Functional ligands and complexes for new structures, homogeneous catalysts and nanomaterials

In this account, we focus on results from our laboratory to illustrate recent developments in various fields of organometallic chemistry. Studies on hemilabile P,N donor ligands and on the ion-pair behaviour of cationic Pd(II) complexes have led to the full characterization of complexes with eta(1)-allyl ligands. This still rare bonding mode for the allyl ligand in palladium chemistry allows facile insertion of CO into the Pd-C sigma-bond, in contrast to the situation in related eta(3)-allyl Pd(II) complexes. In order to develop new homogeneous catalysts for the selective dimerization and oligomerization of ethylene, a range of Ni(II) complexes have been prepared with new chelating P,N ligands where P represents a phosphine, phosphinite or phosphonite donor group and N a pyridine or oxazoline moiety. Finally, we shall examine bottom-up approaches to the formation of new nanomaterials of magnetic or catalytic interest by covalent anchoring of metal complexes and clusters into mesoporous materials using functional phosphine or alkyne ligands containing an alkoxysilyl group. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.