Organometallic chemistry intro
Undergraduate · Chemistry
Syllabus focus
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Fundamentals of organometallic compounds
- Definition and classification of organometallic compounds
- 18-electron rule and electron counting
- Common ligand types: CO, phosphines, alkyls, aryls, η-ligands
- Oxidation states of transition metals in organometallics
- Coordination geometries in organometallic complexes
- Metal–carbon bond strengths and reactivity trends
- Nomenclature of organometallic compounds
- Stability and sensitivity: air, moisture, temperature
- Historical development: Zeise's salt to modern catalysis
- Overview of d-block organometallic chemistry
Key reactions and mechanisms
- Oxidative addition and reductive elimination
- Insertion reactions: migratory insertion, β-hydride elimination
- Nucleophilic attack on coordinated ligands
- Transmetalation in cross-coupling catalysis
- Ligand substitution in 16- and 18-electron complexes
- Associative vs dissociative substitution mechanisms
- Electron counting in catalytic cycles
- Role of ancillary ligands in tuning reactivity
- Spectator vs participating ligands
- Curved-arrow mechanisms for organometallic steps
Catalytic cycles and named reactions
- Wilkinson's catalyst: alkene hydrogenation
- Monsanto acetic acid process: rhodium-catalyzed carbonylation
- Hydroformylation: cobalt and rhodium catalysts
- Olefin metathesis: Grubbs catalysts (overview)
- Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling: Suzuki, Heck, Sonogashira
- Buchwald–Hartwig amination (introduction)
- Asymmetric hydrogenation with chiral phosphine ligands
- Ziegler–Natta and metallocene olefin polymerization
- Shilov system and C–H activation (overview)
- Industrial relevance of each catalytic process
Characterization and synthesis
- Synthesis under inert atmosphere: Schlenk techniques
- NMR of organometallics: fluxionality and dynamic behavior
- IR spectroscopy of metal–CO and metal–hydride stretches
- X-ray crystallography for structure determination
- Cyclic voltammetry of redox-active complexes
- Decomposition pathways and handling precautions
- Common starting materials: metal carbonyls, metal halides
- Ligand exchange and synthesis of phosphine complexes
- Scale-up considerations for organometallic reactions
- Green alternatives in organometallic catalysis
STEM / applied
Laboratory and applications
- Air-sensitive synthesis of ferrocene or similar complex
- Catalytic hydrogenation demonstration
- Cross-coupling reaction at small scale
- Glovebox operation and inert gas techniques
- GC analysis of catalytic reaction products
- Literature search for catalytic procedures
- Process chemistry perspective on catalytic steps
- Pharmaceutical applications of cross-coupling
- Fine chemical synthesis using organometallic catalysis
- Safety with pyrophoric reagents and carbon monoxide
Applied organometallic chemistry
- Homogeneous vs heterogeneous catalysis in industry
- Battery and energy materials: organometallic precursors for CVD
- OLED and display technology: organometallic emitters
- Agrochemical synthesis via catalytic methods
- Petrochemical refining catalysis
- Academic research trends in C–H activation
- Nobel Prize discoveries in organometallic chemistry
- Career paths in catalysis and process chemistry
- Intellectual property in catalyst ligand design
- Case studies in catalyst commercialization
Study units
Each unit includes a study guide, worksheets, review, practice test, and answer key. One unit is free; subscribe for the full class.
- Fundamentals of organometallic compounds
Definition and classification of organometallic compounds
Coming soon - Key reactions and mechanisms
Oxidative addition and reductive elimination
Coming soon - Catalytic cycles and named reactions
Wilkinson's catalyst: alkene hydrogenation
Coming soon - Characterization and synthesis
Synthesis under inert atmosphere: Schlenk techniques
Coming soon
Notes
Introduction to organometallic chemistry for undergraduates. Topics reflect common organometallic intro syllabi at US colleges and universities. Prior inorganic and organic chemistry background required. Air-sensitive lab work may be demonstrated or simulated depending on facilities.