Our primary aim is the synthesis and investigation of new coordination compounds (complexes) including organometallic derivatives. Rational ligand design, including the use of coordination units and building blocks which are known to introduce specific properties, is essential for the development of novel mono- or polynuclear coordination compounds or hybrid materials. We are also using quantum chemical methods such as DFT to model these systems theoretically and gain a deeper understanding of e.g. their electronic structure.

Specific properties such as reactivity in the ligand sphere, activation of ligands, redox chemistry at the metal(s) or the ligand(s), electron transfer, luminescence, photochemistry, formation of stable radicals, magnetism etc. define potential applications of such materials. Variation of metal(s) and ligand(s) in combination with suitable structural and spectroscopic Methods allow drawing structure-property relations for optimisation. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods are a stronghold of the work.

Current research projects:

• Luminescent organometallic platinum-, palladium- and nickel complexes (DFG SPP 2102 – light controlled reactivity of metal complexes)
• Organonickel complexes with relevance to C‒C cross coupling catalysis
• Perfluoroalkyl nickel complexes with NHC ligands for the stabilization of high oxidation states and applications in electrocatalytic trifluoromethylation reactions
• New thiosemicarbazone ligands and their transition metal complexes
• Hybrid materials of nanoparticles and complexes