Synthesis and studies of the coordination chemistry with catalytic applications of tripodal ligands based on nitrogen , oxygen and sulfur donors By Mandeep K Sidhu

This thesis describes the synthesis of a series of mixed N,0,S donor ligands, their co-ordination chemistry using palladium, rhodium and iridium metal precursors and their catalytic behaviour. First synthesised were a series of potential tripodal oxygen donor ligands mimicking the synthesis of meTAM but incorporating a fourth additional group that was hoped to preferentially co-ordinate to a metal centre. A variety of synthetic pathways were unsuccessfully employed to synthesise mixed donor ligands using aliphatic bidentate backbones. This work was followed by the synthesis, structure and co-ordination chemistry of novel tripodal ligands containing bis(l-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl methane in combination with an ether or sulfide functionality. These N,N,0 and N,N,S ligands were expected to demonstrate properties intermediate of those of the Trofimenko and Klaui ligands.