Peter Maitlis
Encyclopedia
Peter Michael Maitlis FRS (born 15 January 1933) is a retired British organometallic
chemist
.
Maitlis was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Science
from the University of Birmingham
, and a PhD
(1956, studying under Professor Michael J. S. Dewar, who helped to develop the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model
for bonding in organometallic compounds) and a DSc
(1970) from the University of London
. After completing his doctorate, Maitlis worked as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of London. He undertook postdoctoral study at Cornell University
as a Fulbright Fellow (1960–1961) and then as a research fellow
at Harvard University
(1961–1962) under F. G. A. Stone
. While working and teaching at McMaster University
in Hamilton, Canada (1962–1972), he rose from Assistant Professor to a full Professor
ship. Returning to England in 1972, Maitlis was a professor of chemistry at the University of Sheffield
for 30 years until his appointment as an emeritus professor in 2002.
In 1971, he published two volumes on the organic chemistry of palladium which were "widely recognised as the most authoritative account of the organo-complexes of this metal".
Maitlis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1984. The citation highlights his work on the platinum group
metals palladium
, rhodium
and iridium
.
He is the father of the journalist and newsreader Emily Maitlis
, who joined him in Who's Who
in 2008.
ion is generally considered inert and hence a suitable counterion
in organometallic synthesis
. However, Maitlis' work has demonstrated a solvolysis
reaction of the hexafluorophosphate ion. The tris(solvent
) rhodium
complex [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(Me2CO)3](PF6)2 undergoes solvolysis when heated in acetone
, forming a difluorophosphate-bridged complex [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(μ-OPF2O)3Rh(η5-C5Me5)]PF6.
Hexamethyl Dewar benzene (C6Me6) undergoes an unusual rearrangement reaction with hydrohalic acids to form a pentamethylcyclopentadiene
derivative, and consequently can be used as a starting material for synthesising some pentamethylcyclopentadienyl organometallic compounds.
Maitlis and co-workers demonstrated this synthesis and its applicability to the iridium analogue, [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2]2
. His group also demonstrated a more convenient synthesis for the bright orange air stable diamagnetic iridium reagent using pentamethylcyclopentadiene
.
Isocyanide
s can serves as ligands in coordination chemistry as a result of the lone electron pair on carbon
, and are especially useful with metals in the 0, +1, and +2 oxidation state
s. In particular, Maitlis has demonstrated that tert-butyl isocyanide
can stabilise metals in unusual oxidation states, such as palladium(I) in the complex [(t-BuNC)2Pd(μ-Cl)]2.
line (mesomorphic) character [and thus they] combine the variety and range of metal-based coordination chemistry with the extraordinary physical properties exhibited by liquid crystals." They have been a research interest of Maitlis' group since the mid 1980s, and in fact Maitlis jointly directed the early investigations of these systems in the UK and actually coined the term metallomesogen.
data. The number of citations indicated is current as at 4 February 2011:
--- 514 citations --- 476 citations --- 383 citations --- 232 citations --- 223 citations --- 210 citations --- 206 citations
Organometallic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry is the study of chemical compounds containing bonds between carbon and a metal. Since many compounds without such bonds are chemically similar, an alternative may be compounds containing metal-element bonds of a largely covalent character...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
.
Maitlis was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1956, studying under Professor Michael J. S. Dewar, who helped to develop the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model
Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model
The Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model is a model in organometallic chemistry which explains the type of chemical bonding between an alkene and a metal in certain organometallic compounds. The model is named after Michael J. S. Dewar, Joseph Chatt and L. A...
for bonding in organometallic compounds) and a DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
(1970) from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. After completing his doctorate, Maitlis worked as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of London. He undertook postdoctoral study at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
as a Fulbright Fellow (1960–1961) and then as a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1961–1962) under F. G. A. Stone
F. Gordon A. Stone
Francis Gordon Albert Stone CBE, FRS, FRSC was an English chemist who was a prolific and decorated scholar. He specialized in the synthesis of main group and transition metal organometallic compounds. He received his B.A. in 1948 and Ph.D. in 1951, both from Cambridge University, England, where...
. While working and teaching at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton, Canada (1962–1972), he rose from Assistant Professor to a full Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ship. Returning to England in 1972, Maitlis was a professor of chemistry at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
for 30 years until his appointment as an emeritus professor in 2002.
In 1971, he published two volumes on the organic chemistry of palladium which were "widely recognised as the most authoritative account of the organo-complexes of this metal".
Maitlis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1984. The citation highlights his work on the platinum group
Platinum group
The platinum group metals is a term used sometimes to collectively refer to six metallic elements clustered together in the periodic table.These elements are all transition metals, lying in the d-block .The six...
metals palladium
Palladium
Palladium is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pd and an atomic number of 46. It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston. He named it after the asteroid Pallas, which was itself named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired...
, rhodium
Rhodium
Rhodium is a chemical element that is a rare, silvery-white, hard and chemically inert transition metal and a member of the platinum group. It has the chemical symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is composed of only one isotope, 103Rh. Naturally occurring rhodium is found as the free metal, alloyed...
and iridium
Iridium
Iridium is the chemical element with atomic number 77, and is represented by the symbol Ir. A very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum family, iridium is the second-densest element and is the most corrosion-resistant metal, even at temperatures as high as 2000 °C...
.
He is the father of the journalist and newsreader Emily Maitlis
Emily Maitlis
Emily Maitlis is a Canadian-born British journalist and newsreader, currently employed by the BBC.-Career:Raised in Sheffield, she was educated at the local King Edward VII School...
, who joined him in Who's Who
Who's Who (UK)
Who's Who is an annual British publication of biographies which vary in length of about 30,000 living notable Britons.-History:...
in 2008.
Achievements in organometallic chemistry
The hexafluorophosphateHexafluorophosphate
Hexafluorophosphate is an anion with chemical formula of . This octahedral species is isoelectronic with sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, and is valence isoelectronic with the highly stable superacid anion fluoroantimonate . As a non-coordinating anion, it is a poor nucleophile...
ion is generally considered inert and hence a suitable counterion
Counterion
A counterion is the ion that accompanies an ionic species in order to maintain electric neutrality. In table salt the sodium cation is the counterion for the chlorine anion and vice versa.In a charged transition metal complex, a simple A counterion is the ion that accompanies an ionic species in...
in organometallic synthesis
Organometallic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry is the study of chemical compounds containing bonds between carbon and a metal. Since many compounds without such bonds are chemically similar, an alternative may be compounds containing metal-element bonds of a largely covalent character...
. However, Maitlis' work has demonstrated a solvolysis
Solvolysis
Solvolysis is a special type of nucleophilic substitution or elimination where the nucleophile is a solvent molecule. For certain nucleophiles, there are specific terms for the type of solvolysis reaction...
reaction of the hexafluorophosphate ion. The tris(solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
) rhodium
Organorhodium chemistry
Organorhodium chemistry is the chemistry of organometallic compounds containing a carbon to rhodium chemical bond, and the study of rhodium and rhodium compounds as catalysts in organic reactions....
complex [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(Me2CO)3](PF6)2 undergoes solvolysis when heated in acetone
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
, forming a difluorophosphate-bridged complex [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(μ-OPF2O)3Rh(η5-C5Me5)]PF6.
Hexamethyl Dewar benzene (C6Me6) undergoes an unusual rearrangement reaction with hydrohalic acids to form a pentamethylcyclopentadiene
Pentamethylcyclopentadiene
1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene is a cyclic diolefin with the formula C5Me5H . 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene is the precursor to the ligand 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, which is often denoted as Cp*...
derivative, and consequently can be used as a starting material for synthesising some pentamethylcyclopentadienyl organometallic compounds.
Maitlis and co-workers demonstrated this synthesis and its applicability to the iridium analogue, [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2]2
Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iridium dichloride dimer
Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iridium dichloride is an organometallic compound with the formula []2, commonly abbreviated [Cp*IrCl2]2 This bright orange air-stable diamagnetic solid is a reagent in organometallic chemistry....
. His group also demonstrated a more convenient synthesis for the bright orange air stable diamagnetic iridium reagent using pentamethylcyclopentadiene
Pentamethylcyclopentadiene
1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene is a cyclic diolefin with the formula C5Me5H . 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene is the precursor to the ligand 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, which is often denoted as Cp*...
.
Isocyanide
Isocyanide
An isocyanide is an organic compound with the functional group -N≡C. It is the isomer of the related cyanide , hence the prefix iso....
s can serves as ligands in coordination chemistry as a result of the lone electron pair on carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
, and are especially useful with metals in the 0, +1, and +2 oxidation state
Oxidation state
In chemistry, the oxidation state is an indicator of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. The formal oxidation state is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic. Oxidation states are typically represented by...
s. In particular, Maitlis has demonstrated that tert-butyl isocyanide
Tert-Butyl isocyanide
tert-Butyl isocyanide is an organic compound with the formula Me3CNC . It is an isocyanide, commonly called isonitrile or carbylamine, as defined by the functional group C≡N-R. tert-Butyl isocyanide, like most alkyl isocyanides, is a reactive colorless liquid with an extremely unpleasant odor...
can stabilise metals in unusual oxidation states, such as palladium(I) in the complex [(t-BuNC)2Pd(μ-Cl)]2.
Metallomesogens
Metallomesogens are "metal complexes of organic ligands which exhibit liquid crystalLiquid crystal
Liquid crystals are a state of matter that have properties between those of a conventional liquid and those of a solid crystal. For instance, an LC may flow like a liquid, but its molecules may be oriented in a crystal-like way. There are many different types of LC phases, which can be...
line (mesomorphic) character [and thus they] combine the variety and range of metal-based coordination chemistry with the extraordinary physical properties exhibited by liquid crystals." They have been a research interest of Maitlis' group since the mid 1980s, and in fact Maitlis jointly directed the early investigations of these systems in the UK and actually coined the term metallomesogen.
Most cited publications
The following list shows all journal articles by Maitlis which have been cited more than 200 times according to Web of ScienceWeb of Science
ISI Web of Knowledge is an academic citation indexing and search service, which is combined with web linking and provided by Thomson Reuters. Web of Knowledge coverage encompasses the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. It provides bibliographic content and the tools to access, analyze,...
data. The number of citations indicated is current as at 4 February 2011:
--- 514 citations --- 476 citations --- 383 citations --- 232 citations --- 223 citations --- 210 citations --- 206 citations