Executive Summary : | The overall summary of the research proposal presented here is towards selective oxygenation of the sp³ C-H bond by molecular oxygen with the half sandwich manganese and iron cyclopentadienyl complexes as catalyst. This will involve the design and synthesis of bisimidazole based ligands and synthesis of half sandwich complexes of the corresponding ligands. The designed complexes are completely novel and the complex of the same type types with different metals are reported as catalyst in formic acid dehydrogenation reaction. The synthesized and well characterized complexes will be employed as catalyst for various oxidation reactions. During my doctoral tenure, I studied the synthesis and characterization of various copper and cobalt complexes of bisimidazole based ligand and their reactivity with nitric oxide. During my postdoctoral studies, I synthesized various actinide complexes and their activity in various catalytic reactions. My 12-year research experience make me expertized in design and synthesis of ligands, synthesis of various metal complexes along with characterization and their catalytic activity. So, my background is perfectly suitable for this project. To my knowledge this will be first attempt to explore catalytic sp³ C-H bond oxidation using non noble cyclopentadienyl complexes. The research projects proposed here has high challenges and potential considering the development of a new approach for C-H oxidation. In future, the approach can be extended for methane oxidation to methanol. Methanol and its derivative dimethyl ether have lot of demand as alternative to fossil fuel. Certainly, methanol derived from methane will contribute a lot to methanol economy, a concept introduced by Gorge Olah. The proposed work can be extended to oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone which is a starting material for synthesis of nylon 6. Successful selective oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone will definitely change the current strategy of nylon industry. Finally this kind of approach will contribute in organometallic chemistry in a significant quantity and to develop more quality work in future that will be applied in catalysis. |