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A range of iridium complexes, Ir(η3-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R')2 (1a-1e) [where 1a, PR2R' = PPh3, 1b P(p-tol)3, 1c PMePh2, 1d PMe2Ph and 1e PMe3] were synthesized and their reactivity as stoichiometric hydroformylation precursors studied. Para-hydrogen assisted NMR spectroscopy detected the following intermediates: Ir(H)2(η3-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R') (2a-e), Ir(H)2(η1-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R')2 (4d-e), Ir(H)2(η1-C3H5)(CO)2(PR2R') (10a-e), Ir(H)2(CO-C3H5)(CO)2(PR2R') (11a-c), Ir(H)2(CO-C3H7)(CO)2(PR2R') (12a-c) and Ir(H)2(CO-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R')2 (13d-e). Some of these species exist as two geometric isomers according to their multinuclear NMR characteristics. The NMR studies suggest a role for the following 16 electron species in these reactions: Ir(η3-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R'), Ir(η1-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R')2, Ir(η1-C3H5)(CO)2(PR2R'), Ir(CO-C3H5)(CO)2(PR2R'), Ir(CO-C3H7)(CO)2(PR2R') and Ir(CO-C3H5)(CO)(PR2R')2. Their role is linked to several 18 electron species in order to confirm the route by which hydroformylation and hydrogenation proceeds.

In order to examine fundamental processes connected with the use of an unpromoted iron based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst, model studies examining the temporal formation of hydrocarbonaceous species that form over the catalyst are undertaken using a combination of temperature-programmed oxidation, powder X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, transmission electron microscopy and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). Catalyst samples were exposed to ambient pressure CO hydrogenation at 623 K for defined periods of time-on-stream (3, 6, 12 and 24 h) prior to analysis. INS reveals a progressive retention of hydrogenous species that is associated with the evolution of a hydrocarbonaceous overlayer, as evidenced by the presence of sp 2 and sp 3 hybridized C-H vibrational modes. Correlations between the formation of aliphatic and olefinic/aromatic moieties with post-reaction characterization leads to the proposal of a number of chemical transformations that, collectively, define the conditioning phase of the catalyst under the specified set of reaction conditions. A comparison between the inelastic neutron scattering spectra of the 24 h sample with that of an iron catalyst extracted from a commercial grade Fischer-Tropsch reactor validates the relevance of the experimental approach adopted., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

An iron based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst is evaluated using CO hydrogenation at ambient pressure as a test reaction and is characterised by a combination of inelastic neutron scattering (INS), powder X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed oxidation, Raman scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The INS spectrum of the as-prepared bulk iron oxide pre-catalyst (hematite, α-Fe2O3) is distinguished by a relatively intense band at 810 cm(-1), which has previously been tentatively assigned as a magnon (spinon) feature. An analysis of the neutron scattering intensity of this band as a function of momentum transfer unambiguously confirms this assignment. Post-reaction, the spinon feature disappears and the INS spectrum is characterised by the presence of a hydrocarbonaceous overlayer. A role for the application of INS in magnetic characterisation of iron based FTS catalysts is briefly considered.

The reactivity of a series of organometallic rare earth and actinide complexes with hemilabile NHC-ligands towards substrates with acidic C-H and N-H bonds is described. The synthesis, characterisation and X-ray structures of the new heteroleptic mono- and bis(NHC) cyclopentadienyl complexes LnCp2(L) 1 (Ln = Sc, Y, Ce; L = alkoxy-tethered carbene [OCMe2CH2(1-C{NCHCHN(i)Pr})]), LnCp(L)2 (Ln = Y) , and the homoleptic tetrakis(NHC) complex Th(L)4 4 are described. The reactivity of these complexes, and of the homoleptic complexes Ln(L)3 (Ln = Sc 3, Ce), with E-H substrates is described, where EH = pyrrole C4H4NH, indole C8H6NH, diphenylacetone Ph2CC(O)Me, terminal alkynes RC≡CH (R = Me3Si, Ph), and cyclopentadiene C5H6. Complex 1-Y heterolytically cleaves and adds pyrrole and indole N-H across the metal carbene bond, whereas 1-Ce does not, although 3 and 4 form H-bonded adducts. Complexes 1-Y and 1-Sc form adducts with CpH without cleaving the acidic C-H bond, 1-Ce cleaves the Cp-H bond, but 2 reacts to form the very rare H(+)-[C5H5](-)-H(+) motif. Complex 1-Ce cleaves alkyne C-H bonds but the products rearrange upon formation, while complex 1-Y cleaves the C-H bond in diphenylacetone forming a product which rearranges to the Y-O bonded enolate product.

An effective one-step method has been developed to synthesize CuPd bimetallic nanowire networks. Investigation of the growth process revealed that the nanowires were formed by attachment of spherical particles and strongly influenced by interactions between surface ligands and metals. The morphology of CuPd nanoparticles is tuned via changing the molecular weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and solvents. The versatility of this method was further demonstrated by preparation of AgPd nanowires. An electrochemical study of CuPd nanowire networks shows morphology dependent activity in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is comparable to that of platinum.

A Sc NHC complex readily activates three equivalents of CO2 showing 'Frustrated Lewis Pair' type reactivity with each metal-carbene bond, but whilst CS2 is also activated by the labile carbenes, no metal involvement is observed.

Morphologically similar cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4) of four different sizes (3 nm, 6 nm, 11 nm and 29 nm) with narrow size distribution were prepared by subtle variation of synthesis conditions. These nanoparticles were used as model materials to understand the structural and morphological changes that occur to cobalt oxide during sequential reduction, oxidation and further re-reduction process as a function of the initial size of cobalt oxide. On reduction, spherical cobalt nanoparticles were obtained independent of the original size of cobalt oxide. In contrast, subsequent oxidation of the metal particles led to solid spheres, hollow spheres or core-shell structures depending on the size of the initial metal particle. Further re-reduction of the oxidized structures was also observed to be size dependent. The hollow oxide shells formed by the large particles (29 nm) fragmented into smaller particles on reduction, while the hollow shells of the medium sized particles (11 nm) did not re-disperse on further reduction. Similarly, no re-dispersion was observed in the case of the small particles (6 nm). This model study provides useful insights into the size dependent behavior of metal/metal oxide particles during oxidation/reduction. This has important implications in petrochemical industry where cobalt is used as a catalyst in the Fischer-Tropsch process.

Scandium trichloride complexes with tridentate N(3)- and S(2)N-donor ligands (L(3)) have been synthesised and characterised by IR, (1)H, (13)C{(1)H} and (45)Sc NMR spectroscopy, microanalysis, and solid state and solution XAFS spectroscopy. Catalytic testing of a subset of these complexes with ethene has been undertaken in chlorobenzene with MMAO-3A and PMAO-IP at 60 °C and 40 bar ethene, giving low activity ethene polymerisation. The reactions of these complexes with MeLi and AlMe(3) were studied by (1)H, (13)C{(1)H}, (27)Al and (45)Sc NMR spectroscopy and in situ via Sc K-edge XAFS spectroscopy. Three or four mol. equivalents of MeLi react with [ScCl(3)(Me(3)-tacn)] in THF solution to form [ScMe(3)(Me(3)-tacn)] cleanly, while complexes of type [ScCl(3)(R-SNS)] {R-SNS = HN(CH(2)CH(2)SC(10)H(21))(2)} form two different species proposed to be [ScMe(3)(R-SN(Li)S)] and [ScMe(2)(R-SN(-)S)]. In contrast, in situ(45)Sc NMR and Sc K-edge XAFS spectroscopic studies of the reaction of [ScCl(3)(Me(3)-tacn)] with 10 mol. equivalents of AlMe(3) strongly suggest that alkylation at the Sc(III) centre does not occur, instead retaining the Cl(3)N(3) coordination environment and most likely forming Sc-Cl-AlMe(3) bridging interactions. Similar studies on [ScCl(3)(decyl-SNS)] with 10 mol. equivalents of AlMe(3) are also consistent with this, indicating that alkylation at the Sc centre does not occur except in the presence of co-catalyst [Ph(3)C][Al{OC(CF(3))(3)}(4)] and the α-alkene, hex-1-ene.

The reactions of f-block silylamido N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes ([M(L)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(2)], M = Y, Ce, and U, L = bidentate alkoxy-tethered NHC ligand) with CO and CO(2) have been studied and compared to each other, to those of selected [M(L)(2)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))] complexes, and to those of [M(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(3)] to identify the effect of the labile NHC group on the small molecule activation chemistry. The small molecules COS and N(2)CPh(2) have also been studied.

A new family of N,N'-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl-imidazolium)-acetamidines have been developed as NHC proligands and ligands that are functionalised with neutral amidine and anionic amidinato moieties. On coordination they adopt diverse binding modes, depending on the nature of the metal and the reaction conditions. In the Ag, K and Cr complexes reported in this paper, monodentate κ(1)(NHC), bimetallic bridging-(κ(1)-NHC-κ(1)-amidinato) and bidentate (κ(1)-NHC-κ(1)-amidinato) binding modes were observed, respectively. Two of the novel Cr complexes, in the presence of activators, were tested as catalysts for the polymerisation of ethylene showing low activity.

In combination with EtAlCl(2) (Mo : Al = 1 : 15) the imido complexes [MoCl(2)(NR)(NR')(dme)] (R = R' = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (1); R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3), R' = Bu(t) (3); R = R' = Bu(t) (4); dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) and [Mo(NHBu(t))(2)(NR)(2)] (R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (5); R = Bu(t) (6)) each show moderate TON, activity, and selectivity for the catalytic dimerisation of ethylene, which is influenced by the nature of the imido substituents. In contrast, the productivity of [MoCl(2)(NPh)(2)(dme)] (2) is low and polymerisation is favoured over dimerisation. Catalysis initiated by complexes 1-4 in combination with MeAlCl(2) (Mo : Al = 1 : 15) exhibits a significantly lower productivity. Reaction of complex 5 with EtAlCl(2) (2 equiv.) gives rise to a mixture of products, while addition of MeAlCl(2) affords [MoMe(2)(N-2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3))(2)]. Treatment of 6 with RAlCl(2) (2 equiv.) (R = Me, Et) yields [Mo({μ-N-Bu(t)}AlCl(2))(2)] (7) in both cases. Imido derivatives 1 and 3 react with Me(3)Al and MeAlCl(2) to form the bimetallic complexes [MoMe(2)(N{R}AlMe(2){μ-Cl})(NR')] (R = R' = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (8); R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3), R' = Bu(t) (10)) and [MoMe(2)(N{R}AlCl(2){μ-Cl})(NR')] (R = R' = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (9); R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3), R' = Bu(t) (11)), respectively. Exposure of complex 8 to five equivalents of thf or PMe(3) affords the adducts [MoMe(2)(N-2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3))(2)(L)] (L = thf (12); L = PMe(3) (13)), while reaction with NEt(3) (5 equiv.) yields [MoMe(2)(N-2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3))(2)]. The molecular structures of complexes 5, 9 and 11 have been determined.

This tutorial review highlights the most promising methods for the preparation of well-defined copper metal and oxide nanocrystals. These methodologies could be applied to other metals. We present the main synthetic strategies and associated mechanisms to control monodispersity, size, morphology and structure of metal and oxide nanomaterials which can adopt spherical, polyhedral, cubic, rod, wire, plate shapes and possibly hollow structures. We also consider the scale-up of the production of these nanocrystals, which is crucial for a wide range of potential applications such as catalysis, photovoltaics, electronics, optics and electrocatalysis., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012)

Two functional groups can be delivered at once to organo-rare earth complexes, (L)MR(2) and (L)(2)MR (M = Sc, Y; L = ({1-C(NDippCH(2)CH(2)N)}CH(2)CMe(2)O), Dipp = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3); R = CH(2)SiMe(3), CH(2)CMe(3)), via the addition of E-X across the metal-carbene bond to form a zwitterionic imidazolinium-metal complex, (L(E))MR(2)X, where L(E) = {1-EC(NDippCH(2)CH(2)N)}CH(2)CMe(2)O, E is a p-block functional group such as SiR(3), PR(2), or SnR(3), and X is a halide. The "ate" complex (L(Li))ScR(3) is readily accessible and is best described as a Li carbene adduct, ({1-Li(THF)C(NDippCH(2)CH(2)N)}CH(2)CMe(2)O)Sc(CH(2)SiMe(3))(3), since structural characterization shows the alkoxide ligand bridging the two metals and the carbene Li-bound with the shortest yet recorded Li-C bond distance. This can be converted via lithium halide-eliminating salt metathesis reactions to alkylated or silylated imidazolinium derivatives, (L(E))ScR(3) (E = SiMe(3) or CPh(3)). All the E-functionalized imidazolinium complexes spontaneously eliminate functionalized hydrocarbyl compounds upon warming to room temperature or slightly above, forming new organic products ER, i.e., forming C-Si, C-P, and C-Sn bonds, and re-forming the inorganic metal carbene (L)MR(X) or (L)(2)MX complex, respectively. Warming the tris(alkyl) complexes (L(E))MR(3) forms organic products arising from C-C or C-Si bond formation, which appears to proceed via the same elimination route. Treatment of (L)(2)Sc(CH(2)SiMe(3)) with iodopentafluorobenzene results in the "reverse sense" addition, which upon thermolysis forms the metal aryl complex (L)(2)Sc(C(6)F(5)) and releases the iodoalkane Me(3)SiCH(2)I, again facilitated by the reversible functionalization of the N-heterocyclic carbene group in these tethered systems.

Oxidative halogenation with trityl chloride provides convenient access to Ce(IV) and U(IV) chloroamides [M(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(3)Cl] and their N-heterocyclic carbene derivatives, [M(L)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(2)Cl] (L = OCMe(2)CH(2)(CNCH(2)CH(2)NDipp) Dipp = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)). Computational analysis of the bonding in these and a fluoro analogue, [U(L)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(2)F], provides new information on the covalency in this relative rare oxidation state for molecular cerium complexes. Computational studies reveal increased Mayer bond orders in the actinide carbene bond compared with the lanthanide carbene bond, and natural and atoms-in-molecules analyses suggest greater overall ionicity in the cerium complexes than in the uranium analogues.

The reaction of [WCl2(NAr)2(DME)] (1) with excess Me3Al affords the dimethyl complex [WMe2(N{Ar}AlMe2{mu-Cl})(NAr)] (2), which on treatment with THF or MeAlCl2 yields [WMe2(NAr)2(THF)] (3) and [WMe2(N{Ar}AlMe(Cl){mu-Cl})(NAr)] (5), respectively. Complex 3 is unstable in solution dissociating to form [WMe2(NAr)2] (4) that may be isolated as an adduct with PMe3, [WMe2(NAr)2(PMe3)] (6). While complex 2 is inert towards ethylene, complex 3 reacts rapidly to afford a mixture of methane and but-1-ene (1:4). Neither complex 2 nor 3 react with propylene. Reaction of 3 with a C2H4/C2D4 (1:1) affords a mixture of isotopomers that is consistent with complete isotopic scrambling. The structures of complexes 1, 2, and 3 have been determined by X-ray diffraction.

A study is reported on the relative stability of trivalent bis(ligand) complexes of the form [M(L(R))(2)N''] for trivalent group 3, lanthanide and actinide cations, using the sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbene ligand L(R) = [OCMe(2)CH(2){CNCH(2)CH(2)NR}] (R = (i)Pr L(P), Mes L(M), Dipp L(D); N'' = N(SiMe(3))(2)). For the small Y(III) cation (r(6-coord) = 1.040 A) and the smallest L(R), R = (i)Pr, mono, bis, and tris(L(P)) complexes can be made; [Y(L(P))(2)N''] and [Y(L(P))(3)] have been characterised. For the larger ligands, L(M) and L(D), only the mono(L(R)) complexes [Y(L(M))N''(2)] and [Y(L(D))N''(2)] can be made. For the larger Ce(III) (r(6-coord) = 1.15 A), mono(L(R)) and bis(L(R)) complexes [Ce(L(M))N''(2)], [Ce(L(D))N''(2)], [Ce(L(M))(2)N''], and [Ce(L(D))(2)N''] can be made; structural characterisation of the latter two confirm the high degree of steric congestion. The new complex [U(L(M))N''(2)] has also been isolated. Despite the very similar radii of Ce(III) and U(III) (r(6-coord) = 1.165 A), the complexes [U(L(R))(2)N''] cannot be isolated; a surprising display of the difference between the 4f and 5f metal series. However, the six-coordinate, bis(ligand) U(IV) complexes can readily be isolated if smaller ancillary ligands are used; [U(L(M))(2)I(2)] and [U(L(D))(2)I(2)] have been fully, including structurally, characterised.

Silyl, phosphinyl, stannyl, and boryl reagents can be added across the neutral metal-carbon dative bond in d(0) f-block metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in a reversible manner, allowing additional functional groups to be incorporated into redox-inactive organo-f-block compounds.

The synthesis of four new bulky bidentate phosphines that possess both tert-butyl and trifluoromethylphenyl substituents is described. Symmetric ligands were readily obtained by alkylation of phosphidoboranes of the type Li[P(BH(3))(tBu)(Ar)] with dihaloalkanes. Non-symmetric ligands were prepared from a new stable precursor, tBu(2)P(BH(3))(CH(2))(3)Br, that should prove useful for other ligand syntheses. Palladium(II) complexes of the four new ligands were prepared and were characterised by spectroscopic methods, microanalysis and X-ray crystallography. The new [PdCl(2)(L)] complexes were evaluated as catalysts for the hydroxycarbonylation of styrene and found to give unprecedented regioselectivity and yields for a diphosphine-based catalyst. A study on promoter effects reveals that the presence of acid and chloride is necessary to achieve such selectivities. It has been proposed in the literature that such conditions result in a new pathway in which styrene is converted into 2-phenethyl chloride, with the latter being the real substrate in the reaction. However, a deuterium labelling study seems to rule out this mechanism, at least under the conditions used herein.

A series of halo substituted triarylphosphinines have been synthesised and coordinated to tungsten(0) and rhodium(I) to give [(2-(2'-halo)-triarylphosphinine)W(CO)(5)] and [(2-(2'-halo)-triarylphosphinine)Rh(COD)Cl] respectively. The complexes have been examined by NMR and IR spectroscopy in an effort to elucidate the nature of the bonding between the phosphinines and the respective metal centre. The W(CO)(5)(L) systems reveal restricted C-C bond rotation as evidenced by temperature-dependent (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectra. Thermodynamic barriers to the rotation are dependent upon the nature of the halide with DeltaG(double dagger) values of 72.5 kJ mol(-1) and 50.8 kJ mol(-1) being obtained for the chloro- and fluoro-derivatives, respectively; activation barriers for the iodo- and bromo- derivatives were beyond the accessible temperature range of the NMR experiment.

The 2,6-dixylyl-4-phenylphosphabarrelene has been synthesised from the parent phosphinine and its properties as a ligand explored through the preparation and characterisation of the complexes W(CO)(5)(L), Re(CO)(4)(L)Cl, (eta(6)-cymene)RuCl(2)(L), [(eta(5)-Me(3)SiC(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(2)(L)]PF(6), Rh(1,5-COD)(L)Cl, Ir(1,5-COD)(L)Cl, and cis-Pt(L)(2)Cl(2), where L = 4-phenyl-2,10-bis-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-4H-1,4-ethenophospholine ((x)PB), cymene = 4-isopropyltoluene, eta(5)-Me(3)SiC(5)H(4) = trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl and 1,5-COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The new complexes were characterised by spectroscopic and analytical techniques and, for [(eta(5)-Me(3)SiC(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(2)(L)]PF(6) and Ru(eta(6)-cymene)(L)Cl(2), by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The coordination properties of the phosphabarrelene have been established and compared with analogous complexes of triarylphosphines and triarylphosphites. Most spectroscopic and structural indicators suggest that the phosphabarrelene has coordination behaviour similar to that of simple triarylphosphines such as PPh(3).

Some new bulky fluorinated diphosphines have been prepared and converted to palladium dichloride complexes that have been found to give increased regioselectivity and activity over other Pd-diphosphine systems when used as catalysts for hydroxycarbonylation of styrene.

A series of distorted octahedral Cr(III) complexes containing tridentate S-, S/O- or N-donor ligands comprised of three distinct architectures: facultative {S(CH(2)CH(2)SC(10)H(21))(2) (L(1)) and O(CH(2)CH(2)SC(10)H(21))(2) (L(2))}, tripodal {MeC(CH(2)S(n)C(4)H(9))(3) (L(3)), MeC(CH(2)SC(10)H(21))(3) (L(4))} and macrocyclic {(C(10)H(21))[9]aneN(3) (L(5)), (C(10)H(21))(3)[9]aneN(3) (L(6)), with [9]aneN(3)=1,4,7-triazacyclononane} are reported and characterised spectroscopically. Activation of [CrCl(3)(L)] with MMAO produces very active ethylene trimerisation, oligomerisation and polymerisation catalysts, with significant dependence of the product distribution upon the ligand type present. The properties of the parent [CrCl(3)(L)] complexes are probed by cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible, EPR, EXAFS and XANES measurements, and the effects upon activation with Me(3)Al investigated similarly. Treatment with excess Me(3)Al leads to substitution of Cl ligands by Me groups, generation of an EPR silent Cr species (consistent with a change in the oxidation state of the Cr to either Cr(II) or Cr(IV)) and substantial dissociation of the neutral S and S/O-donor ligands.

The disproportionation of dicobalt octacarbonyl induced by the free carbene 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) and the X-ray characterization of the cyclohexane solvate of the resulting cobalt carbonyl N-heterocyclic carbene salt, [Co(CO)3(IMes)2]+[Co(CO)4]-.1/4C6H12, is reported. The crystal structure represents the first example of a [Co(CO)3(L)2][Co(CO)4] disproportionate salt reported to date.

The first example of a catalyst utilising a sulfur-based ligand [MeC(CH2SBu)3] for the selective hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to methyl glycolate is reported.

The synthesis of a new series of ligands with a 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene backbone is reported, 1,8-(R2PCH2)2C10H6, where R = (t)Bu 1 (dbpn), (i)Pr 2 (dippn), Cy 3 (dchpn) and Ph 4 (dphpn). The ligand 1 is structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography. A comparative structural study of the respective (diphosphine)Pd(dba) and (diphosphine)PdCl2 complexes is carried out, comparing the X-ray crystal structures of complexes 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. It is shown that the geometry at the metal is affected by not only ligand demands, but also by the palladium oxidation state and the electronic properties of the ligands. Two qualitative stability series are also identified: 9 < 10 < 11 approximately 12 is observed, and P2Pd(dba) complexes are more stable than the corresponding P2PdCl2 complexes towards opening of the chelate ring. It is also concluded that the bite angle is heavily influenced by the electron donating properties of the ligand.

Palladium complexes of a series of functionalised phosphines bearing the OPN donor set [2-pyCH(2)P(Ph)CH(2)(CHOCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)), 1; 2-py CH(2)P(Ph)-CH(2)CH(2)(CHOCH(2)CH(2)O), 2; 2-pyCH(2)P(Ph)CH(2)CH(2)CO(2)Me, 3; 2-pyP(Ph)CH(2)(CHOCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)), 4; 2-py = 2-pyridyl] have been prepared and characterised. Ligands 1-3 form five membered P-N chelates which is confirmed for PdCl(2) complexes of and by X-ray crystallography. O-coordination appears to be generally disfavoured although there is evidence of transient O-coordination for selected Pd complexes of 4. Palladium methyl and acetate complexes of all four ligands have been tested for catalytic activity in ethene/CO copolymerisation as well as alkoxy-carbonylation of propyne. Complexes of 1 and 4 show some activity in the copolymerisation reaction and complexes of 4 are active in the methoxy carbonylation of propyne. Unlike related pyridyl(diaryl)phosphines, 4 produces a much more stable catalyst system that does not require large excesses of ligand to maintain activity.

Bis-pinacolatodiboron reacts with [small alpha],[small beta]-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give 1,4- and unprecedented 3,4-additions in the presence of a second generation Pt(0) catalyst at ambient temperature.

The synthesis, X-ray structure, and catalytic properties of the first cobalt carbonyl dimer supported by a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand Co(2)(CO)(6)(IMes)(2) [IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] is reported.

The ready construction of 24 stereochemically and functionally diverse carbohydrate ligand structures from a core D-glucosamine scaffold has allowed the evaluation of broad ranging structure activity relationships in ligand accelerated zincate additions to aldehydes, with variations in deltadeltaG+/+(R-S) of up to 5650 J mol(-1) that create opposing senses of asymmetric induction and that are consistent with models based on several ligand X-ray structures and molecular mechanics analysis. Factorial analysis of enantioselectivity using key dihedral angles and steric volume on N-2 also highlight the potential for the use of factorial design in ligand construction.

Highly dilute EXAFS characterisation for the elucidation of species involved in Heck chemistry is demonstrated; the major "monomer" species of Herrmann's acetate-bridged phosphapalladadacycle is characterised and species present during the course of a 50 ppm [Pd] Pd(OAc)2/PBu(t)3 catalysed Heck reaction are presented.

The novel complex (tbpx)PdCO (1), the first example of a structurally characterised sixteen electron, trigonal planar palladium(0) carbonyl complex, was prepared, characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and some unusual aspects of its reactivity were studied.

Stable, uncoordinated (1-[2-(6-trimethylsilyl)pyridyl]-3-[(2,6- diisopropyl)phenyl]imidazol-2-ylidene), I, and (1-[beta-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]-3-[(2,6-diisopropyl)phenyl]imidazol- 2-ylidene), II, have been synthesised; in the solid state they adopt a conformation with the lone pairs in a mutually anti arrangement.