In Situ Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Iron-Catalyzed Hydromagnesiation of Vinyl Arenes

Abstract

In Situ Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Iron-Catalyzed Hydromagnesiation of Vinyl Arenes Jessica A. Rogers Iron catalysis, especially homogeneous catalysis, has been a resurging topic of organometallic chemistry research. Discussions of past and present mechanistic analyses for homogeneous iron catalysis will be discussed in Chapter 1. As an expansion of homogeneous iron catalysis, in situ infrared spectroscopy will be used to develop a full mechanistic study of iron-catalyzed hydromagnesiation of vinyl arenes. The kinetic analyses by both initial and observed rate measurements indicate complex concentration dependencies on the (PDI)iron catalyst as well as sacrificial Grignard reagent and styrene. These complexities are not limited to non-linear catalyst and Grignard initial rate and inhibition by styrene/Grignard at low concentrations which then change upon reaching concentrations of a 1:1 ratio by observed rates. The process of numeric timecourse simulation of probable mechanisms using COmplex PAthway Simulator (COPASI) led to the identification of a twelve-step mechanism that accurately reproduces experimental time course data over a wide variety of reaction conditions. 1 I would personally like to thank my advisor, Dr. Brian Popp. Without his help, I wouldn't be the young chemist I am today. I am thankful for his mentorship. He has taught and trained me to think outside the box on multiple occasions, thus allowing my research ideas in kinetic analysis to blossom into a beautiful, yet complicated mechanistic insight in the field of iron catalyzed hydrometallation. Dr. Popp is not only a wonderful mentor but a kind person with a wonderful family. His wife, Felicia, has always been kind and always knows just what to say. I wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future in all their endeavors.