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Personal Website |
Associate Professor LEONG WENG KEE
B.A., 1982, Cambridge University; Dip.Ed., 1985, National Institute of Education; M.Sc., 1992, National University of Singapore; Ph.D., 1996, Simon Fraser University
Contact Information:
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Department of Chemistry, NUS
3 Science Drive 3
Singapore 117543
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Office: S9-05-05
Tel: (65)-6516-5131
Fax: (65)-6779-1691
Email: chmlwk@nus.edu.sg |
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Research Interests
Our research interest is in the chemistry of organometallic compounds, particularly organometallic clusters. Although the delineation is somewhat arbitrary, the following are some of our areas of current interest:
Heteronuclear and Intermetallic Clusters
Organometallic clusters containing two or more different metals, either all transition elements (heteronuclear) or containing the heavier main group elements (intermetallic), exhibit reactivities which are distinct from their mononuclear or homonuclear analogues. One of our focus is therefore on the synthesis and properties of such clusters. Current interest is in heteronuclear clusters containing a d- and an f-block element.
Representative publication:
 K.H. Chan, W.K. Leong and K.H.G. Mak "Thermolysis of the Osmium-Antimony Clusters Os3(CO)11(SbMe2Ar): Higher Nuclearity Clusters and Arrested Orthometallation" Organometallics 25(1), 250-9, 2006.
Nanomaterials and Heterogeneous Catalysis
Organometallic clusters are useful precursors for the size-controlled synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. We have been investigating the efficiency of these metallic nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalysts. As part of that study, we have been investigating the deposition of organometallic clusters on surfaces and the synthesis of molecular models of the cluster-surface interaction.
Collaborators: B.F.G. Johnson, T. Khimyak (Cambridge); J. Zheng (iHPC); W.Y. Fan, W.S. Sim, M.W.R. Wong, H.K. Yip (NUS Chem); Z. Zhong, L. Chen (ICES)
Representative publication:
M.O.E. Ahmed and W.K. Leong "Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized by a Water-Soluble Triosmium Cluster" J. Organomet. Chem. 691, 1055-60, 2006.
Homogeneous Catalysis
There is a very wide range of reactions in which organometallic compounds can function as effective catalysts. Our primary interest in this area has primarily been in the development of heterobimetallic catalysts, metallocenyl catalysts, as well as cluster catalysts, for effecting cyclisation, bond activation, C-C bond formation and insertion reactions.
Collaborators: M.V. Garland (NUS ChEng); Y. Zhu (ICES); W.Y. Fan, L.Y. Goh, T.S.A. Hor, H.K. Yip (NUS Chem)
Representative publication:
V.S. Sridevi and W.K. Leong and Y. Zhu "Catalytic Reductive Coupling of 9-Bromofluorene" Organometallics 25(1), 283-8, 2006.
Bioorganometallic Chemistry
We have a rapidly growing interest in the use of organometallic compounds, particularly organometallic clusters, in the biological sciences. Two main areas that we have been working on are the development of organometallic pharmaceuticals and organometallic compounds for bioimaging.
Collaborators: G. Jaouen, A. Vessieres, S. Top (ENSCP); R.K. Pomeroy (SFU); M.L. Go (NUSPharm); L.H.K. Lim (NUS Physiology); W.Y. Fan (NUSChem); W. Chew (ICES).
Representative publication:
K.H. Chan, W.K. Leong, G. Jaouen, L. Leclercq, S. Top, A. Vessieres "Organometallic Cluster Analogues of Tamoxifen: Synthesis and Biochemical Assay" J. Organomet. Chem. 691, 9-19, 2006. |
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