Research Guides

Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis

The Mountford Group is an international mixture of postdoctoral researchers, PhD and Oxford Masters (Part II) students, and visiting academic fellows. We are working on the synthesis and stoichiometric and catalytic chemistry of organometallic compounds of the transition and lanthanide metals.  Please browse the outline information below and then visit the Mountford Group web site for full details, including the latest news from the group, who we are and what we do, along with details of how to join the group. Selected references are given in the next section. Click here for a printable version of this site.

Synthesis, bonding and small molecule activation reactions of transition metal hydrazide complexes

Transition metal hydrazides, (L)M=NNR₂, have been of continuing interest because of their relevance to the biological conversion of N₂ to ammonia. Much of the early work was based around Group 6 systems for which M=N-NR₂ group small molecule reactivity is minimal.

Group 4 hydrazides have significantly more activated M=NNR₂ functional groups. There has recently been a surge in activity in this area with a wide range of hitherto unprecedented new small molecule reactivity. We have been at the forefront of this drive and one example of our new titanium hydrazide chemistry is shown above. Further details

New ring opening polymerisation catalysts for biodegradable and biocompatible green polymers as substitutes for oil-derived materials

There is a great deal of current interest in the controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters such as e-caprolactone (CL) or lactide (LA) to form biocompatible or biodegradable materials. Lactide (see figure) is in principle infinitely renewable, being derived from corn and is thus an non-oil-derived, renewable resource. The key challenges are the controlled ROP of these cyclic esters allowing control of polymer molecular weight, tacticity. 

We have been developing three new families of organometallic compounds for the ROP of cyclic esters using either metal-borohydride catalysts (illustrated above), sulfonamide-supported catalysts or amine-co-oinitiated cationic or zwitterionic catalysts. Further details

Fundamental and applied studies of new olefin polymerisation and oligomerisation catalysts

Ziegler-Natta alkene polymerisation catalysis is a very important current area of organometallic chemistry is . Inspired by the early successes of Group 4 metallocene catalysts Cp₂MX₂ (X = alkyl or halide), a huge amount of academic and industrial effort is being spent world-wide on developing new transition metal catalysts that combine very high activities with good control of polymer molecular weight, as well as also understanding the underlying fundamental chemistry. 

The catalytically active species in this chemistry are alkyl cations [(L)M-R]⁺. In a joint venture between our group, industrial sponsors in the field of catalysis and the UK research councils we are developing new families of new "post-metallocene" catalysts; a recent example is shown above. Further details

Synthesis, structure, bonding and reactivity of unusual organometallic complexes

In addition to the three themes summarised above we continue to be interested in fundamental aspects of organometallic synthesis, bonding and reactivity from a "blue skies" exploratory point of view. Two examples of this type of chemistry are illustrated below. Further details

Here are some selected recent publications, including graphical summaries. For a complete publication list click here. Details of our collaborations and funding are given at the end. Click here for a printable version of this site.

Synthesis and small molecule activation reactions of transition metal hydrazide complexes

"M=N cycloaddition and N-N insertion in the reactions of titanium hydrazido compounds with alkynes: a combined experimental and computational study".A. D. Schofield, A. Nova, J. D. Selby, C. D. Manley, A. D. Schwarz, E. Clot and P. Mountford, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 10484-10497. [link to journal].

"Single and double substrate insertion into the Ti=N bonds of terminal titanium hydrazides". P.-J. Tiong, A. D. Schofield, J. D. Selby, A. Nova, E. Clot and P. Mountford, Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 85-87. [link to journal].

"Synthesis, structures and reactivity of Group 4 hydrazido complexes supported by calix[4]arene ligands". A. J. Clulow, J. D. Selby, M. G. Cushion, A. D. Schwarz and P. Mountford, Inorg. Chem., 2008, 47, 12049-12062. [link to journal].

"Cycloaddition reactions of transition metal hydrazides with alkynes and heteroalkynes: coupling of Ti=NNPh₂ with PhCCMe, PCCH, MeCN and ^tBuCP". J. D. Selby, A. D. Schwarz, C. Schulten, E. Clot, C. Jones and P. Mountford, Chem. Commun., 2008, 5101-5103. Designated a "hot article" by the Editor. [link to journal].

Synthesis and polymerisation studies of new catalysts for the preparation of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers

"Ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide by bis(phenolate)amine-supported samarium borohydride complexes: an experimental and DFT study". H. E. Dyer, S. Huijser, N. Susperregui, F. Bonnet, A. D. Schwarz, R. Duchateau, L. Maron and P. Mountford. Organometallics, 2010, 29, 3602-3621. [link to journal].

"Sulfonamide-supported aluminum catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide". A. D. Schwarz, Z. Chu and P. Mountford, Organometallics, 2010, 29, 1246-1260. [link to journal].

"Low-coordinate rare earth complexes of the asymmetric 2,4-di-tert-butylphenolate ligand prepared by redox transmetallation/protonolysis reactions and their reactivity towards ring-opening polymerisation". L. Clark, G. B. Deacon, C. M. Forsyth, P. C. Junk, P. Mountford and J. P. Townley,  Dalton Trans., 2010, 39, 6693-6704. [link to journal].

"Dicationic and zwitterionic catalysts for the amine-initiated, immortal ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide: facile synthesis of amine-terminated, highly heterotactic PLA". L. Clark, M. G. Cushion, H. E. Dyer, A. D. Schwarz, R. Duchateau and P. Mountford, Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 273-275. [link to journal].

Fundamental and applied studies of new olefin polymerisation and oligomerisation catalysts

"Synthesis, solid state and DFT structure and olefin polymerization capability of a unique base-free dimeric methyl titanium dication". E. G. Ijpeij, B. Coussens, M. A. Zuideveld, G. H. J. van Doremaele, P. Mountford, M. Lutz and A. L. Spek, Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 3339-3341. [link to journal].

"Synthesis and ethylene trimerisation capability of new chromium(II) and chromium(III) heteroscorpionate complexes". A. F. R. Kilpatrick, S. V. Kulangara, M. G. Cushion, R. Duchateau, and P. Mountford. Dalton Trans., 2010, 39, 3653-3664. [link to journal].

"Imido titanium compounds bearing the 6-dimethylamino-1,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane ligand: synthesis, structures, solution dynamics and ethylene polymerisation capability". G. J. Hayday, C. Wang, N. H. Rees and P. Mountford, Dalton Trans. 2008, 3301-3310.  Designated a "hot article" by the Editor. [link to journal].

"AlMe₃ and ZnMe₂ adducts of a titanium imido methyl cation: a combined crystallographic, spectroscopic and DFT study". P.D. Bolton, E. Clot, A. R. Cowley and P. Mountford, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 15005-15018. [link to journal].

Fundamental aspects of the synthesis, structure, bonding and reactivity of unusual organometallic complexes

"Contrasting reactivity of anionic boron- and gallium-containing NHC analogues: E-C vs.M-E bond formation (E = B, Ga)". A. V. Protchenko, L. M. A. Saleh, D. Vidovic, D. Dange, C. Jones, P. Mountford and S. Aldridge, Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 8546-8548. Designated a "hot article" by the Editor. [link to journal].

"Syntheses and structural diversity of Group 2 and Group 12 tris(pyrazolyl)methane and zwitterionic tris(pyrazolyl)methanide compounds". M. G. Cushion, J. Meyer, A. Heath, A. D. Schwarz, I. Fernández, F. Breher, P. Mountford, Organometallics, 2010, 29, 1174-1190. [link to journal].

 "Beta-agostic silylamido and silyl-hydrido compounds of molybdenum and tungsten". S. K. Ignatov, A. Y. Khalimon, N. H. Rees, A. G. Razuvaev, P. Mountford and G. I. Nikonov, Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48, 9605-9622. Selected as a cover issue by the Editor. [link to journal].

"Ti=NR vs Ti=NR' functional group selectivity in imido titanium alkyl cations from an experimental perspective". P. D. Bolton, M. Feliz, A. R. Cowley, E. Clot and P. Mountford, Organometallics,  2008, 27, 6096-6110. [link to journal].

"Ti=NR vs Ti=NR' functional group selectivity in imido titanium alkyl cations from a DFT perspective". M. Feliz, P. D. Bolton, P. Mountford and E. Clot, Organometallics, 2008, 27, 6111-6122. [link to journal].

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Here are some details of our current principal collaborations and funding

Dr Simon Aldridge (Oxford) and Prof Cameron Jones (Monash University, Australia). Transition and main group boryl and gallyl chemistry.

Dr Eric Clot (University of Montpellier, France). Computational studies of mechanism and electronic structure.

Dr Robbert Duchateau (TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands). Ring-opening polymerisation and olefin oligomerisation catalysis).

Profs Glen Deacon and Peter Junk (Monash University, Australia). Lanthanide and Group 2 phenolate complexes for the living and immortal ring-opening polymerisation of cyclic esters.

Prof Laurent Maron (University of Toulouse, France). Computational studies of mechanism with particular regard to polymerisation chemistry of the lanathanides.

 Our work has been funded by grants from the EPSRC, Leverhulme Trust, Nuffield Foundation, China Scholarship Council, EC (Marie Curie), University of Oxford, British Council, Royal Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Applied aspects of our research have been supported by DSM Research, DSM Elastomers, Sabic Europe, Cambridge Material Science and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

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