Robert Mulvey

@remglasgow.bsky.social

Professor of Inorganic Chemistry University of Strathclyde Glasgow Scotland

Continuing our campaign to study all the alkali metals in organometallic chemistry. Why don't you try this in your own studies? Our friends in Bern @evaheviagroup.bsky.social are! Comparisons and Contrasts in a Complete Set of Alkali Metal Cumyl Structures | Inorg Chem pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Comparisons and Contrasts in a Complete Set of Alkali Metal Cumyl Structures

Alkali-metal benzyl complexes derived from toluene are known to vary their metal–ligand coordination mode as a function of the alkali-metal, with the metal transitioning from a typical σ bond to the anionic CH2 for lithium toward an interaction with the delocalized pi system of the aromatic ring as the metal gets larger and softer. Here, by switching to cumene, we report the charge-localizing effect of replacing the hydrogen atoms at the formally carbanionic carbon CH2 with electron-donating methyl groups in C(Me)2. NMR spectroscopic studies reveal competitive ring-metalation occurs, at the meta and para positions, alongside α-metalation on using an alkyl lithium base, with the meta- and α-isomers crystallographically characterized as a solvated dimer and monomer, respectively. Using Lochmann-Schlosser type base pairs to access the heavier alkali-metal complexes unveils only α-metalation. The presence of the methyl groups limits the variation in metal–ligand bonding, their electron-donating properties forcing the delocalization of the negative charge into the ring resulting in M-Ph interactions and sp2 hybridization at the formally deprotonated α-carbon regardless of the metal used. Considerable variation in aggregation state is observed with monomeric (Na), polymeric (K, Cs) and tetrameric (Rb) motifs identified in the solid-state.

pubs.acs.org

Thrilled to co-author this perspective article with Eva and David. Think we are only at the tip of the iceberg on what is possible with these heavier alkali metals.

Eva Hevia@evaheviagroup.bsky.social · 6mo ago

While traditionally used as stoichiometric reagents, #HeavierAlkaliMetalAmides have emerged as versatile #catalysts find out more in this #perspective with #DavidSancehzRoa @pubs.acs.org in collaboration with @remglasgow.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Fifty years of Chemistry - coming up at Burlington House on 10 March celebrating 50 years of the RSC Historical Group. Speakers include @rsc.org Past Presidents Gill Reid and Lesley Yellowlees and textbook legends Peter Atkins and Jonathan Clayden. #chemsky #chemchat www.rsc.org/events/detai...

Fifty Years of Chemistry – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the RSC Historical Group

The Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA, United Kingdom

rsc.org

Congratulations to Herbert W Roesky, University of Goettingen, who turned 90 yesterday. One of the greatest inorganic chemists of this or any generation. For more info about Herbert see "Lives in Chemistry" on Linkedin

Great to see a @unistrathclyde.bsky.social alumnus completing a PhD at @unibe.ch the last of a long line of the transitioning Glaswegians. Congratulations David for his remarkable publication record and well done to you too Eva.

Eva Hevia@evaheviagroup.bsky.social · 9mo ago

We ended the week with a new #PhD in the group! Congratulations #DavidAnderson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 on your PhD thesis advancing the #coordination and synthetic #applications of #organosodiumreagents @unibe.ch thanks @spthomasgroup.bsky.social and @albrecht-lab.bsky.social for being part of the examination committee

Where the Mulvey alkali metal group all started, the Heilbron lab, with its first PhD student, the amazing Phil Andrews, Prof and HoD chemistry dept @monashuniversity@bsky.social Australia

Bild