Session: Undergraduate Research at the Frontiers of Inorganic Chemistry:

Alkanes are an abundant but difficult to chemically utilize resource. Iridium pincer complexes have been shown to have good activity for the catalysis of alkane dehydrogenation, though they are limited by the need for elevated temperatures (200°C) and high catalyst loading. Based on precedent with other catalysts in structured materials, we hypothesize that an iridium complex in a polymeric framework will demonstrate improved catalysis by increasing stability, compatibility, and reactivity and thus avoid the need for elevated temperatures. To access polymer-bound iridium complexes, a modified HPOCOP pincer ligand precursor was synthesized with a pendent vinyl group that allows for incorporation into a polymer chain. This modified ligand precursor was copolymerized with styrene to form a linear copolymer. Looking forward, the polymerized HPOCOP will be metallated, and catalytic activity and stability of the resulting iridium complexes will be tested and compared to that of the unsupported small molecule analogues.

Nicholas Roubineau

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