New molybdenum cubane-type sulfido clusters functionalized with bidentated imidazolyl derivative ligands and their potential in catalysis

Abstract

Cluster chemistry has become very attractive among the scientific community, mainly due to the structural diversity and physicochemical properties of these compounds. The design of new cluster complexes by tuning their features through ligand modifications is a topic of current interest. In this sense, the present Master Project has been focused on the development of new trinuclear Mo3S4 complexes containing a phosphine and amine imidazolyl ligand. The fascinating catalytic activity of such ligands when they are coordinated to transition metal complexes has make these complexes an attractive target in catalysis The specific objectives of this work are detailed herein: i. Synthesis of a new trinuclear Mo3S4 clusters functionalized with an imidazolyl amine ligand. ii. Structural determination of the phosphine imidazolyl cluster derivative. iii. Evaluation of the catalytic activity of the [Mo3S4Cl3(iPrPIm)3]Cl and [Mo3S4Cl3(ImNH2)3]Cl clusters in the reduction of ketones and nitroarenes.