Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller
Collaboration: Prof. Dr. Gunther Wittstock

Sila and germacyclopentadienes (siloles and germoles), which are often described as metalloles, show remarkable electronic and photophysical properties.^[1-3] By creating localized spin centers in those heterocycles, interesting magnetic phenomena could be added. Especially the incorporation of those systems in macromolecules such as I (Fig. 1) would lead to cooperative effects like ferro- or antiferromagnetism, depending on the interaction between the spin centers.
Based on our recent synthesis of persistent silolyl- and germolyl radicals (see Fig. 2 for germyl radical 1), model compounds with two (i.e. compound 2, Scheme 1) or more radical centers will be synthesized and characterized. Of particular interest will be the nature of the interaction between the spins depending on the sort of the linking unit, its topology and its electronic properties.
Apart from the general requirements of the Graduate School “Nano-Energy Research” a possible applicant is expected to have experience in synthetic organoelement chemistry, handling of air-sensitive compounds and NMR and ESR spectroscopy. Additional experience in computational chemistry and electrochemistry is welcome.

[1] S. Yamaguchi, K. Tamao, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1998, 3693-3702; [2] K. Tamao, M. Uchida, T. Izumizawa, K. Furukawa, S. Yamaguchi, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 11974-11975; [3] S. Yamaguchi, T. Endo, M. Uchida, T. Izumizawa, K. Furukawa, K. Tamao, Chem. Eur. J. 2000, 6, 1683-1692;