Liam Sullivan
Major/Minor: Chemistry/Environmental Science
Title: Ketone Hydrosilylation Studies by a Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst
Abstract: The objective of this research is to discover an effective, safe, and low cost catalyst for the hydrosilylation of ketones, which involves the addition of a silicon–hydrogen bond across a C=O double bond. Previous research with Dr. Liberman-Martin determined that our cyclic carbodiphosphorane catalyst may be effective in the hydrosilylation of ketones. We have tested 15 silanes, the most effective of which was found to be diphenylsilane. The catalyst was also effective in the hydrosilylation of the 6 ketones tested so far. Use of the carbodiphosphorane catalyst as a replacement for toxic heavy-metal-containing catalysts would reduce waste and emissions harmful to the environment, while also providing an alternative means for accomplishing the hydrosilylation of ketones. Finding an efficient and low cost catalyst would benefit the organic synthesis industry, as carbonyl hydrosilylation is useful industrially for the synthesis of alcohol products.
