Our research interest mainly focuses on the development of homogeneous catalytic systems promoting organic reactions. Targeted applications are pharmaceutical, environmental and cosmetic.

We have generated novel catalyst composition exhibiting high thermal and reactivity characteristics. In the group, we target simple organometallic complexes for useful catalytic reactions. We make use of all modern synthetic methods and explore novel systems with an arsenal of physico-chemical techniques ranging from NMR to X-Ray diffraction studies.

Examples of efficient systems that were recently developed by the group are given below.

The usefulness of catalysts is often associated with the cost of their synthesis. In this respect, we also work on synthetic methods for catalytically relevant complexes. An example is given below.

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Mixed N-Heterocyclic Carbene/Phosphite Ruthenium Complexes: Towards a New Generation of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts. X. Bantreil, T. E. Schmid, R. A. M. Randall, A. M. Z. Slawin, C. S. J. Cazin*, Chem. Commun. 2010 , 46, 7115-7117
2. Mixed Phosphite/N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Studies. O. Diebolt, V. Jurcík, R. Correa da Costa, P. Braunstein, L. Cavallo, S. P. Nolan, A. M. Z. Slawin, C. S. J. Cazin*, Organometallics 2010, 29, 1443-1450
3. Copper N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complexes as Carbene Transfer Reagents. Marc R. L. Furst and Catherine S. J. Cazin*, Chem. Commun. 2010