Abstract

In this lecture, I would like to report our recent studies on the activation and transformation of small molecules by transition metal complexes, with focus on (1) NHC-copper-catalyzed transformation of CO₂ into useful fine-chemicals, (2) activation and incorporation of dinitrogen (N₂) into organic compounds by molecular titanium hydride clusters, and (3) activation and cleavage of benzene and other aromatic skeletons over a trinuclear titanium framework.