Catalytic Cleavage of Carbon-Carbon Sigma Bonds Using Transition Metals

Abstract

The focus of this project was to probe the ability of various transition metal complexes to cleave carbon-carbon bonds in a C30H12 hemifullerene. The hemifullerene was synthesized in our lab from commercial 1-tetralone and bromonaphthalene in six steps. Palladium and nickel complexes were used to open the five membered rings along the periphery of the C30H12 bowl. Diphosphine complexes of nickel were capable of opening either all three five membered rings or one of the periphery five membered rings and the central six membered ring.