Metal clusters as organometallic synthons

My PhD project is focussed on the synthesis, the characterization and the study of the properties of palladium and platinum trinuclear and hexanuclear clusters, and on the evaluation of the possibility to insert these units in oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric macromolecular systems. The project includes the synthesis and the spectroscopic, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical characterization of new trinuclear palladium clusters sharing the general formula [Pd3(μ-PBut2)3(L)2L']n+ and the functionalization of the known platinum clusters [Pt3(μ-PBut2)3(CO)2H] and [Pt6(μ-PBut2)4(CO)6](CF3SO3)2 with conjugated organic and organometallic ligands able to connect more cluster units. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of the new compounds obtained in these studies are also investigated.