Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Chemistry
Date of Award
8-2026
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Cassandra Eagle
Committee Members
Dane William Scott, Catherine Emily McCusker
Abstract
Dirhodium carboxamidate complexes are valuable catalysts for carbene transfer reactions because their electronic and steric properties can be tailored. This study synthesized tetrakis[µ-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-acetamidato]-κ4N:O; κ4O:N-dirhodium(II) by replacing acetate ligands in rhodium acetate with 2,6-(dimethylphenyl)acetamide. Infrared, ¹³C{¹H} NMR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy confirmed ligand coordination through characteristic spectral changes. Chromatographic separation produced two fractions, representing two isomeric forms of the complex. X-ray crystallography identified Fraction 1 as the trans-2,2 isomer, whereas the structure of Fraction 2 could not be determined. Both fractions catalyzed the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed moderate conversion and an approximately 40:60 cis/trans product ratio, compared with the 25:75 to 35:65 cis/trans selectivity typically reported for acetate analogues. These findings demonstrate the influence of carboxamidate ligands on rhodium-catalyzed carbene transfer reactions and provide insight for developing improved selective catalysts for future catalyst design and deeper understanding of structure-property relationships in selective carbene transfer chemistry
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Afriyie, Kwame Anim, "Synthesis and Cyclopropanation Catalytic Studies of Tetrakis[μ-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-acetamidato]-κ4N:O; κ4O:N-dirhodium(II)" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4760. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4760
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
