Development of highly labile atomic carbon reagents and their applications in the synthesis of carbon-based materials in solution – C-SOURCE

Carbon, chemical element which generally constitutes the structural backbone of organic compounds, is one of the most important elements not only in organic and organometallic chemistry but also in materials science. However, carbon atom generation and its use to modify (or construct) a carbon-based framework to synthesize compounds/materials “in a precise manner” remains an extremely difficult task. This is mainly due to the extremely energy-costing and complex management of the four bonds around C atom (cut & reform) in order to transfer it to other molecules. Indeed, the generation of gaseous atomic carbon can only be realized in drastic arc-discharge conditions (2 500 °C / 5 x 10-5 Torr). In addition, carbon atoms are short-lived reactive intermediates that instantly aggregate each other to form amorphous carbon-based materials (carbon nanoparticles and films). However, due to the strong C-C bond, their formation is extremely fast and irreversible, therefore, precise control of the 3D-structure/geometry of the resulting material is difficult. Moreover, the manipulation of gaseous C-atoms for the synthesis of C-materials requires specific equipment and knowledge, which largely limits the involvement of many synthetic chemists in the synthesis of C-materials.
In this project, we will consider the development of C-complexes 1 (carbon atom stabilized by two ligands), stable enough to be handled at room temperature but highly labile to release carbon atoms under mild conditions, instead of uncontrollably reactive gaseous atomic carbon, to perform the synthesis of C-materials (carbon allotropes) in solution. We will also investigate possible ways to “control” the structure of forming C-materials. The development of such a synthetic method “performed in a flask” should considerably popularize the synthesis of C-materials and thus should help to advance the technology for realizing the custom synthesis of new C-materials.