Coburger Research group

We focus on the coordination chemistry of unusual cyclic phosphorus-centered biradicaloids. Despite their exotic nature, these biradicaloids have some very appealing properties for the development of functional and cooperative ligands such as their strong binding to metal centers, their redox non-innocent behavior and the presence of Lewis-basic sites.

Our goal is to use these properties to develop more sustainable approaches in homogeneous catalysis, specifically by using biradicaloid ligands to enable first-row transition metals and main-group metals to mimic the behavior of noble metals in olefin functionalization.

Shown on the right below are two typical biradicaloids and representative complexes thereof which are used in our group:

Chemical laboratories have a significant carbon footprint. To tackle the climate crisis effectively, it is essential to conduct relevant research activities while ensuring they are carried out sustainably. By implementing sustainable practices, scientists can set an example and inspire positive change within the wider community. For more information, you can find an article detailing the principles of sustainable laboratory practices here.

In our own laboratoy, we try to implement as much of these concepts as possible. In particular, we aim to:

• reduce plastic waste by avoiding single-use utensils or reusing them as much as possible
• reduce halogenated solvent waste by recycling of e.g. fluorobenzene and 1,2-difluorobenzene
• use of green(er) solvent alternatives, e.g. 2-methyltetrahydrofuran instead of THF

In the future, we also aim to use more ressource-friendly benchtop analytical devices (NMR, EPR etc.) for routine measurements.

2024:

[04] Redox-induced Dimerisations of a phosphacyclic Biradicaloid

D. Zuber, O. Storcheva, K. P. Lüdtke, L. Brunk, P. Coburger*, Chem. Commun. 2025, DOI: 10.1039/D4CC05656F.

[03] On the role of aurophilic interactions in determining geometries in [Pn(AuL)4]+ complexes (Pn = N, P, As)

P. Coburger,* T. Hadlington,* ZAAC 2024, e202400198 (dedicated to H. Schmidbaur on the occasion of his 90^th birthday).

2023:

[02] Phosphonium-substituted Diphosphaindenylide (PPI): Exploration of Biradical Character and Ligand Properties

P. Coburger,* D. Zuber, C. Schweinzer, M.Scharnhölz, Chem. Eur. J. 2023, e202302970.

[01] Redox-chemistry of Pyramidanes: A DFT Study

P. Coburger,* Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2023, e202300596 (part of the collection “Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms”).

Academic career 

Peter received his Master's degree from the University of Leipzig in 2015. He then conducted his PhD research with Prof. Evamarie Hey-Hawkins (2015 - 2019, University of Leipzig). The research focussed on utilizing carborane-substituted diphosphetanes as synthons for new phosphorus-based ligands. The PhD project was followed by a postdoctoral research project with Prof. Robert Wolf (2019 - 2020, University of Regensburg). This focussed on the computational exploration of unusual phosphorus ligands and their metal complexes. Then, following his passion for exotic phosphorus compounds, Peter relocated to the ETH Zurich to work as a postdoctoral research fellow in the group of Prof. Hansjörg Grützmacher (2020 - 2022). Here, he developed the coordination chemistry and redox chemistry of biradicaloid ligands. At the beginning of 2023, he started his independent research career at the TU Munich, initially supported by a Liebig Fellowship of the FCI and from 2024 onwards funded by the Emmy-Noether programme of the DFG.

Awards

• 2024: Emmy-Noether Fellowship of the DFG
• 2023: Liebig fellowship of the FCI
• 2020: Research fellowship (Postdoc) of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
• 2020: BuildMoNa Award (3rd place) for “Outstanding Scientific Results”
• 2016: PhD fellowship of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
• 2014: Fellowship of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (chemistry studies)

Key Publications 

• P. Coburger, D. Zuber, C. Schweinzer, M.Scharnhölz, Phosphonium-substituted Diphosphaindenylide (PPI): Exploration of Biradical Character and Ligand Properties, Chem. Eur. J. 2023, e202302970.  
• P. Coburger, F. Masero, J. Boesken, V. Mougel, H. Grützmacher, A Germapyramidane Switches Between 3D Cluster and 2D Cyclic Structures in Single-Electron Steps, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202211749.
• M. T. Scharnhölz, P. Coburger, L. Gravogl, D. Klose, J. J. Gamboa-Carballo, G. Le Corre, J. Bösken, C. Schweinzer, D. Thöny, K. Meyer, Z. Li, H. Grützmacher, Bis(imidazolium)-1,3-diphosphete-diide: A Building Block for FeC2P2 Complexes and Clusters, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202205371.
• P. Coburger, J. Leitl, D. Scott, G. Hierlmeier, I. Shenderovich, E. Hey-Hawkins, R. Wolf, Synthesis of a Carborane-substituted Bis(phosphanido) Cobaltate(I), Ligand Substitution, and Unusual P4 Fragmentation, Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 11225-11235.
• P. Coburger, S. Demeshko, C. Rödl, E. Hey-Hawkins, R. Wolf, Oxidative P−P Bond Addition to Cobalt(−I): Formation of a Low‐Spin Cobalt(III) Phosphanido Complex, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 15871–15875.