The synthesis, characterization and first applications in catalysis of dinuclear metal complexes of the new Two-in-one pincer ligand scaffold are described in this work. Zinc(II) compexes were used to compare structural and electronical features of two derivatives of the ligand system. Reactivity studies revealed a broad range of reactions for a cobalt(II) complex, although detailed analysis of the reaction products was not possible so far. Furthermore, several rhodium(I) complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized. For a rhodium(I) carbonyl complex a dearomatization sequence was found for the first time in dinuclear, pyridine based pincer complexes. Mechanistic aspects of the hydrogenation of terminal phenyl acetylenes by a rhodium(I) acetonitrile complex were investigated. First results were obtained for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formate salts in the presence of base.
Keywords: pincer ligands; dinuclear complexes; catalysis; metal ligand cooperativity; activation of small molecules; hydrogenation
