Reactions of zirconium-heteroatom multiple bonds with organic molecules

ORGN 10

Robert G. Bergman, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1460
Many catalytic reactions involving oxidation and atom transfer are known in which intermediates having multiple bonds between transition metals and heteroatoms (e.g., M=O, M=NR, M=S) are proposed to be formed. However, the number of instances in which the reactions of such bonds with organic molecules has been carefully studied is relatively small, especially in comparison to analogous investigations of complexes with metal-carbene (M=CR2) linkages. This lecture will summarize recent results on the synthesis of new complexes with zirconium-nitrogen multiple bonds. Examples will be taken from recent studies of the reactions of Zr=N bonds with epoxides and imines, as well as from zirconocenes that bear chiral ligands and their use in enantioselective reactions with organic compounds.