The objectives of the group aim at the discovery of molecular metal catalysts and catalytic reactions, and to the understanding of related activation processes.
Catalysis aims at:
. the selective combinations of molecules, with environment friendly reagents, under mild conditions and with atom economy and the synthesis of target molecules of industrial interest.
. the improvement of catalyst activities and catalyst recycling

To achieve this goal the team works at the interface of Organometallics, coordination chemistry and catalysis, for the design of new active molecular metal catalysts and the characterisation of catalysis intermediates.

Research Topics

1. Catalysis for selective processes and fine chemistry 

2. Alkene metathesis

3. C-H bond activation and functionalisation

4. Novel carbon-rich organometallics

Cooperations

Team and local cooperation

Main international cooperation 

Reviews and book chapters from 2006

Publications 2006 -2009

Funding

Institut universitaire de France (IUF),
CNRS, Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche,
University of Rennes, Région Bretagne, Institut universitaire de France (IUF),
European Union (Marie Curie, IDECAT Network),
Oril Industrie, IFP, Arkema, Firmenich
ANR (National Agency for Research

Research Topics

1. Catalysis for selective processes and fine chemistry

• Selective catalytic transformations of alkynes and development of ruthenium catalysts

. New selective catalytic combinations of simple molecules, if possible with atom economy, and clean processes.
. Selective catalytic formation of C-C bonds via oxidative couplings.
. Organoruthenium are selected candidates to promote new catalytic processes.

• Electron-rich ruthenium catalysts and C-C bond formation

• Metal-vinylidenes in catalysis

. Anti-Markovnikov additions to the terminal alkynes: catalytic synthesis of enol esters, vinylcarbamates, hydrophosphination of alkynes.
. Characterisation of metal-vinylidenes, allenylidenes intermediates.

2. Alkene metathesis catalysts and applications

2.1. Carbon-rich ruthenium catalysts for olefin metathesis, based on ruthenium - allenylidene Ru=C=C=CR₂ and ruthenium-indenylidene complexes and other metathesis catalysts: Ring Closing Metathesis (RCM), catalytic synthesis of heterocycles and fluorine containing derivatives, transformation of natural products and ROMP Polymerisations.

2.2. Alkene metathesis in ionic liquids

In the search of ionic catalysts recycling or ROMP Polymerisation in ionic liquids.

2.3. Alkene metathesis and renewables catalytic transformations of plant oil derivatives into nitrogen containing and bifunctional products.

2.4. Alkene metathesis and polymerisation

3. C-H bond activation / functionalisation

The activation of usually inert C-H bond is promoted with ruthenium(II) complexes such as in:
. the cleavage of ligand C-H bonds
. the direct arylation of functional arenes and heterocycles
. the initial C-H bond cleavage involves C-H bond deprotonation by coordinated ligand (CO3= or RCO₂-) and Ru(II) site. DFT calculations by Feliu Maseras (Taragona).
. C-H bond functionalisation in carbonate solvents

4. Novel Carbon-rich organometallics and catalyst models

The synthetic methods of novel highly unsaturated organoruthenium systems containing carbon-rich chains are investigated for the discovery of new physical properties, the building of organometallic monomers, communication through carbon-rich bridges, and as models of ruthenium based catalysts.

The stoichiometric activation of functional alkynes and polyynes leads to mono- and poly-vinylidenes Ru=C=CHR and allenylidenes Ru=C=C=CR₂, complexes higher metallacumulenes Ru=(C=)nCR₂, bimetallic systems with carbon-rich bridges, multipodal polyynes and polymetallic metal complexes, such as organometallic triskelia.

This topic is now developed by Prof. Stéphane Rigaut in Rennes.

Carbon-Rich ruthenium complexes