Introduction of a Novel Family of Bitopic N-Heterocyclic Carbenes
Catalysts lower the energy barrier of different reactions and can provide greater selectivity with higher yields and therefore are of particular interest to material production. Improvement in catalysts can lead to greener production and a decrease in cost. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been recognized as a powerful class of ligands to metals, perhaps most notably in catalysis. This thesis introduces a family of bis-NHC ligands. This family links the N-alkylated benzimidazolium moieties by a bridge providing a rigid structure for the generation of bis-NHCs and their corresponding thiones and gold complexes. The unique structure of this family allows for the formation of bimetallic complexes, main-chain organometallic polymers, and supramolecular structures. These complexes allow for significant versatility in catalytic properties, solubility, and selectivity. The synthesis of the novel intermediate compounds, thiones, and bimetallic gold complexes of these bis-NHC ligands will be presented. The reported molecules were characterized through NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography.
NHC, N-Heterocyclic Carbenes, Organometallic, Bimetallic Gold, Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
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