New York University
Department of Chemistry
CHEM-GA 2262 The Chemistry of the Transition Metals
Fall 2011
Monday and Wednesday 2:00 – 3:15 pm, location TBA
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm or by appointment
Instructor
Prof. Daniela Buccella, dbuccella@nyu.edu
Silver 827, Biomedical Chemistry Institute
Phone 212-998-7941
Pre-requisites
An introductory course in Inorganic Chemistry is required.
Principal reading material
- Organotransition Metal Chemistry: from Bonding to Catalysis; Hartwig, J.; University Science
Books, 2010 (Required text)
- Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 6th Ed.; Cotton, F. A.; Wilkinson, G.; Murillo, C. A.; Bochman,
M. A.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1999.
- Organometallics, 3rd Ed.; Elschenbroich, C. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co: Weinheim,
Germany, 2006.
- The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, 5th Ed.; Crabtree, R. H; John Wiley &
Sons, Inc, 2009.
Other reading resources, including articles of the primary literature, will be suggested in class for
specific topics.
Course Summary
The course is intended to provide students with the fundamental principles pertaining to the
structure and reactivity of transition metal complexes, with an emphasis in organotransition
metal chemistry. Topics covered include electronic structure and bonding descriptions of
transition metal complexes, ligand types and general trends, reaction mechanisms, and
catalysis. Through discussion of the contemporary literature students will be exposed to the
recent developments in the field, ranging from the application of transition metal complexes in
the context of organic synthesis to the study of bioinorganic systems.
Topics outline
1. Basic concepts
- Terminology and definitions in transition metal chemistry.
- The normal covalent and dative covalent bonds in metal complexes. Classification of ligands
according to the number of electrons donated.
2. Structure and bonding in transition metal complexes
- Electronic configuration of transition metals, electron counting, dn configuration, valence and
oxidation state, 18-electron rule.
- MO diagrams for complexes of simple geometries: σ-only, σ and π donation.
- Survey of normal covalent and dative ligands. Ligands with π bonding.
- Trends in the properties of transition metal complexes.
- Physical methods employed to study transition metal complexes and their reactions.
3. Reactions in transition metal chemistry
- Ligand substitution mechanisms. Trans effect.
- Reactions of coordinated ligands.
- Oxidative addition and reductive elimination.
- Migratory insertion.
- Sigma-bond metathesis.
- Alkene metathesis.
4. Catalysis
- General principles of homogeneous catalysis.
- Catalytic processes involving transition metal complexes: hydrogenation; isomerization;
oligomerization and polymerization; carbonylation reactions; cross-coupling; metathesis.
5. Special Topics
- Transition metal complexes in biological systems.
- Selected applications of catalysis with transition metal complexes.
Assignments and grading:
The grade for the course will be determined based on examinations, problem sets, and a written
research paper according to the following:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Written Research Proposal
Problem sets
30%
30%
30%
10%
10/19/11
12/14/11
12/07/11 (Topic selection due on 11/16/11)
Due dates announced in class
Problem sets and written research proposal must be handed in during class, on their
corresponding due date. No credit will be given for problem sets received late. The written
research proposal should present an original idea for a new research opportunity in transition
metal chemistry, addressing either a fundamental question or a new application that relates to
the contents discussed in the course. The significance of the problem under study and a critical
evaluation of the background research should be presented succinctly in the paper. The topic
selection for the proposal must be presented to the instructor by November 16. Students are
encouraged to discuss their selection with the instructor in advance of the due date.