Faculty Profiles

Ross A. Widenhoefer
Ross A. Widenhoefer
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
124 Science Drive, 2101 French Science Center, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-1533
Fax: 
(919) 660-1605
ross.widenhoefer@duke.edu
Widenhoefer Research Group
Research Interests: 

Research in the Widenhoefer group is directed toward the development and mechanistic analysis of new organotransition metal-catalyzed transformations for application in the synthesis of functionalized organic molecules. In particular, our group has a long-standing interest in the functionalization of C–C multiple bonds with carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles catalyzed by electrophilic late transition metal complexes, with a recent focus on the synthetic and mechanistic aspect of gold(I) pi-activation catalysis. Current areas of inquiry include the following: 1) Gold(I) and Pt(II)-catalyzed hydroamination of alkenes an allenes. 2) Gold(I)-catalyzed dehydrative amination of underivatized allylic alcohols. 3) Synthesis and study of cationic, two-coordinate gold pi-complexes. 4) Evaluating the role of bis(gold) complexes in gold pi-activation catalysis. More detailed descriptions of these research projects can be found at our group web page.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin at Madison 1994

B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College 1989

Research Areas:
Synthesis, Inorganic, Organic

Casey, C. P., et al. “Syntheses, X-ray crystal structures, and fluxional behavior of the clusters Cp*3Co3(μ2CO)(μ3-CO)(μ-H)2, Cp*3Co3(μ2-H) (μ3-η2-HC=NCMe3), and Cp*3Co3(μ2-H).” Organometallics, vol. 13, no. 12, 1994, pp. 4720–31.

Casey, C. P., et al. “X-ray crystal structures of two (ethylidyne)tricobalt clusters. Thermolysis of Cp*Co(H2C=CH2)2 Produces Cp*3Co3(μ3CCH3 (μ3-H), not Cp*3Co3(μ3-CCH3)2.” Organometallics, vol. 13, no. 4, 1994, pp. 1521–24.

Casey, C. P., et al. “Syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of the tricobalt mono(ethylidyne) clusters Cp*3Co3(μ3-CCH3)(μ 3-CO)(μ2-H), Cp*3Co3(μ3-CCH3)(μ 3-CNCMe3)(μ2-H), and Cp*3Co3(μ3-CCH3)(μ 3-NO).” Inorganic Chemistry, vol. 33, no. 12, 1994, pp. 2639–44.

Casey, C. P., et al. “Reaction of CO and tert-butyl isocyanide with the cluster [(C 5Me5)3Co3(μ2-H) 3(μ3-H)] facile hydrogen transfer to isocyanide forms [(C5Me5)3Co3 (μ-H) (μ3-η2-HC=NCMe3)].” Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, no. 22, Dec. 1993, pp. 1692–94. Scopus, doi:10.1039/C39930001692. Full Text

Casey, C. P., et al. “Conversion of Acetylene to a Triple Bridged Ethylidyne Ligand on the Cluster Cp*3Co3(μ2-H)3(μ3-H).” Organometallics, vol. 12, no. 10, Jan. 1993, pp. 3788–89. Scopus, doi:10.1021/om00034a002. Full Text

Casey, C. P., et al. “Reaction of NO with Cp*3Co3(μ-H)4 preserves the tricobalt cluster and produces Cp*3Co3(μ3-NO)2.” Inorganica Chimica Acta, vol. 212, no. 1–2, Jan. 1993, pp. 81–85. Scopus, doi:10.1016/S0020-1693(00)92312-0. Full Text

Casey, C., et al. “Reaction of CO and tert-Butyl Isocyanide with the Cluster Cp*3Co3(μ2-H)3(μ3-H): Facile Hydrogen Transfer to Isocyanide Forms Cp*3Co3(μ2-H)(μ3-η2-HC=NCMe3).” J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1993.

Casey, C. P., et al. “Conversion of acetylene to a triple bridged ethylidyne ligand on the cluster Cp*3Co3(μ2-H)3(μ 3-H).” Organometallics, vol. 12, no. 10, 1993, pp. 3788–89.

Casey, C. P., et al. “Phosphine induced cyclopentadienyl ring slippage catalyzes CO insertion into a methyl rhenium compound to produce an acetyl rhenium compound.” Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, vol. 428, no. 1–2, Apr. 1992, pp. 99–105. Scopus, doi:10.1016/0022-328X(92)83222-4. Full Text

Kersten, J. L., et al. ““[Cp*CoCoCp*]” is a Hydride.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English, vol. 31, no. 10, Jan. 1992, pp. 1341–43. Scopus, doi:10.1002/anie.199213411. Full Text

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