Priem, Jessica2013-11-072013-11-0720102010Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, page: 1838.http://hdl.handle.net/10393/28656http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-12651This thesis investigated the structure and reactivity of group 13 elements boron, aluminum and gallium supported by nitrogen rich ligand systems. The majority of this work deals with N,N',N"-trisubstituted guanidinate ligands and N,N'-disubstituted-1,8-diaminonaphthalene dianionic ligand frameworks. New methods for the catalytic formation of guanidines have also been explored. Chapter 1 outlines the basics of using nitrogen rich compounds as ligands. This includes the introduction of guanidinates as supporting ligands and the description of using a rigid backbone system such as an N,N'-disubstituted-1,8-diaminonaphthalene dianionic ligand. Chapter 2 presents the synthetic routes taken to form a variety of aluminum amide, alkyl and halide complexes using N, N',N"-trisubstituted triisopropyl guanidinates as supporting ligands. The formation of dinuclear guanidinate species was also observed. Chapter 3 investigates the catalytic formation of guanidines using inexpensive, commercially available aluminum compounds as catalysts for the guanylation of various amines with carbodiimide. A full catalytic cycle was calculated using DFT studies for both guanylation of amines and phosphines catalyzed by aluminum amides. Chapter 4 presents the application of N,N'-disubstituted-1,8-diaminonaphthalene ligands for the stabilization of coordinately unsaturated group 13 elements. The formation of boron halides with both diaryl and diisopropyl 1,8-diaminonaphthalene ligands as well as aluminum halides and a dinuclear aluminum complex is presented.95 p.enChemistry, Biochemistry.Chemistry, Organic.Thesis