Current Research
1. Heteroleptic diorganyl zinc as well as triorganyl zincate
compounds: Heteroleptic zincates are often utilized in the organic syntheses due to their
high reactivity. Depending on the solvents, the substituents and the counter cations
solvent-separated and/or contact ion pairs are observed. These structures determine the
reactivity of the zincates.
2. 1,1-Dipentelaalkaline earth
metallocenes and -stannocenes: Zirconocenacyclopentadienes
serve as synthons for the synthesis of very reactive phospholes, arsoles, stiboles, and
bismoles. Their reduction with alkaline earth metals allows the isolation of
1,1-dipentelaalkaline earth metallocenes. The metathesis reaction with SnCl2
yields the corresponding stannocenes.
3. Alkaline earth metal
trialkylsilylphosphanediides and their homologous compounds: These compounds crystallize
tetrameric or hexameric with central M4P4 heterocubane moieties or
hexagonal M6P6 prisms (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Derivatization via
addition of Lewis bases and acids as well as metathesis reactions leads to novel compounds
with hitherto unknown M2nP2m cages.
4. Metalorganic compounds of the heavier
alkaline earth metals: Although the Grignard reagents have been known for a century and
have ascertained numerous applications, the synthesis of the metal-carbon bond of calcium,
strontium and barium is extremely difficult. The reaction of trialkylalanes with alkaline
earth metal bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amides] leads to the transfer of an alkyl group and the
formation of alkaline earth metal alanates. Difficulties result from the insolubility, the
air sensitivity, the low reactivity of the precursors and the tendency to ether cleavage
reactions.
5. Bis(trialkylsilyl)phosphanides of yttrium: The Y-P bond is
extremely reactive and kinetically labile. Therefore, the synthesis of
bis(trialkylsilyl)phosphanides of yttrium have to be performed with the strict exclusion
of ethers and halide anions to avoid ether cleavage reactions and yttriate formations.
6. Cooperative effects at homobimetallic magnesium and zinc
containing compounds: Novel tetradentate azaligands enable the coordination of two metal
centers with very close contact. An example for the reactivity of these complexes and
cooperative effects of the metal centers is the intramolecular C-N bond actvation.
Awards
1999 teaching excellence award from the State of Bavaria
Memberships
Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Muenchner Chemische Gesellschaft
Financial Support
Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, Frankfurt/Main
Stiftung Stipendien-Fonds des Verbandes der Chemischen Industrie e.V.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn
Responsible for this website: Thomas Rotter