Chemistry Special Seminar - Jens Mueller, University of Saskatchewan
Jens Mueller, Professor in the Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan will present a special seminar at 1:30 pm in Thorvaldson 205A.
Title
The Long Journey toward Sila[1]ruthenocenophanes: Insight into a Seemingly Simple Reaction
Abstract
During the last 30 years or so, researchers in the area of metal-containing polymers made significant advances. This is in part due to the milestone discovery by Ian Manners et al. that ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the strained sila[1]ferrocenophane 1 gives well-defined, high-molecular-weight metallopolymers (Figure 1).1 Since this finding, new ROP methodologies were applied and many new strained sandwich compounds have been developed. Still, the sila[1]ferrocenophane 1 is the most versatile and most applied monomer in this area. My students and I addressed the obvious question why has nobody reported on the successful preparation of the sila[1]ruthenocenophane 2, the heavier analogue of the iron species 1. By the recent synthesis of this missing family member, we solved a 30-year-old mystery.2
In this presentation, I will connect the dots through 20 years of research in my group. By doing so, I will demonstrate some of our highlights in the area of strained sandwich compounds. The focus of the presentation will be on a seemingly simple formation reaction of strained sandwich compounds. As so often in life, something that seems to be simple can be quite complex.
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 1:30 pm
Place: Thorvaldson 205A