Vincent J. Catalano

Professor

Inorganic Chemistry & Department Chair

B.S. (1987), University of California, Santa Barbara; Ph.D. (1991), University of California, Davis (Alan L. Balch); NSF Postdoctoral Fellow (1992-1993), California Institute of Technology (Harry B. Gray).

E-mail: vjc [at] unr.edu or
chair [at] chem.unr.edu
Phone: 775-784-1329 or 6042
FAX: 775-784-6804
Office: CB 228

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Vincent J. Catalano

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Research Interests

Our research interests include the synthesis, structure, bonding and optical properties of transition metal complexes. Currently, we are exploring two main areas. First, we are interested in the synthesis, reactivity, and binding properties of large, inorganic host complexes called metallocryptates. These cage complexes are formed through coordination of multidentate phosphine ligands to d¹⁰ transition metals (Au(I), Ag(I), Pd(0) or Pt(0)). These very large cage complexes are capable of encapsulating a variety of metal ions or metals including Tl(I), Pb(II), Hg(0), Hg₂²⁺, and Hg(II). The trigonally coordinated d¹⁰ capping metals exhibit strong, metallophilic interactions to the encapsulated closed-shell species, and although formally non-bonding, these metal-metal interactions are often as short as sigma bonds. Recent work has shown that small molecules may also be incarcerated into these cages.

We are also exploring the application of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands as supports for maintaining short metal-metal interactions between closed-shell ions, particularly Au(I) and Ag(I). With these ligands we are able to prepare highly luminescent, one-dimensional coordination polymers that contain very short metal-metal separations. Perturbing this metal-metal separation either through intercalation or coordinatoin alters the emission properties making these molecules ideally suited for applications as luminescent sensors. Additionally, synthetically manipulating the NHC backbone to include specific receptor moieties, introduces selectivity for analyte sensing. Receptors for nitro arenes as mimics for explosives are or particular interest. Lastly, the physical and optical properties of discrete NHC bridged dimers are being explored as models for the larger extended polymeric systems.

All of these complexes are probed with a variety of techniques including ¹H, ³¹P, ¹⁹⁵Pt, ²⁰⁵Tl NMR, resonance Raman, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Selected Publications

Catalano, V. J.; Etogo, A. O. “Preparation of Au(I), Ag(I), and Pd(II) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes Utilizing a Methylpyridyl-Substituted NHC Ligand. Formation of a Luminescent Coordination Polymer” Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46(14), 5608-5615.

Catalano, V. J.; Etogo, A. O. “Luminescent coordination polymers with extended Au(I)-Ag(I) interactions supported by a pyridyl-substituted NHC ligand” J. Organomet. Chem. Special Carbene Issue, 2005, 690(24-25), 6041-6050.

Catalano, V. J.; Moore, A. L. “Mono-, Di-, and Trinuclear Luminescent Silver(I) and Gold(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes Derived From the Picolyl-Substituted Methylimidazolium Salt: 1-methyl-3-(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1H-Imidazolium tetrafluoroborate.” Inorg. Chem., 2005, 44, 6558-6566.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A.; Etogo, A. O. “Pyridine Substituted N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands as Supports for Au(I)-Ag(I) Interactions: Formation of a Chiral Coordination Polymer” Inorg. Chem., 2004, 43, 5714-5724.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A. “Mixed-Metal Metallocryptands. Short Metal-Metal Separations Stabilized by Dipolar Interactions” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 6560-6561.

For a review of our metallocryptands: Catalano, V. J.; Bennett, B. L.; Malwitz, M. A.; Yson, R. L.; Kar, H. M.; Muratidis, S.; Horner, S. J. “Metallocryptands: Host Complexes for Probing Closed-Shell Metal-Metal Interactions” Comments on Inorganic Chemistry, 2003, 24, 24-68.

Catalano, V. J.; Horner, S. J. “Luminescent Gold(I) and Silver(I) Complexes of 2-Diphenylphosphino-1-methylimidazole (dpim): Characterization of a Three-Coordinate Au(I)-Ag(I) Dimer with a Short Metal-Metal Separation.” Inorg. Chem., 2003, 8430-8438.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A. “Short Metal-Metal Separations in a Highly Luminescent Trimetallic Ag(I) Complex Stabilized by Bridging NHC Ligands.” Inorg. Chem., 2003, 42, 5482-5485.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A.; Horner, S. J.; Vasquez, J. “Three- and Four-Coordinate Gold(I) Complexes of 2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridazine: Monomers, Polymers and Metallocryptand Cage” Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 2141-2148.

Catalano, V. J.; Craig, T. J. “Monometallic And Dimetallic Ru(II)-Terpyridine Complexes Employing the Tetradentate Ligands Dipyridylpyrazolyl, Dipyridyloxadiazole, and Their Dimethyl Derivatives.” Inorg. Chem., 2003, 42, 321-334.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A.; Noll, B. C. “Pd(0) and Pt(0) Metallocryptands Encapsulating a Spinning Mercurous Dimer.” Inorg. Chem., 2002, 41, 6553-6559.

** For a nice review of our work see: Gade, L. H. “Encapsulated, Sandwiched, or Sticking Out: Closed-Shell Interactions of d¹⁰ Metal Centers with Thallium(I).” Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. Engl. 2001, 40(19), 3573-3575.

Catalano, V. J.; Malwitz, M. A.; Noll, B. C. “A Linearly Coordinated Hg(0) Trapped in a Gold (I) Metallocryptand Cage.” Chem. Commun. 2001, 581-582.

Catalano, V. J.; Bennett, B. L.; Muratidis, S.; Noll, B. C. “Unsupported Pt(0)-Tl(I) Bonds in the Simple [Pt(PPh₂py)₃Tl]⁺ Complexes” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 173-174.

Catalano, V.J.; Bennett, B. L.; Noll, B. C. “Pt(0) and Pd(0) Based Metallocryptands: Metallophilic Hosts for Pb(II) Ion” Chem. Commun. 2000, 1413-1414.

Catalano, V.J.; Bennett, B. L; Yson, R. ; Noll, B. C. “Synthesis and Characterization of Pd(0) and Pt(0) Metallocryptands Encapsulating Tl+ Ion.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2000, 122, 10056-10062.

Catalano, V. J. and Craig, T. J. “Syntheses and X-ray Crystal Structures of Several Dinuclear Ruthenium Cymene Complexes Based on the Tetradentate Ligand, 2,2′-(1H-pyrazole-3,5-diyl)bis(6-methylpyridine) (Me₂Dppz).” Polyhedron, 2000, 19(4), 475-485.

Catalano, V. J.; Heck, R. A.; Öhman, A.; Hill, M.G. “Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol by a Pair of Geometric Isomers of [Ru(trpy)(4,4′-Me₂dppi)(OH₂)]²⁺ where 4,4′-dppi is 3, 6-di-(4-methylpyrid-2-yl)pyridazine.” Polyhedron, 2000, 19(9), 1049-1055.

Catalano, V. J.; Kar, H. M.; Bennett, B. L. “Au(I) and Ag(I) Metallocryptates Based on 2,9-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,8-naphthyridine, dppn.” Inorg. Chem., 2000, 39, 121-127.

Catalano, V.J.; Bennett, B. L; Kar, H. M.; Noll, B. C. “Synthesis and Characterization of Trigonal Gold(I) Cage Complexes: Generation of Luminescent Metallocryptates via Template Reactions with Tl(I) and Na⁺ Ions.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1999, 121, 10235-10236.

Catalano, V. J.; Kar, H. M.; Garnas, J. “A Highly Luminescent Tetranuclear Silver(I) Cluster and Its Ligation-Induced Core Rearrangement.” Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. Engl. 1999, 38(13/14), 1979-1982.