Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis

PD Dr. Torsten Beweries

We investigate different aspects of the coordination chemistry of early and late transition metal complexes in homogeneous catalysis. Starting from well-defined molecular systems, reaction optimisations and studies of the selectivity and kinetics of product formation are performed. Based on synthetic organometallic chemistry we aim for a fundamental understanding of structure-activity relationships.

Catalysis with early transition metals (Dr. Perdita Arndt)

• Exotic five-membered metallacycles of titanium and zirconium
• Activation of C-C, C-H, O-H, N-H, B-H and C-F bonds
• Polymerisation and oligomerisation catalysis of olefins

Catalysis with late transition metals (PD Dr. Torsten Beweries)

• Ligand Synthesis and coordination chemistry
• Activation of small molecules
• Dehydrogenation and dehydrocoupling reactions for hydrogen storage and material chemistry

Mechanisms in homogeneous catalysis (Prof. Detlef Heller)

• Synthesis and characterisation of Rhodium bis(phoshane) complexes
• Asymmetric catalysis
• Investigation of activation and deactivation pathways