RESEARCH

Part of the diruthenium complex synthesis involves the diruthenium naphthalene complex. Here is a short video of our diruthenium naphthalene synthesis

We are currently investigating the catalytic silylation of C-H bonds in benzene and other heteroaromatics. While the yield of the reaction is low, the reaction is unique in that the Si-C bond is cleaved instead of the usual Si-H bond. We are in the process of synthesizing other bidentate nitrogen ligands to help stabilize the diruthenium complex during the reaction. We have also reported the use of zinc triflate, an inexpensive Lewis acid, as a catalyst for the silylation of pyridine C-H bonds.