Design of Organometallic Molecules and Applications
(DOGMA)
The group Design of Organometallic Molecules and Applications was established by the end of 2016 at the Institute of Chemical Research in Sevilla (Spain), a mixed research center CSIC-University of Sevilla. We are currently located in the new building at lab203.
The primary aim of our research team is to synthesize organometallic molecules with specific electronic and steric properties enabling the activation and functionalization of different types of bonds. We are interested in developing new efficient catalysts, with a important effort in the understanding of the mechanisms by which the metal complexes operate. Also, we focuse on fundamental aspects elucidating the detailed electronic structure and reactivity patterns of the organometallic molecules. As such, our research program spans the areas of organic synthesis, catalysis, and organometallic chemistry. Currently, we are dealing with group 10 transition metals (mainly nickel and platinum) stabilized by pincer bis(phosphino)boryl and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and exploring their potential in carbon dioxide transformation and dehydrocoupling processes leading to B-N, Si-N, C-Si and C-B bonds.
Furthermore, we are currently dealing with the synthesis of metal nanoparticles of gold and platinum and their potential use in catalysis.
Lab 203
THE GROUP
Present Members
Salvador Conejero
Research Scientist -CSIC
Amor Rodríguez
Tenured Scientist -CSIC
Pablo Ríos
Associate professor
Orestes Rivada Wheelaghan
Ramón y Cajal researcher
Carlos J. Laglera Gándara
Postdoctoral researcher
Natalia Salas León
PhD student
Juan Alfredo Cayuela Castillo
PhD student
Carlos Martínez Ceberio
PhD student
Miguel Ángel Martín Neri
PhD student
Past Members
Leonardo C. Moraes (PhD Thesis, 2018)
Hugo Fouilloux (internship from École Polytechnique, Paris) (2015)
Marta Roselló Merino (PhD thesis, 2013)
José Antonio Fernández Molina (Technician, 2018)
Lucía Álvarez Rodríguez (posdoctoral researcher)
Julián Jiménez Pérez (Master degree, University of Sevilla)
Andrea Jurado Escribano (Master degree, University of Sevilla)
Marina Barturen (Master degree, University of Sevilla)
Macarena Garcia Ayala (Master degree, University of Sevilla)
Raquel J. Rama (internship from the University of Sevilla)
Félix León (internship from the University of Sevilla)
RESEARCH
Research in the group of Design of Organometallic Molecules and Applications is focused on three main topics:
1. Low-electron count platinum complexes stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes
During the last years we have been involved in the isolation of stable, yet reactive, cationic Pt(II) 14-electron species making use of the excellent stereoelectronic properties of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. The reactivity of these compounds has allowed to synthesize unusual platinum complexes in the oxidation state +3 and +4.
14-electron Pt(II) complexes interact with dihydrogen, boranes and silanes to form sigma-complexes that can undergo further reactivity in catalytic reactions
2. Nickel complexes bearing bis(phosphino)boryl pincer ligands.
This project is focused on a rational design, by means of using pincer-like ligands based of diphosphinoboryls (PBP), of group 10 metal catalysts able to promote different catalytic transformations that include small molecules activation (H2, CO2, boranes,…). An important part of our research is the investigation of the mechanisms that operate in this transformations and the influence of the boryl group in this processes.
3. Synthesis of metal nanoparticles
In the last few years we have been involved in a new research program aim at the synthesis of metal nanoparticles stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and by N-heterocyclic thiones. Part of the research has been carried out in collaboration with the groups of Bruno Chaudret (Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets, Toulouse) and Karine Philippot (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Toulouse).
PUBLICATIONS
Some selected publications:
Carlos Martínez-Ceberio, Francisco José Fernández-de-Córdova, Pablo Ríos,
Orestes Rivada-Wheelaghan