Reactivity of late transition metal complexes towards CO2 and other electrophiles

Abstract: In times when dwindling energy resources is a major long-term problem for sustaining modern infrastructure and technologies, we need to focus on more enduring solutions. A key contribution to this achievement is catalysis. In order to further develop the significant advancements gained over the last several decades, a deeper understanding of the catalytic processes has to be sought down to the level of stoichiometric reactions and intermolecular interactions. This work involves studies on the reactivity of late transition metal complexes towards carbon dioxide and other electrophiles of interest to catalytic applications. The preparation of various types of tridentate so-called pincer complexes is studied in some detail. The study of the intermolecular interactions present between pincer complexes and electrophiles and halogens, currently known as halogen bonds, are systematically studied by varying the acceptor halogen atom.