Homogeneous Catalytic Carbonylation of Nitroaromatics and Related Studies

In this project in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program of the Chemistry Division, Gladfelter will study how certain catalysts promote the conversion of nitroaromatic compounds into isocyanates. A possible outcome of the project is a safer and more environmentally benign method for the production of isocyanates, an important class of commercial chemicals. Attempts will be made to elucidate the mechanism of the homogeneous catalytic carbonylation of nitroaromatics, a reaction that may be capable of replacing the current phosgene- based technology for the production of isocyanates. The methods involve kinetic studies of the catalysis, in situ FTIR and NMR spectroscopies conducted at high temperature and pressure, and isolation and characterization of catalytic intermediates. Three ruthenium carbonyl catalysts will be studied: a monomer containing the bis(diphenylphosphino)methane ligand, the recently discovered binuclear species containing two bis(dimethylphosphino)methane ligands, and triruthenium dodecacarbonyl.