VIPEr Fellows 2019 Workshop Favorites

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Sat, 06/08/2019 - 16:41

During our first fellows workshop, the first cohort of VIPEr fellows pulled together learning objects that they've used and liked or want to try the next time they teach their inorganic courses.

The Synthesis and Electronic Structure of [NiX4]2- Complexes and the Role of Crown Ethers in Inorganic Synthesis

Submitted by Wes Farrell / United States Naval Academy on Thu, 06/06/2019 - 15:05
Description

This literature discussion aims to have students in an advanced inorganic chemistry course interpret reaction schemes and electronic spectra, relate chemical formulae to molecular structure, and gain an understanding of how inorganic synthesis is planned and executed.  Students should gain an understanding of how counterions and crown ethers affect structure. Question 7 may be expanded to ask students to why pi-donor ability affects ligand field splitting, or as an introfuction to this topic.

An associated 1FLO based on this paper is linked in the related content.

 

Zinc-Zinc Bonds (Expanded and Updated)

Submitted by Wes Farrell / United States Naval Academy on Wed, 06/05/2019 - 11:42
Description

This paper in Science reports the synthesis of decamethyldizincocene, a stable compound of Zn(I) with a zinc-zinc bond. In the original LO, the title compound and the starting material, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zinc, offer a nice link to metallocene chemistry, electron counting, and different modes of binding of cyclopentadienyl rings as well as more advanced discussions of MO diagrams.

Organometallics

Submitted by Brian Anderson / Keene State College on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 12:37
Description

This course introduces the organometallic chemistry of the transition metals and main group elements with emphasis on common structural features and basic reaction types. The role of organometallic complexes in catalysis is also explored.

 

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Brian Anderson / Keene State College on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 12:26
Description

An introduction to modern inorganic chemistry, including a description of transition- metal complexes and their role as catalysts, and a survey of the reactivity of selected elements of the main group. Three-hour lecture, three-hour laboratory

 

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Gary Guillet / Furman University on Thu, 04/25/2019 - 16:02
Description

Introduces students to a broad overview of modern inorganic chemistry. Included are considerations of molecular symmetry and group theory, bonding and molecular orbital theory, structures and reactivities of coordination compounds, organometallic chemistry, catalysis and transition metal clusters. Laboratory experiences will include the measurement of several important features of coordination compounds, such as their electronic spectra and paramagnetism, as well as the synthesis and characterization of organometallic compounds.

Redox-switch polymerization catalysis

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 13:49
Description

This is the full literature discussion based on a communicaiton (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011133, 9278). This paper describes a redox-switch yttrium catalyst that is an active catalyst for the polymerization of L-lactide in the reduced form and inactive in the oxidized form. The catalyst contains a ferrocene-based ligand that serves as the redox active site in the catalyst. This full literature discussion is an extension of the one figure literature discussion that is listed below.