Heteroquinoid based (bi-)radicals - from fundamental bonding studies to small molecule activation

Exploring new structure and bonding motifs is crucial for advancing chemistry and has led to new models describing the electronic situation and bonding in molecules, unravelled physico-chemical properties, and expanded the toolbox of chemical reactivity.

This project aims at the investigation of heteroquinoidal structures, based on an isolobal substitution, giving rise to neutral (Pn/Pn and Pn/C, Pn=P, As, Sb, Bi), cationic (Pn/N+R2) and anionic (Pn/B-R2) derivatives.

Those can be represented by quinoidal and aromatic-biradical resonance forms posing fundamental questions regarding the bonding description and electronic properties of these systems.

This unexplored class of main group compounds presents a novel approach to low valent heavy main group compounds with masked biradicaloid, dipolar, cationic centres.

We expected them to show high reactivity and envision application in the activation of s-bonds and possibly as transition metal catalyst mimics, enabling unprecedented contributions to small molecule activation.

This includes highly relevant feedstocks such as CO2, but could also effectively reduce chemical waste by efficient/ direct activation of E-H bonds.

The team of this 4-year project will pursue synthetic work, fundamental opto-electronic characterization as well as reactivity and catalytic studies structured in 4 work packages.

At the end of the project we are confident to have introduced novel concepts into catalytic applications of main group compounds.