Bulky Guanidinates for the Stabilisation of Reactive Low Oxidation State Metal Complexes

The chemistry of low valent metal complexes is one of the most topical and fundamentally interesting fields studied in the world today. Recent advances have been spearheaded by the development of sterically bulky ligands, e.g. beta-diketiminates, which can stabilise complexes previously thought inaccessible. We have developed a related class of bulky guanidinate ligand, which in a preliminary study has been shown to be capable of stabilising reactive p-, d- and f-block metal(IorII) complexes. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we will fully extend this study and explore the synthetic and/or biomimetic applications of these complexes in a cutting edge programme that will see the introduction of completely new areas of chemical research.