ansa-Metallocene (R-Ph)2C(Cp)(Ind)MCl2 with electron withdrawing substituents on phenyl groups for olefin polymerization

The new ansa-complexes (R-Ph)₂C(Cp)(Ind)MCl₂ (R = CF₃, F, Cl; M = Ti, Zr or Hf) were synthesized from the reaction of dilithium salt of the corresponding ligands with appropriate group 4 metal halides. They were tested for ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) at various ethylene pressures and temperatures. In the case of zirconocenes, complexes 2 (R = CF₃) and 8 (R = Cl) demonstrated much higher catalytic activity than complexes 10 (Ph₂C(Cp)(Ind)ZrCl₂) and 5 (R = F) in ethylene polymerization. The same trend was observed in titanocenes and hafnocenes. The electronic and geometric effects of substituents at the phenyl group on the polymerization activity were easily noticed. For the ethylene/1-hexene or 1-octene copolymerization, 2 also showed the highest catalytic activity, and the copolymers from complex 8 possessed the highest 1-hexene and 1-octene contents.     

A sterically expanded "constrained geometry catalyst" for highly active olefin polymerization and copolymerization: an unyielding comonomer effect

The 14 A octamethyloctahydrodibenzofluorene moiety has been incorporated into a sterically expanded constrained geometry catalyst, Me2Si(eta1-C29H36)(eta1-N-tBu)ZrCl2.OEt2 (1). The solid-state structure suggests that the activated olefin polymerization catalyst is quite spatially accessible, rationalizing its extraordinary reactivity toward alpha-olefins. 1/MAO (MAO = methylaluminoxane) can be more reactive toward alpha-olefins than toward ethylene and exhibit activities that are linearly and continuously proportional to 4-methyl-1-pentene or 1-octene concentration in their copolymerizations with ethylene.     

2-(1-(Arylimino)propyl)quinolin-8-olate half-titanocene dichlorides: synthesis, characterization and ethylene (co-)polymerization behaviour

A series of 2-(1-(arylimino)propyl)quinolin-8-olate half-titanocene dichlorides, Cp'TiCl(2)L (Cp' = η(5)-C(5)H(5) or η(5)-C(5)Me(5), L = 2-(1-(2,6-R(1)-4-R(2)-phenylimino)propyl)quinolin-8-olate), was synthesized via the stoichiometric reaction of Cp'TiCl(3) with the corresponding potassium 2-(1-(2,6-R(1)-4-R(2)-phenylimino)propyl)quinolin-8-olate salt. All titanium compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopy; the molecular structures of two representative compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. On activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), all half-titanocene compounds showed high activity in ethylene polymerization, and furthermore, performed with good to high activities in the co-polymerization of ethylene with either 1-hexene or 1-octene affording polyethylenes with high co-monomer incorporation. Less bulky ortho-substituents (R(1)) on the phenylimino groups were found to enhance the catalytic activities of their titanium compounds. In general, the titanium pro-catalysts containing η(5)-C(5)Me(5) (C7-C12) exhibited higher activities than did their analogues bearing η(5)-C(5)H(5) (C1-C6). Some of the resultant polyolefins were ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.     

Evaluation of the dimethylsilyl-bis(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) ligand with group 4 triad metals in propene polymerizations with methylaluminoxane

Dimethylsilyl-bis(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl)MCl₂ (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) complexes in combination with methylaluminoxanes produce isotactic polypropene. The Ti catalysts produce isotactic polypropene which is more stereoregular than that obtained with traditional, heterogeneous catalysts. Zr produces low molecular weight, weakly isotactic waxes at phenomenal rates greater than 32 · 10⁶ gPP/[(mol catalyst) · h · (mol/l monomer)]. Hf produces long, softer isotactic chains with good activities.     

Syntheses and structures of the infinite chain compounds Cs(4)Ti(3)Se(13), Rb(4)Ti(3)S(14), Cs(4)Ti(3)S(14), Rb(4)Hf(3)S(14), Rb(4)Zr(3)Se(14), Cs(4)Zr(3)Se(14), and Cs(4)Hf(3)Se(14)

The alkali metal/group 4 metal/polychalcogenides Cs(4)Ti(3)Se(13), Rb(4)Ti(3)S(14), Cs(4)Ti(3)S(14), Rb(4)Hf(3)S(14), Rb(4)Zr(3)Se(14), Cs(4)Zr(3)Se(14), and Cs(4)Hf(3)Se(14) have been synthesized by means of the reactive flux method at 823 or 873 K. Cs(4)Ti(3)Se(13) crystallizes in a new structure type in space group C(2)(2)-P2(1) with eight formula units in a monoclinic cell at T = 153 K of dimensions a = 10.2524(6) A, b = 32.468(2) A, c = 14.6747(8) A, beta = 100.008(1) degrees. Cs(4)Ti(3)Se(13) is composed of four independent one-dimensional [Ti(3)Se(13)(4-)] chains separated by Cs(+) cations. These chains adopt hexagonal closest packing along the [100] direction. The [Ti(3)Se(13)(4-)] chains are built from the face- and edge-sharing of pentagonal pyramids and pentagonal bipyramids. Formal oxidation states cannot be assigned in Cs(4)Ti(3)Se(13). The compounds Rb(4)Ti(3)S(14), Cs(4)Ti(3)S(14), Rb(4)Hf(3)S(14), Rb(4)Zr(3)Se(14), Cs(4)Zr(3)Se(14), and Cs(4)Hf(3)Se(14) crystallize in the K(4)Ti(3)S(14) structure type with four formula units in space group C(2)(h)()(6)-C2/c of the monoclinic system at T = 153 K in cells of dimensions a = 21.085(1) A, b = 8.1169(5) A, c = 13.1992(8) A, beta = 112.835(1) degrees for Rb(4)Ti(3)S(14);a = 21.329(3) A, b = 8.415(1) A, c = 13.678(2) A, beta = 113.801(2) degrees for Cs(4)Ti(3)S(14); a = 21.643(2) A, b = 8.1848(8) A, c = 13.331(1) A, beta = 111.762(2) degrees for Rb(4)Hf(3)S(14); a = 22.605(7) A, b = 8.552(3) A, c = 13.880(4) A, beta = 110.919(9) degrees for Rb(4)Zr(3)Se(14); a = 22.826(5) A, b = 8.841(2) A, c = 14.278(3) A, beta = 111.456(4) degrees for Cs(4)Zr(3)Se(14); and a = 22.758(5) A, b = 8.844(2) A, c = 14.276(3) A, beta = 111.88(3) degrees for Cs(4)Hf(3)Se(14). These A(4)M(3)Q(14) compounds (A = alkali metal; M = group 4 metal; Q = chalcogen) contain hexagonally closest-packed [M(3)Q(14)(4-)] chains that run in the [101] direction and are separated by A(+) cations. Each [M(3)Q(14)(4-)] chain is built from a [M(3)Q(14)] unit that consists of two MQ(7) pentagonal bipyramids or one distorted MQ(8) bicapped octahedron bonded together by edge- or face-sharing. Each [M(3)Q(14)] unit contains six Q(2)(2-) dimers, with Q-Q distances in the normal single-bond range 2.0616(9)-2.095(2) A for S-S and 2.367(1)-2.391(2) A for Se-Se. The A(4)M(3)Q(14) compounds can be formulated as (A(+))(4)(M(4+))(3)(Q(2)(2-))(6)(Q(2-))(2).     

Homo-polymerization of alpha-olefins and co-polymerization of higher alpha-olefins with ethylene in the presence of CpTiCl2(OC6H4X-p)/MAO catalysts (X = CH3, Cl)

Cyclopentadienyl-titanium complexes containing -OC6H4X ligands (X = Cl,CH3) activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were used in the homo-polymerization of ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-butene, and 1-hexene, and also in co-polymerization of ethylene with the alpha-olefins mentioned. The -X substituents exhibit different electron donor-acceptor properties, which is described by Hammett's factor (sigma).The chlorine atom is electron acceptor, while the methyl group is electron donor. These catalysts allow the preparation of polyethylene in a good yield. Propylene in the presence of the catalysts mentioned dimerizes and oligomerizes to trimers and tetramers at 25 degrees C under normal pressure. If the propylene pressure was increased to 7 atmospheres,CpTiCl2(OC6H4CH3)/MAO catalyst at 25 degrees gave mixtures with different contents of propylene dimers, trimers and tetramers. At 70 degrees C we obtained only propylene trimer.Using the catalysts with a -OC(6)H(4)Cl ligand we obtained atactic polymers with M(w) 182,000 g/mol (at 25 degrees C) and 100,000 g/mol (at 70 degrees C). The superior activity of the CpTiCl2(OC6H4Cl)/MAO catalyst used in polymerization of propylene prompted us to check its activity in polymerization of higher alpha-olefins (1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene)and in co-polymerization of these olefins with ethylene. However, when homo-polymerization was carried out in the presence of this catalyst no polymers were obtained. Gas chromatography analysis revealed the presence of dimers. The activity of the CpTiCl2(OC6H4Cl)/MAO catalyst in the co-polymerization of ethylene with higher alpha-olefins is limited by the length of the co-monomer carbon chain. Hence, the highest catalyst activities were observed in co-polymerization of ethylene with propylene (here a lower pressure of the reagents and shorter reaction time were applied to obtain catalytic activity similar to that for other co-monomers). For other co-monomers the activity of the catalyst decreases as follows: propylene >1-butene > 1-pentene > 1-hexene. In the case of co-polymerization of ethylene with propylene, besides an increase in catalytic activity, an increase in the average molecular weight M(w) of the polymer was observed. Other co- monomers used in this study caused a decrease of molecular weight. A significant increase in molecular weight distribution (M(w)/M(n)) evidences a great variety of polymer chains formed during the reaction.     

Observation of different catalytic activity of various 1-olefins during ethylene/1-olefin copolymerization with homogeneous metallocene catalysts

This research aimed to investigate the copolymerization of ethylene and various 1-olefins. The comonomer lengths were varied from 1-hexene (1-C?) up to 1-octadecene (1-C??) in order to study the effect of comonomer chain length on the activity and properties of the polymer in the metallocene/MAO catalyst system. The results indicated that two distinct cases can be described for the effect of 1-olefin chain length on the activity. Considering the short chain length comonomers, such as 1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene, it is obvious that the polymerization activity decreased when the length of comonomer was higher, which is probably due to increased steric hindrance at the catalytic center hindering the insertion of ethylene monomer to the active sites, hence, the polymerization rate decreased. On the contrary, for the longer chain 1-olefins, namely 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene and 1-octadecene, an increase in the comonomer chain length resulted in better activity due to the opening of the gap aperture between C(p)(centroid)-M-C(p)-(centroid), which forced the coordination site to open more. This effect facilitated the polymerization of the ethylene monomer at the catalytic sites, and thus, the activity increased. The copolymers obtained were further characterized using thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and 13C-NMR techniques. It could be seen that the melting temperature and comonomer distribution were not affected by the 1-olefin chain length. The polymer crystallinity decreased slightly with increasing comonomer chain length. Moreover, all the synthesized polymers were typical LLDPE having random comonomer distribution.     

Synthesis and structures of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts: effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes on the catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization

A series of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene complexes, [(CH(2))(n)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti, n = 4 (4), 5 (5), 6 (6); M = Zr, n = 4 (7), 5 (8), 6 (9); M = Hf, n = 4 (10), 5 (11), 6 (12)), have been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization after activation with methyl aluminoxane (MAO). The cycloalkylidene-bridged titanocene catalysts exhibit much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene and hafnocene analogues, and have the highest activities at higher temperatures. In comparison, the silacyclopentylidene-bridged metallocene complexes [(CH(2))(4)Si(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (13), Zr (14)) and isopropylene-bridged metallocene complexes [Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (15), Zr (16)) have also been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization. In both cases, the titanocene complexes show much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene analogues, especially at a lower temperature. The molecular structures of complexes 4-9 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure-activity relationships, especially the effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes, are discussed.     

A three-dimensional extended Sb network in the metallic antimonides (M',Ti)5Sb8 (M' = Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo)

(M',Ti)5Sb8 was prepared from the melt by arc-melting suitable mixtures of Ti, TiSb2, and M'Sb2, respectively. This phase exists at least with M' = Zr, Hf, Nb, and Mo. A significant phase range for Zr delta Ti5 - delta Sb8 was found to be within 1.10(8) < or = delta < or = 3.9(3). All (M',Ti)5Sb8 representatives investigated occur in the same, yet hitherto unknown structure type, as determined by single-crystal analyses. E.g., the lattice dimensions of Zr delta Ti5 - delta Sb8 range from a = 654.49(3) pm, c = 2662.4(2) pm for delta = 1.10(8) to a = 671.06(6), c = 2679.7(4) pm for delta = 3.9(3) (space group I4(1)22, No. 98, Z = 4). The three chemically inequivalent metal sites are statistically occupied by different mixtures of the M atoms M' and Ti, included in a three-dimensional network of Sb atoms on 6- to 8-fold Sb coordinated positions. Sb-Sb bonds of intermediate lengths occur in addition to the predominating heteronuclear M-Sb bonds. Physical property measurements of (Zr,Ti)5Sb8 reveal these phases being metallic exhibiting specific resistances of several m omega.cm and a small Seebeck coefficient at room temperature, in agreement with the results of the electronic structure calculations on the LMTO and extended Hückel levels. The calculations indicate a possible change to semiconducting properties by heavy doping.     

A fully integrated high-throughput screening methodology for the discovery of new polyolefin catalysts: discovery of a new class of high temperature single-site group (IV) copolymerization catalysts

For the first time, new catalysts for olefin polymerization have been discovered through the application of fully integrated high-throughput primary and secondary screening techniques supported by rapid polymer characterization methods. Microscale 1-octene primary screening polymerization experiments combining arrays of ligands with reactive metal complexes M(CH(2)Ph)(4) (M = Zr, Hf) and multiple activation conditions represent a new high-throughput technique for discovering novel group (IV) polymerization catalysts. The primary screening methods described here have been validated using a commercially relevant polyolefin catalyst, and implemented rapidly to discover the new amide-ether based hafnium catalyst [eta(2)-(N,O)[bond](2-MeO[bond]C(6)H(4))(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))N]Hf(CH(2)Ph)(3) (1), which is capable of polymerizing 1-octene to high conversion. The molecular structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Larger scale secondary screening experiments performed on a focused 96-member amine-ether library demonstrated the versatile high temperature ethylene-1-octene copolymerization capabilities of this catalyst class, and led to significant performance improvements over the initial primary screening discovery. Conventional one gallon batch reactor copolymerizations performed using selected amide-ether hafnium compounds confirmed the performance features of this new catalyst class, serving to fully validate the experimental results from the high-throughput approaches described herein.     

Ethylene tetramerization: a new route to produce 1-octene in exceptionally high selectivities

Linear alpha-olefins, such as 1-hexene and 1-octene, are important comonomers in the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The conventional method of producing 1-hexene and 1-octene is by oligomerization of ethylene, which yields a wide spectrum of linear alpha-olefins (LAOs). While there exists several processes for producing 1-hexene via ethylene trimerization, a similar route for the selective production of 1-octene has so far been elusive. We now, for the first time, report an unprecedented ethylene tetramerization reaction that produces 1-octene in selectivities exceeding 70%, using an aluminoxane-activated chromium/((R2)2P)2NR1 catalyst system.     

Synergistic Effects of the ZnCl2-SiCl4 Modified TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF Catalytic System on Ethylene/1-Hexene and Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymerizations简

The copolymerizations of ethylene with 1-hexene or 1-octene by using TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF catalysts modified with different metal halide additives(ZnCl2, SiCl4, and the combined ZnCl2-SiCl4) were investigated based on catalytic activity and copolymer properties. It was found that the catalyst modified with mixed ZnCl2-SiCl4 revealed the highest activities for both ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymerization. The increase in activities was due to the formation of acidic sites by modifying the catalysts with Lewis acids. Based on the FTIR measurements, the characteristic C―O―C peaks of the catalysts modified with metal halide additives were slightly shifted to lower wavenumber when compared to the unmodified catalyst. This showed that the modified catalysts could generate more acid sites in the TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF catalytic system leading to an increase in activities as well as comonomer insertion(as proven by13C-NMR). However, Lewis acidmodifications did not affect the microstructure of the copolymers obtained. By comparison on the properties of copolymers prepared with the unmodified catalyst, it was found that polymers with ZnCl2 and/or SiCl4 modification exhibited a slight decrease in melting temperature, crystallinity and density. It is suggested that these results were obtained based on the different amount of α-olefins insertion, regardless of the types of Lewis acids and comonomer.     

Bis(carbene)pyridine complexes of Cr(III): exceptionally active catalysts for the oligomerization of ethylene

Pincer-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Cr(III), of the form [2,6-(1-alkylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine]CrCl3, have been prepared and evaluated as catalysts for the oligomerization of ethylene to alpha-olefins. In combination with methylaluminoxane cocatalyst, exceptionally high activities are obtained, ranging up to ca. 40 000 g mmol-1 bar-1 h-1.     

Effects of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization and oligomerization with magnesium chloride‐supported bis(imino)pyridyl iron catalysts

The effects of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization and oligomerization with different bis(imino)pyridyl iron(II) complexes immobilized on supports of type MgCl₂/AlEt_n(OEt)_3–n have been investigated. Hydrogen has a significant activating effect on polymerization catalysts containing relatively bulky bis(imino)pyridyl ligands, but this is not the case in ethylene oligomerization with a catalyst containing relatively little steric bulk in the ligand. It was found that the presence of hydrogen in the latter system led to decreased activity and an overall increase rather than a decrease in product molecular weight, indicating deactivation of active species producing low molecular weight polymer and oligomer. Decreased formation of vinyl‐terminated oligomers in the presence of hydrogen can therefore contribute to the activating effect of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization with immobilized iron catalysts, if it is assumed that hydrogen activation is related to chain transfer after a 2,1‐insertion of a vinyl‐terminated oligomer into the growing polymer chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4054–4061, 2007     

Bimetallic effects in homopolymerization of styrene and copolymerization of ethylene and styrenic comonomers: scope, kinetics, and mechanism

This contribution describes the homopolymerization of styrene and the copolymerization of ethylene and styrenic comonomers mediated by the single-site bimetallic "constrained geometry catalysts" (CGCs), (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](TiMe2)}2 [EBICGC(TiMe2)2; Ti2], (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](ZrMe2)}2 [EBICGC(ZrMe2)2; Zr2], (mu-CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](TiMe2)}2 [MBICGC(TiMe2)2; C1-Ti2], and (mu-CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](ZrMe2)}2 [MBICGC(ZrMe2)2; C1-Zr2], in combination with the borate activator/cocatalyst Ph3C+ B(C6F5)4- (B1). Under identical styrene homopolymerization conditions, C1-Ti2 + B1 and Ti2 + B1 exhibit approximately 65 and approximately 35 times greater polymerization activities, respectively, than does monometallic [1-Me2Si(3-ethylindenyl)(tBuN)]TiMe2 (Ti1) + B1. C1-Zr2 + B1 and Zr2 + B1 exhibit approximately 8 and approximately 4 times greater polymerization activities, respectively, than does the monometallic control [1-Me2Si(3-ethylindenyl)(tBuN)]ZrMe2 (Zr1) + B1. NMR analyses show that the bimetallic catalysts suppress the regiochemical insertion selectivity exhibited by the monometallic analogues. In ethylene copolymerization, Ti2 + B1 enchains 15.4% more styrene (B), 28.9% more 4-methylstyrene (C), 45.4% more 4-fluorostyrene (D), 41.2% more 4-chlorostyrene (E), and 31.0% more 4-bromostyrene (F) than does Ti1 + B1. This observed bimetallic chemoselectivity effect follows the same general trend as the pi-electron density on the styrenic ipso carbon (D > E > F > C > B). Kinetic studies reveal that both Ti2 + B1 and Ti1 + B1-mediated ethylene-styrene copolymerizations follow second-order Markovian statistics and tend to be alternating. Moreover, calculated reactivity ratios indicate that Ti2 + B1 favors styrene insertion more than does Ti1 + B1. All the organozirconium complexes (C1-Zr2, Zr2, and Zr1) are found to be incompetent for ethylene-styrene copolymerization, yielding only mixtures of polyethylene and polystyrene. Model compound (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)][Ti(CH2Ph)2]}2 {EBICGC[Ti(CH2Ph)2]2; Ti2(CH2Ph)4} was designed, synthesized, and structurally characterized. In situ activation studies with cocatalyst B(C6F5)3 suggest an eta(1)-coordination mode for the benzyl groups, thus supporting the proposed polymerization mechanism. For ethylene-styrene copolymerization, polar solvents are found to increase copolymerization activities and coproduce atactic polystyrene impurities in addition to ethylene-co-styrene, without diminishing the comonomer incorporation selectivity. Both homopolymerization and copolymerization results argue that substantial cooperative effects between catalytic sites are operative.     

过渡金属络合物催化乙烯齐聚

综述了乙烯齐聚的最新成果,重点阐述了用于乙烯齐聚的新型催化剂,讨论了烯烃高聚与齐聚催化剂的关系,烯烃高聚与齐聚的反应机理相同,。差别主要在于烯烃插入与β－H消除反应的速率,第IV副族金属络合物主要催化乙烯齐聚,第Ⅲ副族金属主要催化乙烯高聚,改变茂金属催化体系的助催化剂和反应条件可得到齐聚产物,选择体积较小配体的第Ⅷ族金属络合物,有利于β－H消除得到齐聚产物。     

Electronic structures of M21S8 (M = Nb, Zr) and (M,M')21S8 (M, M' = Hf, Ti; Nb, Ta) phases and reasons for variations in the metal site occupations

The electronic structures of binary M21S8 (M = Nb, Zr) and isostructural ternary (M,M')21S8 (M, M' = Hf, Ti; Nb, Ta) phases have been studied by means of extended Hückel tight-binding band structure calculations. For the valence electron concentration in the binary group 5 metal phase Nb21S8, metal-metal bonding is optimized whereas, in the isostructural group 4 metal phase Zr21S8, metal-metal bonding levels exist above the Fermi level. However, the electronic structure analysis suggests a stable structure for M21S8 phases with group 4 metals and that (M,M')21S8 phases with mixed group 4 and group 5 metals, even if not yet reported, could well exist. In the ternary phase Nb6.9Ta14.1S8, a linear relationship exists between the magnitude of the metal-metal bonding capacity (as expressed by the total metal-metal Mulliken overlap population) of each crystallographically independent metal site and the occupation of the site with the heavier metal (i.e., the element with the greater bonding capability). The situation is quite more complex in Hf7.5Ti13.5S8, where the metal-metal bonding capacity of each site, differences in electronegativity between Ti and Hf, and site volume arguments must be taken into account to understand the metal site occupation.     

Room temperature metathesis of aryl isocyanates and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by group(IV) metal alkoxides: An experimental and computational study

Aromatic aldehydes and aryl isocyanates do not react at room temperature. However, we have shown for the first time that in the presence of catalytic amounts of group(IV) n-butoxide, they undergo metathesis at room temperature to produce imines with the extrusion of carbon dioxide. The mechanism of action has been investigated by a study of stoichiometric reactions. The insertion of aryl isocyanates into the metal n-butoxide occurs very rapidly. Reaction of the insertion product with the aldehyde is responsible for the metathesis. Among the n-butoxides of group(IV) metals, Ti(OⁿBu)₄ (8aTi) was found to be more efficient than Zr(OⁿBu)₄ (8aZr) and Hf(OⁿBu)₄ (8aHf) in carrying out metathesis. The surprisingly large difference in the metathetic activity of these alkoxides has been probed computationally using model complexes Ti(OMe)₄ (8bTi), Zr(OMe)₄ (8bZr) and Hf(OMe)₄ (8bHf) at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. These studies indicate that the insertion product formed by Zr and Hf are extremely stable compared to that formed by Ti. This makes subsequent reaction of Zr and Hf complexes unfavorable.     

Co-oligomerization of ethylene and higher linear alpha olefins. II. Olefin reactivities in various reaction steps of co-oligomerization with nickel ylide-based system

Part I described co-oligomerization reactions of ethylene and various linear α-olefins (propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, and 1-decene) in the presence of the homogeneous catalyst consisting of sulfonated nickel ylide and diethylaluminum ethoxide. The present article analyzes olefin reactivities in various reaction steps of the co-oligomerization reactions as well as reactivities of various catalytic species. Chain propagation reactions (insertion into the Ni? C bonds) with participation of α-olefins exhibit poor regioselectivity, primary insertion being ca. 60% more probable than the secondary insertion. Ethylene is significantly more reactive in chain propagation reactions: 50–70 times compared to olefin primary insertion and 100–120 times compared to olefin secondary insertion. Reactivities of α-olefins in chain propagation reactions decrease slightly for higher olefin alkyl groups. Reactivities of Ni? C bonds in chain propagation and chain termination reactions strongly depend on the structure of the alkyl group attached to the nickel atom. The Ni? CHR? CH₂? R bond has very low reactivity in ethylene insertion reaction and usually decomposes in the α-hydrogen elimination process. Kinetic analysis of olefin co-oligomerization reactions provides numerous analogies with olefin copolymerization reactions in the presence of Ziegler–Natta catalysts.     

Preparation, structure, and ethylene (co)polymerization behavior of Group IV metal complexes with an [OSSO]-carborane ligand

The synthesis of Group IV metal complexes that contain a tetradentate dianionic [OSSO]-carborane ligand [(HOC(6)H(2)tBu(2)-4,6)(2)(CH(2))(2)S(2)C(2 (B(10)H(10))] (1a) is described. Reactions of TiCl(4) and Ti(OiPr)(4) with the [OSSO]-type ligand 1a afford six-coordinated titanium complex [Ti(OC(6)H(2)tBu(2)-4,6)(2)(CH(2))(2)S(2)C(2)(B(10)H(10))Cl(2)] (2a) and four-coordinated titanium complex [Ti(OC(6)H(2)tBu(2)-4,6)(2)(CH(2))(2)S(2)C(2)(B(10)H(10))(OiPr)(2)] (2b), respectively. ZrCl(4) and HfCl(4) were treated with 1a to give six-coordinated zirconium complex [Zr(OC(6)H(2)tBu(2)-4,6)(2)(CH(2))(2)S(2)C(2)(B(10)H(10))Cl(2) (thf)(2)] (2c) and six-coordinated hafnium complex [Hf(OC(6)H(2)tBu(2)-4,6)(2)(CH(2))(2)S(2)C(2)(B(10)H(10))Cl(2)] (2d). All the complexes were fully characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. In addition, X-ray structure analyses were performed on complexes 2a and 2b and reveal the expected different coordination geometry due to steric hindrance effects. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was performed on complexes 2c and 2d to describe the coordination chemistry of this ligand around Zr and Hf. Six-coordinated titanium complex 2a showed good activity toward ethylene polymerization as well as toward copolymerization of ethylene with 1-hexene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst (up to 1060 kg[mol(Ti)](-1) h(-1) in the case of 10 atm of ethylene pressure).