bruin