Research Projects

Unlike carbon, its neighbor elements, for example, B, Al, N and Si, do not generally form hexagonal inorganic rings mostly due to the domination of polyhedral geometries. The key goal of this project is to design and carry out high yield synthesis of group 4-6 transition metal-stabilized inorganic hexagonal E? rings (E = B, Al or Bi) using pentamethylcyclopentadienyl metal polychlorides or metal carbonyl compounds. Further, the electronic structures and bonding of these transition metal-stabilized inorganic rings will be studied through DFT. For example, the presence of any type of aromaticity, such as ?, ?, or ?-aromaticity, will be investigated. In addition, the hexagonal E? ring species, if isolated and structurally characterized, will be employed for oxidation or deprotonation processes to achieve planar hexagonal E? rings.