Immobilisation of carborane-based ligands on the electrode surface for direct electrochemical redox-catalysis

One of the most significant trends in modern chemical research is the development of new catalysts and catalyzed reactions. Electrocatalysis helps to replace expensive and often toxic chemical oxidizing or reducing agents used in catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions with an affordable electric current. The aim of this project is the synthesis of new redox-active ligands based on o-carborane (o-C2B10H12), their donor-acceptor abilities will be studied in a variety of ligands’ oxidation states. Furthermore, a general methodology for the immobilization of borane clusters on electrode surfaces (graphene oxide, carbon electrodes) will be made. The fine-tuning of the electron-donating character of the bound carboranes will be studied at applied voltage. The effect of the electric field will be examined on a shift of donor properties of ligands in the carbonyl complexes and also on the bounded fluorescent molecules as a shift of their emission maximum. These findings will be subsequently used in redox catalysis and cross-coupling reactions.

Keywords:

Carborane ligands; redox-catalysis; electrocatalysis; immobilised catalyst