5 - Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung

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Synthetic Organic Chemistry - Overview
The Department of Synthetic Organic Chemistry has conceptional ties to other groups,
especially to the Department of Theory. Several important collaborative efforts have
emerged in addition to the one described above. The development of novel methods for
the fabrication of transition metal colloids as well as colloids composed of transition
metal oxides, their immobilization on solid supports and the possible use of such
heterogeneous catalysts in electrocatalysis is another important research area
(M. T. Reetz). This particular long-term effort bears some relationship to the research in
the group of H. Bönnemann (Department of Heterogeneous Catalysis), although the
respective approaches are different.
Linking homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis is being pursued actively in several
Departments. Encapsulation of enzymes in hydrophobic sol-gel materials derived from
alkylsilanes RSi(OCH3)3 as precursors is an example (M. T. Reetz). Another case
involves the immobilization of structurally well-defined metallocenes on SiO2 and on
other solid supports (G. Fink). Such solid catalysts are known to be useful in the
polymerization of ethylene and α-olefins, yet mechanistic details remained obscure for
decades, making "design" in the all important immobilization essentially impossible.
Fundamental knowledge concerning the details of particle fragmentation and of polymer
growth in such systems has been acquired (G. Fink). Other interdisciplinary efforts
involving two Departments include the application of theoretical tools such as
molecular modeling in illuminating the relationship between the metallocene catalyst
structure and the microstructure of the resulting polymer (G. Fink, W. Thiel,
K. Angermund), as well as the design and preparation of new olefin polymerization
catalysts for functionalized polar monomers (G. Fink). Finally, research concerning the
first example of a homogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation reaction of coal is being
intensified (M. W. Haenel).