Harder Research Group
harder-research.bsky.social
Harder Research Group
@harder-research.bsky.social
Organometallic Main Group Metal Chemistry, mainly s- and p-block but nowadays also some d- and f-block. @FAU Erlangen
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Great to see this out! @fabiandankert.bsky.social and I summarise some of our favourite papers in main group chemistry over the last year

gdch.app/article/haup...
Hauptgruppen‐ und Molekülchemie
Im Jahr 2025 waren aller guten Dinge der Hauptgruppenchemie drei: ein dreifach geladenes Triborattrianion, ein Molekül mit linearer Al3-Einheit, das dritte Erdalkalimetall, das Stickstoff bindet, ein ...
gdch.app
February 4, 2026 at 12:32 PM
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@townrowresearch.bsky.social and I summarized some recent developments in molecular main-group chemistry. A fun project with many beautiful new discoveries last year! 👨‍🔬👩‍🔬
The annual "Trendbericht" can i.e. be read here:
gdch.app/article/haup...
Hauptgruppen‐ und Molekülchemie
Im Jahr 2025 waren aller guten Dinge der Hauptgruppenchemie drei: ein dreifach geladenes Triborattrianion, ein Molekül mit linearer Al3-Einheit, das dritte Erdalkalimetall, das Stickstoff bindet, ein ...
gdch.app
February 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
While traditionally used as stoichiometric reagents, #HeavierAlkaliMetalAmides have emerged as versatile #catalysts find out more in this #perspective with #DavidSancehzRoa @pubs.acs.org in collaboration with @remglasgow.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
February 4, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Thx Matt. Yes, ligand choice did the trick. HSAB principle? Mg takes the hard N and Ca the softer Ar.
January 17, 2026 at 6:14 AM
FINALLY a complex of type LMg-CaL! This formally Mg(0)-Ca(II) complex shows a very long Mg-Ca bond with Mg(-)/Ca(+) polarization and is quite reactive! Our first 2026 paper is "In dear memory of Herbert Roesky" shorturl.at/tvi0C
January 16, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Congratulations Rebecca, looking forward to some radically new chemistry!
December 9, 2025 at 12:32 PM
QUESTION TO THE COMMUNITY: Since COVID it is very difficult to get GOOD (STRONG) glovebox gloves. And they are very expensive! Any tips where to get normally priced good gloves? You can also direct-mail me: [email protected] Thanks for your advice!
November 27, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
Happy to see this fun project with @kretschmerlab.bsky.social out.

Two gallium centers in close proximity led to some unexpected outcomes.

Thanks to everyone involved and congrats to the team!
November 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Fantastic! Good news for Bonn and for Florian. I wish you a happy and fruitful future 👍
We are simply fluored that Florian Kraus (Marburg) will be joining us in Bonn! Florian, we look forward to welcoming you and your group in 2026. Life is about to become alot 99Mo-re F-U-N! #UniBonn #Inorganic
November 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
Rapid Intermolecular C–H Activation of Aromatic Substrates at a Cationic, Electrophilic Molybdenum(VI) Nitrido Complex: Mechanistic Nuance in C–H Amination | Journal of the American Chemical Society pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Very pleased this work is out in JACS. Congrats Dr. Almquist!
Rapid Intermolecular C–H Activation of Aromatic Substrates at a Cationic, Electrophilic Molybdenum(VI) Nitrido Complex: Mechanistic Nuance in C–H Amination
When the cationic, octahedral terminal nitrido complex of Mo(VI) supported by a diborate pentadentate ligand is generated in the absence of trapping nucleophiles, it activates the C(sp2)–H bonds of si...
pubs.acs.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
TIRE CHANGE: First Mg(I) complex with a Cp* ligand enables facile ligand exchange. Reaction with RONa gives (BDI)Mg-MgOR and Cp*Na. This paves the way for syntheses of many new asymmetric Mg(I) complexes. @angew_chem onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
October 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Great cooperation with @KretschmerLab.bsky.social who took the lead. Happy to see that old work from my time in Essen is now published! t.co/gvpPNdCk3i
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/dt/d5dt01934f
t.co
October 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM
REDOX-REACTIVITY of Yb and Sm inverse sandwich benzene complexes. An interesting observation is that, depending on substrate, benzene(4-) can reduce Sm(III) to Sm(II). doi.org/10.1002/chem...
October 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
Hey #ChemSky, need a read to start of the week? How about our latest #OpenAccess research article on ”Silicon-Based Azo Compound-Mediated CO Activation and N2 Release“ out now in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1002/anie...
Silicon‐Based Azo Compound‐Mediated CO Activation and N2 Release
A rare silicon(IV)-based azo compound featuring a Si─N═N─Si linkage was synthesized via the direct reaction of an organoazide with a silaiminyl–silylene precursor. This compound undergoes an unusual ...
doi.org
September 29, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
Ending the week on a high! Check out our comparison of manganate and magnesiate now published in ChemComm! Great team effort @bathchem.bsky.social with @tobiaskramer.bsky.social in understanding these elusive bimetallics!
A direct comparison of lithium tetra(n-butyl) manganate(II) and magnesiate: structural insights and catalytic hydroamination of styrenes
Previous studies have hinted at the similarities of Mn(II) and Mg alkyl complexes. Advancing this field, here we present a comparative study of tetra(n-butyl) lithium manganate(II) and magnesiate. Com...
pubs.rsc.org
September 5, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Cesium showing its tricks again! Great stuff 👍
September 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
CAPTURING CHALCOGENIDES: A soluble Mg(0) metal crown complex reduces and captures chalcogenes. Large anions Se(2-) and Te(2-) need ring enlargement. Highlight: a first molecular s-block metal telluride complex with nearly planar pentacoordinated Te(2-). shorturl.at/n4TUm
September 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Thx Rab, I will pass it on to the team
September 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Thx Robert. The beauty of low valent group 2 chemistry!
September 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM
THIS CHALLENGING SYNTHESIS completes the (BDI)Ae-(benzene)-Ae(BDI) series (Ae = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) with Ba. We show trends in stability, structure, bonding and reactivity. Reacting like (BDI)Ba-Ba(BDI) this is the first Ba(I) synthon. shorturl.at/ZdToA @chemicalscience.rsc.org
September 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
P4 REDUCTION generally results in multi-nuclear Zintl anions: P8(2-), P4(2-) or P7(3-). Reaction with a soluble Mg(0) complex gave full reduction to P(3-). Latter anion serves as a triple base, a three-fold nucleophile or 3e-reducing agent. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.10
September 2, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Harder Research Group
Liam Griffin and I have reviewed recent advances in the heterometallic bonding chemistry of the alkaline earth metals @daltontrans.rsc.org. It was fun to put this together, and we hope it's useful!
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Alkaline earth metals: heterometallic bonding
The alkaline earth metals are notorious for their tendency to form ionic compounds of their dications. In recent years, however, chemists have found ways to kinetically skirt around the edges of these...
pubs.rsc.org
August 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Cool👍
August 10, 2025 at 4:05 AM