Organic sulfur-, selenium-, and tellurium-containing compounds and chalcogen-nitrogen species show exceptional features in their structures, bonding, and reactivity. In recent years they have increasingly been applied in the preparation of novel reagents in organic chemistry as well as in the production of new electronic and catalytic materials. We are carrying out a systematic research program for main group chalcogen compounds that can be divided in five parts:

1. Chalcogen-nitrogen chemistry
2. Organotellurium and –selenium compounds and their ligand chemistry
3. Homo- and heteronuclear chalcogen molecules and ions
4. Precursors for exhaust gas catalysts
5. Polysulfides in oil field industry

The basic goal is to design synthetic strategies to prepare new raw-materials for the production of binary transition metal chalcogenides and chalcogen nitride polymers, as well as to understand the properties of chalcogen-chalcogen bonds.