Metal Complexes for Activation and Scission of Strong, Multiply-bonded Molecules

Ubiquitous but inert molecules such as molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide are processed in biological systems under mild conditions in stark contrast to existing industrial processes such as nitrogen 'fixation' which require drastic temperatures and pressures to perform the same function. Our project addresses this inbalance by using a combination of powerful computational methods and advanced synthesis to design highly-tuned, low-coordinate metal complexes which are specific for the activation and scission of small molecules possessing strong, multiple bonds. These complexes provide new and exciting routes to generating high-value products from simple industrial feedstock molecules.