Title: Transition Metal Catalyzed Alkylation and Alkenylation of Olefins: New Molecular Catalysts and the Role of Lewis Acidic Oxidants

Abstract: The selective catalytic functionalization of C–H bonds of hydrocarbons remains one of the foremost challenges facing synthetic chemists. For example, alkyl and alkenyl arenes are produced on a scale of billions of pounds per year. Current commercial catalysts (e.g., Friedel-Crafts or zeolites catalysts) for arene alkylation are based on acid-mediated olefin activation. New catalysts that operate by a distinct reaction pathway that involves transition metal-mediated C–H activation followed by olefin insertion into metal-aryl bonds offer potential advantages. The presentation will focus on the development and study of new transition metal catalysts for arene alkylation and alkenylation based on molecular complexes of Ru, Rh, Pd and Pt with an emphasis on the unexpected role of Cu(II) carboxylates that are used as oxidant.