CHEMISTRY 421

Structure, Dynamics and Synthesis I

Fall 1999, Part 2 of course

Organometallic Chemistry

Instructor: Dr. Joanne L. Stewart, 205 Peale, stewart@hope.edu, 395-7634(w), 335-5201(h)

Goals: Part 2 of this course is an introduction to organometallic chemistry. Instead of trying to survey a compendium of organometallic compounds in a short amount of time, we will focus on two classes of molecules: pi-complexes and transition metal carbenes. The emphasis will be on synthesis, structure (particularly electronic structure), and applications of these compounds. The two main applications we will examine are metathesis reactions and Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization. At the end of the semester, we will examine the general concept of selectivity in chemistry, with an emphasis on diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Resources: There is not a required textbook for this part of the course. You will be given several handouts during the semester. The major sources I will use are:

Gary O. Spessard; Gary L. Miessler Organometallic Chemistry; Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 1996.

Christoph Elschenbroich; Albrecht Salzer, Organometallics: A Concise Introduction; VCH: Weinheim, New York, 1989. (There is a 1992 2nd edition available.)

Mihály Nógrádi Stereoselective Synthesis, VCH: Weinheim, New York, 1986.

Grading: Your grade for this part of the course (which is about one-third of the semester) will be based on two homeworks (15 points each), one written literature report (20 points), one in-class presentation on stereoselectivity (20 points), a final exam (20 points), and your general in-class participation and enthusiasm (10 points). Your overall grade for the semester will be a weighted average of the grades you receive from me and from Dr. Bennett. Because of the small size of this class it is imperative that you attend and that you contact me ahead of time if you are going to be absent. I would like to look at a draft of your written literature report before you turn it in.

Office Hours: You are encouraged to seek help from your fellow students and me on homework assignments. You may drop in or call at any time. My schedule is posted on my door.

Honor Code: Academic integrity is assumed. Working with other students is encouraged, but this does not mean copying the solutions of others nor using answer keys or other materials from previous superchem classes. Violations will be dealt with according to Hope College's Code for Academic Integrity found in the official Hope College Catalog.

CLASS SCHEDULE

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
M Nov 1	intro, history, counting electrons	Chap 3 Spessard and Miessler
W Nov 3	18 electron complexes, review of MO’s	Chap 2 Spessard and Miessler
F Nov 5	Kleinheksel-VanZyl Science Symposium, Haworth Center	Attend one of afternoon talks (12:45-3:30)
M Nov 8	MO’s of cyclic p-systems	Homework 1 due
W Nov 10	pi complexes, ethylene and allyl	Chap 5 Spessard and Miessler, p 84-89; Chap 15 E&S, p 252-261 and p 280-289
F Nov 12	synthesis and structure of cyclopentadienyl (Cp) compounds	Chap 5, Spessard and Miessler, p 89-107; Chap 15, E&S, p 309-333
M Nov 15	MO diagram of ferrocene	Homework 2 due
W Nov 17	bent metallocenes	handout
F Nov 19	synthesis and structure of transition metal carbenes	Chap 10 Spessard and Miessler, p 302-322
M Nov 22	reactions of carbenes	Melissa leads class, p 322-336
W Nov 24	metathesis chemistry	Chris leads class, p 344-357
F Nov 26	Thanksgiving Break
M Nov 29	Ziegler-Natta polymerization	p 357-369
W Dec 1	state-of-the-art Z-N catalysis	presentation of lit paper (both students)
F Dec 3	intro to chemical selectivity	written literature report due; Chap 1 Nógrádi (we will decide together what pace to go through this material)
M Dec 6	chemical selectivity	in-class presentation - Chris (turn in copy of notes)
W Dec 8	chemical selectivity	in-class presentation - Melissa (turn in copy of notes)
F Dec 10	wrap-up, evaluation
Thurs, Dec 16, 10:30 a.m.	may be moved earlier	Final Exam