Synthesis of end‐functionalized polyethers by phosphazene base‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of 1,2‐butylene oxide and glycidyl ether

For the living ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxy monomers, the catalytic activity of organic superbases, tert‐butylimino‐tris(dimethylamino)phosphorane, 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2,4,4,4‐pentakis(dimethylamino)‐2Λ⁵,4Λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene), 2,8,9‐triisobutyl‐2,5,8,9‐tetraaza‐1‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, and 1‐tert‐butyl‐4,4,4‐tris(dimethylamino)‐2,2‐bis[tris(dimethylamino)phosphoranylidenamino]‐2Λ⁵,4Λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene) (t‐Bu‐P₄), was confirmed. Among these superbases, only t‐Bu‐P₄ showed catalytic activity for the ROP of 1,2‐butylene oxide (BO) to afford poly(1,2‐butylene oxide) (PBO) with predicted molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The results of the kinetic, post‐polymerization experiments, and MALDI‐TOF MS measurement revealed that the t‐Bu‐P₄‐catalyzed ROP of BO proceeded in a living manner in which the alcohol acted as the initiator. This alcohol/t‐Bu‐P₄ system was applicable to the glycidol derivatives, such as benzyl glycidyl ether (BnGE) and t‐butyl glycidyl ether, to afford well‐defined protected polyglycidols. The α‐functionalized polyethers could be obtained using different functionalized initiators, such as 4‐vinylbenzyl alcohol, 5‐hexen‐1‐ol, and 6‐azide‐1‐hexanol. In addition, the well‐defined cyclic‐PBO and PBnGE were successfully synthesized using the combination of t‐Bu‐P₄‐catalyzed ROP and click cyclization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Aminophosphanes with bulky amino groups: Molecular structure,coupling constants 1J(31P, 15N) and 2J(31P, 29Si), and isotope‐induced chemical shifts 1Δ14/15N(31P)

The preferred conformation of aminophosphanes with bulky amino groups ( 1–20 ) was determined by NMR spectroscopy in solution, in two cases in the solid state ( 11,17 ) and in one case ( 11 ) by X‐ray crystallography. Trimethylsilylaminodiphenylphosphanes Ph₂PN(R)SiMe₃ (R = Bu ( 1 ), Ph ( 2 ), 2‐pyridyl ( 3 ), 2‐pyrimidyl ( 4 ), Me₃Si ( 5 )), amino(chloro)phenylphosphanes Ph(Cl)PNRR′ (R = Bz, R′ = Me ( 6 ), R = Bz, R′ = ^tBu ( 7 ), R = Et, R′ = Ph ( 8 )), amino(chloro)tert‐butylphosphanes ^tBu(Cl)PNRR′ (R = R′ = ⁱPr ( 9 ), R = Me, R′ = ^tBu ( 10 ), R = Bz, R′ = ^tBu ( 11 ), R = H, R′ = ^tBu ( 12 ), R = Et, R′ = Ph ( 13 ), R = ⁱPr, R′ = Ph ( 14 ), R = Bu, R′ = Ph ( 15 ), R = Bz, R′ = Ph ( 16 ), R = R′ = Ph ( 17 ), R = R′ = Me₃Si ( 18 )), 3‐tert‐butyl‐2‐chloro‐1,3,2‐oxazaphospholane ( 19 ), and benzyl(tert‐butyl)aminodichlorophosphane ( 20 ) were studied by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ²⁹Si, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. In all cases, the more bulky substituent at the nitrogen atom prefers the syn‐position with respect to the assumed orientation of the phosphorus lone pair of electrons. Many of the derivatives studied adopt this preferred conformation even at room temperature. Numerous signs of coupling constants ¹J(³¹P, ¹⁵N), ²J(³¹P, ¹³C), and ²J(³¹P, ²⁹Si) were determined. Low temperature NMR spectra were measured for derivatives for which rotation about the P N bond at room temperature is fast, showing the presence of two rotamers at low temperature. The respective conformation of these rotamers could be assigned by ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Isotope‐induced chemical shifts ¹Δ^15/14N(³¹P) were determined for all compounds at natural abundance of ¹⁵N by using Hahn‐echo extended polarization transfer experiments. The molecular structure of 11 in the solid state reveals pyramidal surroundings of the nitrogen atom and mutual trans‐positions of the tert‐butyl groups at phosphorus and nitrogen. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:667–676, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10084     

Spin Crossover and Valence Tautomerism in Neutral Homoleptic Iron Complexes of Bis(pyridylimino)isoindolines

Homoleptic iron complexes of six bis(pyridylimino)isoindoline (bpi) ligands with different substituents (H, Me, Et, tBu, OMe, NMe₂) at the 4‐positions of the pyridine moieties have been prepared and studied with regard to temperature‐dependent spin and redox states by a combination of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, X‐band EPR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. While the H‐, methyl‐, and ethyl‐substituted complexes remain in a pure high‐spin state irrespective of the temperature, the 4‐tert‐butyl‐substituted derivative shows spin‐crossover behavior. The methoxy‐ and dimethylamino‐substituted compounds were found to easily undergo oxidation. In the crystalline state, valence tautomeric behavior was observed for the methoxy derivative as a thermally activated charge‐transfer transition, accompanied by a spin crossover above 200 K. The valence tautomerism leads to a chelate with one of the bpi ligands as a dianion radical L^2?. and with an effective spin of S=2.     

New Aspects of 1,3‐Diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyls

1,3‐Di(tert‐butyl)‐2,4‐bis[2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)phenyl]‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl was formed from [2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)phenyl]phosphaacetylene and t‐BuLi. In addition, the X‐ray diffraction analysis was carried out, together with theoretical calculations of the structure and NMR data.     

Regiospecific design strategies for 3‐arylpolythiophenes with pendant stable radical groups

Carbon—carbon bond‐forming polymerization of 2‐bromo‐3‐(3′,5′‐di‐t‐butyl‐4′‐methoxyphenyl)‐thiophene yields poly[3‐(3′,5′‐di‐t‐butyl‐4′‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,5‐thienylene] with regiospecific connectivity and a degree of polymerization of about six. Lewis‐acid‐moderated‐cleavage of the methoxy groups on the pendant phenyl group yield the corresponding polyphenolic polymer, which is oxidized under solution conditions to yield the title polyradical. Poly[3‐(3′,5′‐di‐t‐butyl‐4′‐oxyphenyl)‐2,5‐thienylene] exhibits a strong, persistent electron spin resonance spectrum and a UV–visible spectrum consistent with formation of the pendant phenoxyl spin‐bearing units. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 779–788, 1999     

Development of the First P‐Stereogenic PCP Pincer Ligands,Their Metallation by Palladium and Platinum,and Preliminary Catalysis

The potentially tridentate P‐stereogenic [P*CP*] ligands 1,3‐{bis[(tert‐butyl)(phenyl)phosphino]methyl}benzene and 1,3‐{bis[(tert‐butyl)(phenyl) phosphino]methyl}‐2‐bromobenzene have been synthesized as the protected phosphine‐borane adducts. Deprotection with a secondary amine affords the free phosphine ligand which can be metallated by Pd and Pt with standard metal synthons. Two of the resultant [P*CP*] metal complexes have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The complexes exhibit a C₂ symmetric environment about the remaining binding site of the square‐planar center, with t‐Bu groups filling two quadrants of the open site. The Pd complexes can be converted by use of a Ag salt to the analogous aquo complex, which is catalytically active in the aldol condensation of methyl 2‐isocyanoacetate and benzaldehyde. Preliminary results and comparisons with previously reported catalysts with more distal C‐stereogenicity are presented.     

Sterically Less‐Hindered Half‐Titanocene(IV) Phenoxides: Ancillary‐Ligand Effect on Mono‐, Bis‐, and Tris(2‐Alkyl‐/arylphenoxy) Titanium(IV) Chloride Complexes

A series of mono‐, bis‐, and tris(phenoxy)–titanium(IV) chlorides of the type [Cp*Ti(2‐R? PhO)_nCl_3?n] (n=1–3; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) was prepared, in which R=Me, iPr, tBu, and Ph. The formation of each mono‐, bis‐, and tris(2‐alkyl‐/arylphenoxy) series was authenticated by structural studies on representative examples of the phenyl series including [Cp*Ti(2‐Ph? PhO)Cl₂] ( 1 PhCl2 ), [Cp*Ti(2‐Ph? PhO)₂Cl] ( 2 PhCl ), and [Cp*Ti(2‐Ph? PhO)₃] ( 3 Ph ). The metal‐coordination geometry of each compound is best described as pseudotetrahedral with the Cp* ring and the 2‐Ph? PhO and chloride ligands occupying three leg positions in a piano‐stool geometry. The mean Ti? O distances, observed with an increasing number of 2‐Ph? PhO groups, are 1.784(3), 1.802(4), and 1.799(3) Å for 1 PhCl2 , 2 PhCl , and 3 Ph , respectively. All four alkyl/aryl series with Me, iPr, tBu, and Ph substituents were tested for ethylene homopolymerization after activation with Ph₃C⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? and modified methyaluminoxane (7% aluminum in isopar E; mMAO‐7) at 140 °C. The phenyl series showed much higher catalytic activity, which ranged from 43.2 and 65.4 kg (mmol of Ti?h)^?1, than the Me, iPr, and tBu series (19.2 and 36.6 kg (mmol of Ti?h)^?1). Among the phenyl series, the bis(phenoxide) complex of 2 PhCl showed the highest activity of 65.4 kg (mmol of Ti?h)^?1. Therefore, the catalyst precursors of the phenyl series were examined by treating them with a variety of alkylating reagents, such as trimethylaluminum (TMA), triisobutylaluminum (TIBA), and methylaluminoxane (MAO). In all cases, 2 PhCl produced the most catalytically active alkylated species, [Cp*Ti(2‐Ph? PhO)MeCl]. This enhancement was further supported by DFT calculations based on the simplified model with TMA.     

Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of methacrylates containing hole‐ or electron‐transporting groups

The controlled/living radical polymerization of 2‐(N‐carbazolyl)ethyl methacrylate (CzEMA) and 4‐(5‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)phenyl) methacrylate (t‐Bu‐OxaMA) via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization has been studied. Functional polymers with hole‐ or electron‐transfer ability were synthesized with cumyl dithiobenzoate as a chain transfer agent (CTA) and AIBN as an initiator in a benzene solution. Good control of the polymerization was confirmed by the linear increase in the molecular weight (MW) with the conversion. The dependence of MW and polydispersity index (PDI) of the resulting polymers on the molar ratio of monomer to CTA, monomer concentration, and molar ratio of CTA to initiator has also been investigated. The MW and PDI of the resulting polymers were well controlled as being revealed by GPC measurements. The resulting polymers were further characterized by NMR, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The polymers functionalized with carbazole group or 1,3,4‐oxadiazole group exhibited good thermal stability, with an onset decomposition temperature of about 305 and 323 °C, respectively, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 242–252, 2007     

A family of four-coordinate iron(II) complexes bearing the sterically hindered tris(pyrazolyl)borato ligand Tp(tBu,Me)

A new family of 14‐electron, four‐coordinate iron(II) complexes of the general formula [Tp^tBu,MeFeX] (Tp^tBu,Me is the sterically hindered hydrotris(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐pyrazolyl) borate ligand and X=Cl ( 1 ), Br, I) were synthesized by salt metathesis of FeX₂ with Tp^tBu,MeK. The related fluoride complex was prepared by reaction of 1 with AgBF₄. Chloride 1 proved to be a good precursor for ligand substitution reactions, generating a series of four‐coordinate iron(II) complexes with carbon, oxygen, and sulphur ligands. All of these complexes were fully characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods and most were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Magnetic measurements for all complexes agreed with a high‐spin (d⁶, S=2) electronic configuration. The halide series enabled the estimation of the covalent radius of iron in these complexes as 1.24 Å.     

Eight 7‐benzyl‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenylpyrazolo[3,4‐d]oxazines,encompassing structures containing no intermolecular hydrogen bonds,and hydrogen‐bonded structures in one,two or three dimensions

7‐Benzyl‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₂H₂₅N₃O, (I), and 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(4‐methylbenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₃H₂₇N₃O, (II), are isomorphous in the space group P2₁, and molecules are linked into chains by C—H...O hydrogen bonds. In each of 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₃H₂₇N₃O₂, (III), which has cell dimensions rather similar to those of (I) and (II), also in P2₁, and 3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐7‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₃H₂₄F₃N₃O, (IV), there are no direction‐specific interactions between the molecules. In 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(4‐nitrobenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₂H₂₄N₄O₃, (V), a combination of C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds links the molecules into complex sheets. There are no direction‐specific interactions between the molecules of 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(2,3‐dimethoxybenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₄H₂₉N₃O₃, (VI), but a three‐dimensional framework is formed in 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(3,4‐methylenedioxybenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₃H₂₅N₃O₃, (VII), by a combination of C—H...O, C—H...N and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, while a combination of C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds links the molecules of 3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐7‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)‐6,7‐dihydro‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]oxazine, C₂₅H₃₁N₃O₄, (VIII), into complex sheets. In each compound, the oxazine ring adopts a half‐chair conformation, while the orientations of the pendent phenyl and tert‐butyl substituents relative to the pyrazolo[3,4‐d]oxazine unit are all very similar.     

Das erste Oxatetraphospholan, (PBut)4O

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 244. The First Oxatetraphospholane, (PBu^t)₄O Under suitable conditions, the reaction ot tri‐tertbutylcyclotriphosphane, (PBu^t)₃, with di‐tert‐butylperoxide gives rise to a mixture of 2,3,4,5‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2,3,4,5‐oxatetraphospholane, (PBu^t)₄O ( 1 ), and 1,2‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐di‐tert‐butoxidiphosphane, [Bu^t(Bu^tO)P]₂ ( 2 ). Both compounds have been isolated in the pure state. The oxatetraphospholane 1 is a constitutional isomer of 1,2,3,4‐Tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1‐oxocyclotetraphosphane, which has been reported recently [1]. The corresponding reaction of tetra‐tert‐butylcyclotetraphosphane furnishes only small amounts of 1 because of the kinetic stability of (PBu^t)₄. The diphosphane 2 is presumably a secondary product of primarily formed oxocyclotetraphosphanes (PBu^t)₄O_1–4. The NMR parameters of 1 and 2 are reported and discussed.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Some Novel Trialkylsilyl‐substituted Lithium Benzyl Complexes [Li(tmeda)][CHRSiMe2R′] (R = Ph, 3,5‐Me2C6H3; R′ = Me,tBu, Ph)

The reactions of PhCH₂SiMe₃ ( 1 ), PhCH₂SiMe₂^tBu ( 2 ), PhCH₂SiMe₂Ph ( 3 ), 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃CH₂SiMe₃ ( 4 ), and 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃CH₂SiMe₂^tBu ( 5 ) with ⁿBuLi in tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) afford the corresponding lithium complexes [Li(tmeda)][CHRSiMe₂R′] (R, R′ = Ph, Me ( 6 ), Ph, ^tBu ( 7 ), Ph, Ph ( 8 ), 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃, Me ( 9 ), and 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃, ^tBu ( 10 )), respectively. The new compounds 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 and 10 have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, compounds 7 , 8 and 9 also by X‐ray structure analysis.     

Diimido‐, Imido(oxo)‐, Dioxo‐ und Imido(alkyliden)‐Halbsandwich‐Verbindungen über selektive Hydrolyse und α—H‐Abstraktion an Organylkomplexen des sechswertigen Molybdäns und Wolframs

Diimido, Imido Oxo, Dioxo, and Imido Alkylidene Halfsandwich Compounds via Selective Hydrolysis and α—H Abstraction in Molybdenum(VI) and Tungsten(VI) Organyl Complexes Organometal imides [(η⁵‐C₅R₅)M(NR′)₂Ph] (M = Mo, W, R = H, Me, R′ = Mes, tBu) 4 — 8 can be prepared by reaction of halfsandwich complexes [(η⁵‐C₅R₅)M(NR′)₂Cl] with phenyl lithium in good yields. Starting from phenyl complexes 4 — 8 as well as from previously described methyl compounds [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(NtBu)₂Me] (M = Mo, W), reactions with aqueous HCl lead to imido(oxo) methyl and phenyl complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(NtBu)(O)(R)] M = Mo, R = Me ( 9 ), Ph ( 10 ); M = W, R = Ph ( 11 ) and dioxo complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(O)₂(CH₃)] M = Mo ( 12 ), M = W ( 13 ). Hydrolysis of organometal imides with conservation of M‐C σ and π bonds is in fact an attractive synthetic alternative for the synthesis of organometal oxides with respect to known strategies based on the oxidative decarbonylation of low valent alkyl CO and NO complexes. In a similar manner, protolysis of [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)W(NtBu)₂(CH₃)] and [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Mo(NtBu)₂(CH₃)] by HCl gas leads to [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)W(NtBu)Cl₂(CH₃)] 14 und [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Mo(NtBu)Cl₂(CH₃)] 15 with conservation of the M‐C bonds. The inert character of the relatively non‐polar M‐C σ bonds with respect to protolysis offers a strategy for the synthesis of methyl chloro complexes not accessible by partial methylation of [(η⁵‐C₅R₅)M(NR′)Cl₃] with MeLi. As pure substances only trimethyl compounds [(η⁵‐C₅R₅)M(NtBu)(CH₃)₃] 16 ‐ 18 , M = Mo, W, R = H, Me, are isolated. Imido(benzylidene) complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(NtBu)(CHPh)(CH₂Ph)] M = Mo ( 19 ), W ( 20 ) are generated by alkylation of [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(NtBu)Cl₃] with PhCH₂MgCl via α‐H abstraction. Based on nmr data a trend of decreasing donor capability of the ligands [NtBu]^2— > [O]^2— > [CHR]^2— ? 2 [CH₃]^— > 2 [Cl]^— emerges.     

Synthese,Struktur, Elektrochemie und optische Eigenschaften von alkinylfunktionalisierten 1,3,2‐Diazaborolen und 1,3,2‐Diazaborolidinen

Syntheses, Structures, Electrochemistry and Optical Properties of Alkyne‐Functionalized 1,3,2‐Diazaboroles and 1,3,2‐Diazaborolidenes The reaction of 2‐bromo‐1,3‐ditert‐butyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborole ( 3 ) with lithiated tert‐butyl‐acetylene and lithiated phenylacetylene affords the 2‐alkynyl‐functionalized 1,3,2‐diazaboroles 4 and 5 as a thermolabile colorless oil ( 4 ) or a solid ( 5 ). Similarly 2‐bromo‐1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborole ( 6 ) was converted into the crystalline 2‐alkynyl‐benzo‐1,3,2‐diazaboroles 7 and 8 by treatment with LiC≡C–tBu or LiC≡CPh, respectively. 2‐Ethynyl‐1,3‐ditert‐butyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborole ( 2 ) was metalated with tert‐butyl‐lithium and subsequently coupled with 2‐bromo‐1,3,‐ditert‐butyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborole ( 3 ) to afford bis(1,3‐ditert‐butyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborol‐2‐yl)acetylene ( 9 ) as thermolabile colorless crystals. Analogously coupling of the lithiated species with 6 or with 2‐bromo‐1,3‐ditert‐butyl‐1,3,2‐diazaborolidine ( 11 ) gave the unsymmetrically substituted acetylenes 10 or 12 , respectively, as colorless solids. Compounds 4 , 5 , 7 – 10 and 12 are characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopy (IR, ¹H‐, ¹¹B{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, MS). The molecular structures of 5 , 8 and 9 were elucidated by X‐ray diffraction analyses.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of New Zirconium(IV) Bent Metallocenes comprising η8‐Cyclooctatetraenyl and Bulky Cyclopentadienyl Ligands

The new zirconium bent metallocenes (COT)Zr(Cp^tBu2)Cl ( 1 ) and (COT)Zr(Cp′′)Cl ( 2 ) were synthesized in a straightforward manner and in high yields ( 1 : 91 %, 2 : 86 %) by treatment of in situ‐prepared (COT)ZrCl₂(THF) with 1 equiv. of K(Cp^tBu2) or K(Cp′′), respectively (COT = η⁸‐cyclooctatetraenyl; Cp^tBu2 = η⁵‐1,3‐di‐tert‐butylcyclopentadienyl; Cp′′ = η⁵‐1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl). Subsequent reaction of 1 with 1 equiv. of phenyllithium afforded the σ‐phenyl derivative (Cp^tBu2)Zr(COT)Ph ( 3 ) as orange crystals in 83 % isolated yield. All three new compounds were structurally characterized through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Aluminum/Nitrogen Cycles and an Open Cage with Al–H and N–H Functions

The cyclic tert‐butyl‐amino alane dimer [tBu–N(H)AlH₂]₂ ( 1 ) was obtained from reaction between alane with tert‐butylamine and its boranate derivative [tBu–N(H)–Al(BH₄)₂)]₂ ( 2 ) subsequently from 1 by hydride/chloride exchange using PbCl₂ followed by reaction with LiBH₄. Both compounds form four‐membered Al₂N₂ cycles with typical Al–N bond lengths of 1.940(5) Å ( 1 ) and 1.945(5) Å ( 2 ) as found from X‐ray diffraction analysis. The tert‐butyl substituents at the nitrogen atoms may be situated at the same side of the ring (cis) or at opposite sides (trans). For compound 1 both isomers are present in solution, showing particular temperature dependent NMR shifts. In the solid both compounds 1 and 2 adopt the trans arrangement. When 1 is reacted with PbCl₂ in half of the molarity ratio used for 2 , surprisingly the novel compound 3 , a zwitterion, can be obtained: [(tBu–N)(Al–H)₃(tBu–N(H))₃Cl((H)N–tBu)₃(Al–H)₂(Al–Cl)(N–tBu)]⁺[(tBu–N)(tBu–N(H))(AlCl₂)₂]^–. X‐ray structure analysis reveals that the anion is made of a tert‐butyl amino aluminum dichloride dimer (central Al₂N₂ ring) with one of the two nitrogen atoms being deprotonated. The cationic counterpart consists of three entities: (i) There is a first seco‐norcubane like Al₃N₄ basket with tert‐butyl groups at the nitrogen atoms, two hydride and one chloride ligand at the aluminum atoms and three hydrogen atoms on the open side of the basket, all pointing in the same direction; (ii) There is a second similar Al₃N₄ basket with the same substituent pattern except that all aluminum atoms have exclusively hydrogen ligands; (iii) Both baskets coordinate a central chloride through the six protons at the open nitrogen face of the baskets in such a way that the chloride lies in the center of a H₆ trigonal anti‐prism [mean H–Cl–H = 56.1(9)°]. As each of the open cages has a positive charge the overall charge by combination with the chloride adds to +1. The structure of the cationic part of 3 is unprecedented in AlN polycycles.     

Spin Trapping of Radical Intermediates Generated by the Oxidation of Substituted 4‐Methylphenols

A series of substituted 4‐methylphenols 1 and 2 was oxidized with PbO₂ in the presence of nitroso compounds 3 – 10 . The formation of adducts of benzyl radicals with the nitroso spin traps in the reaction mixture was established, suggesting the abstraction of an H‐atom from the methyl substituent of 1 or 2 . In the consecutive steps, the adducts underwent a further rearrangement to the corresponding nitrones. When the starting phenol contained bulky ^tBu groups in ortho‐position (see 2,6‐di(tert‐butyl)‐4‐methylphenol ( 1a )), the stable 2,6‐di(tert‐butyl)‐4R‐phenoxy radicals (R=? CH?N⁺(O^?)? X) were detected as the final radical products. The indirect evidence of nitrones in the reaction mixture was performed in one case by the reaction with a RO radicals.     

Tuning Coordination in s‐Block Carbazol‐9‐yl Complexes

1,3,6,8‐Tetra‐tert‐butylcarbazol‐9‐yl and 1,8‐diaryl‐3,6‐di(tert‐butyl)carbazol‐9‐yl ligands have been utilized in the synthesis of potassium and magnesium complexes. The potassium complexes (1,3,6,8‐tBu₄carb)K(THF)₄ ( 1 ; carb=C₁₂H₄N), [(1,8‐Xyl₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carb)K(THF)]₂ ( 2 ; Xyl=3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃) and (1,8‐Mes₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carb)K(THF)₂ ( 3 ; Mes=2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂) were reacted with MgI₂ to give the Hauser bases 1,3,6,8‐tBu₄carbMgI(THF)₂ ( 4 ) and 1,8‐Ar₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carbMgI(THF) (Ar=Xyl 5 , Ar=Mes 6 ). Structural investigations of the potassium and magnesium derivatives highlight significant differences in the coordination motifs, which depend on the nature of the 1‐ and 8‐substituents: 1,8‐di(tert‐butyl)‐substituted ligands gave π‐type compounds ( 1 and 4 ), in which the carbazolyl ligand acts as a multi‐hapto donor, with the metal cations positioned below the coordination plane in a half‐sandwich conformation, whereas the use of 1,8‐diaryl substituted ligands gave σ‐type complexes ( 2 and 6 ). Space‐filling diagrams and percent buried volume calculations indicated that aryl‐substituted carbazolyl ligands offer a steric cleft better suited to stabilization of low‐coordinate magnesium complexes.     

α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization catalysed by novel ansa‐group IV complexes/MAO system

The catalytic properties of a set of ansa‐complexes (R‐Ph)₂C(Cp)(Ind)MCl₂ [R = ^tBu, M = Ti ( 3 ), Zr ( 4 ) or Hf ( 5 ); R = MeO, M = Zr ( 6 ), Hf ( 7 )] in α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization were explored in the presence of MAO (methylaluminoxane). Complex 4 with steric bulk ^tBu group on phenyl exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. It was 1.6‐fold more active than complex 11 [Ph₂C(Cp)(Ind)ZrCl₂] at 11 atm ethylene pressure and was 4.8‐fold more active at 1 atm pressure. The introduction of bulk substituent ^tBu into phenyl groups not only increased the catalytic activity greatly but also enhanced the content of 1‐hexene in ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The highest 1‐hexene incorporation was 25.4%. In addition, 4 was also active for propylene and 1‐hexene homopolymerization, respectively, and low isotactic polypropylene (mmmm = 11.3%) and isotactic polyhexene (mmmm = 31.6%) were obtained. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seven 5‐benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles: unexpected isomorphisms,and hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular structures in zero,one and two dimensions

5‐Benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₃N₃, (I), and its 5‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]‐, C₂₁H₂₂F₃N₃, (III), and 5‐(4‐bromobenzyl)‐, C₂₀H₂₂BrN₃, (V), analogues, are isomorphous in the space group C2/c, but not strictly isostructural; molecules of (I) form hydrogen‐bonded chains, while those of (III) and (V) form hydrogen‐bonded sheets, albeit with slightly different architectures. Molecules of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₁H₂₅N₃, (II), are linked into hydrogen‐bonded dimers by a combination of N—H...π(arene) and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, while those of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐chlorobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂ClN₃, (IV), form hydrogen‐bonded chains of rings which are themselves linked into sheets by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. Simple hydrogen‐bonded chains built from a single N—H...O hydrogen bond are formed in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐nitrobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂N₄O₂, (VI), while in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₃H₂₉N₃O₃, (VII), which crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in the space group P, pairs of molecules are linked into two independent centrosymmetric dimers, one generated by a three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond and the other by a two‐centre N—H...O hydrogen bond.