Interfacial Water Structure in Langmuir Monolayer and Gibbs Layer Probed by Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

Langmuir monolayer and Gibbs layer exhibit surface‐active properties and it can be used as simple model systems to investigate the physicochemical properties of biological membranes. In this report, we presented the OH stretching vibration of H₂O in the 4′′‐n‐pentyl‐4‐cyano‐p‐terphenyl (5CT), nonadecanenitrile (C₁₈CN) Langmuir monolayer and compared them with CH₃CN Gibbs layer at the air/water interface with polarization SFG‐VS. This study demonstrated that the hydrogen bond network is different in the Langmuir monolayer of 5CT, C₁₈CN from CH₃CN Gibbs layer at the air/water interface which showed two different water structures on the different surface layer. The results provided a deeper insight into understanding the hydrogen bond on the interfaces.     

Super‐Elastic Air/Water Interfacial Films Self‐Assembled from Soluble Surfactants

We show that water‐soluble monosodic salts of F‐alkyl phosphates C_nF_2n+1(CH₂)₂OP(O)(OH)₂, with n=8 and 10 (F8H2Phos and F10H2Phos) form Gibbs films with exceptionally high dilational viscoelastic modules E that reach ～900 mN m^?1 in the condensed phases. These E values are up to one order of magnitude larger than those recorded for phospholipid, protein and polymer films commonly considered as highly viscoelastic. F8H2Phos.1Na undergoes a transition between a liquid‐expanded and a liquid‐condensed phase. In the case of F10H2Phos.1Na, a transition occurs between a gas phase of surface domains, in which the molecules are densely packed, and a liquid‐condensed phase.     

Compression of Self‐Assembled Nano‐Objects: 2D/3D Transitions in Films of (Perfluoroalkyl)Alkanes—Persistence of an Organized Array of Surface Micelles

Understanding and controlling the molecular organization of amphiphilic molecules at interfaces is essential for materials and biological sciences. When spread on water, the model amphiphiles constituted by C_nF_2n+1C_mH_2m+1 (FnHm) diblocks spontaneously self‐assemble into surface hemimicelles. Therefore, compression of monolayers of FnHm diblocks is actually a compression of nanometric objects. Langmuir films of F8H16, F8H18, F8H20, and F10H16 can actually be compressed far beyond the “collapse” of their monolayers at ～30 Ų. For molecular areas A between 30 and 10 Ų, a partially reversible, 2D/3D transition occurs between a monolayer of surface micelles and a multilayer that coexist on a large plateau. For A<10 Ų, surface pressure increases again, reaching up to ～48 mN m^?1 before the film eventually collapses. Brewster angle microscopy and AFM indicate a several‐fold increase in film thickness when scanning through the 2D/3D coexistence plateau. Compression beyond the plateau leads to a further increase in film thickness and, eventually, to film disruption. Reversibility was assessed by using compression–expansion cycles. AFM of F8H20 films shows that the initial monolayer of micelles is progressively covered by one (and eventually two) bilayers, which leads to a hitherto unknown organized composite arrangement. Compression of films of the more rigid F10H16 results in crystalline‐like inflorescences. For both diblocks, a hexagonal array of surface micelles is consistently seen, even when the 3D structures eventually disrupt, which means that this monolayer persists throughout the compression experiments. Two examples of pressure‐driven transformations of films of self‐assembled objects are thus provided. These observations further illustrate the powerful self‐assembling capacity of perfluoroalkyl chains.     

A Novel Alkene(alkyl)(aqua)(aryl)platinum(II) Complex – [Pt{CH(CH2C6F5)CH2CH2CH=CH2}(C6F5)(OH2)]

From the reaction of PtCl₂(hex) (hex = hexa‐1,5‐diene) with LiC₆F₅ in diethyl ether, the complex [Pt{CH(CH₂C₆F₅)CH₂CH₂CH=CH₂}(C₆F₅)(OH₂)] ( 1 ) was isolated. The crystal structure (monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), Z = 8, a = 15.241(3), b = 16.579(2), c = 16.225(2) Å, β = 111.12(2)°) shows a complex with square planar coordination around platinum with a template formed 1‐pentafluorophenylhex‐5‐en‐2‐yl ligand, and C₆F₅ and aqua ligands trans to the double bond and alkyl carbon, respectively.     

Single‐Step Gas‐Phase Polyperfluoroalkylation of Naphthalene Leads to Thermodynamic Products

High‐temperature gas‐phase, solvent‐ and catalyst‐free reaction of naphthalene with an excess of R_FI reagent (R_F?CF₃, C₂F₅, n‐C₃F₇, and n‐C₄F₉) was used for the first time to produce a series of highly perfluoroalkylated naphthalene products NAPH(R_F)_n with n=2–5. Four 95+ % pure 1,3,5,7‐NAPH(R_F)₄ with R_F?CF₃, C₂F₅, n‐C₃F₇, and n‐C₄F₉ were isolated using a simple chromatography‐free procedure. These new compounds were fully characterized by ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography (for R_F?CF₃ and C₂F₅), atmospheric‐pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry. DFT calculations confirm that the proposed synthesis yields the most stable isomers that have not been accessed by alternative preparation techniques.     

Reactivity of an Intramolecular Fluorophosphonium Fluoroborate

The reactions of the intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair‐adduct Ph₂PC(p‐Tol)?C(C₆F₅)B(C₆F₅)₂(CNtBu) with XeF₂ gave Ph₂P(F)C(p‐Tol)?C(C₆F₅)B(F)(C₆F₅)₂ ( 3 ). This species reacts with two equivalents of Al(C₆F₅)₃?C₇H₈ producing the salt, [Ph₂P(F)C(p‐Tol)?C(C₆F₅)B(C₆F₅)₂][F(Al(C₆F₅)₃)₂] ( 4 ), whereas reaction with HSiEt₃/B(C₆F₅)₃ gave Ph₂P(F)C(p‐Tol)?C(H)B(C₆F₅)₃ ( 5 ). The photolysis of 3 resulted in aromatization affording the phenanthralene derivative Ph₂P(F)C(p‐Tol(o‐C₆F₄))?CB(F)(C₆F₅)₂ ( 6 ).     

Inherent Stability Limits of Intramolecular Boron Nitrogen Lewis Acid–Base Pairs

The reaction of (C₆F₅)₂BH ( 1 ) with N,N‐dimethylallylamine ( 2 ), N,N‐diethylallylamine ( 3 ) and 1‐allylpiperidine ( 4 ) afforded the five‐membered ring systems (C₆F₅)₂B(CH₂)₃NR₂ (R=Me ( 5 ), Et ( 6 )) and (C₆F₅)₂B(CH₂)₃N(CH₂)₅ ( 7 ) with an intramolecular dative B? N bond. A different product was obtained from the reaction of (C₆F₅)₂BH ( 1 ) with N,N‐diisopropylallylamine ( 8 ), which afforded the seven‐membered ring system (C₆F₅)₂B(CH₂)₃N(iPr)CH(Me)CH₂ ( 9 ) under extrusion of dihydrogen. All compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction experiments. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed to rationalise the different reaction mechanism for the formation of products 6 and 9 . The bonding situation of compound 9 was analysed in terms of its electron density topology to describe the delocalised nature of a borane– enamine adduct.     

The structures of 1,4‐diaryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles related to J147, a drug for treating Alzheimer's disease

J147 [N‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoro‐N′‐(3‐methoxybenzylidene)acetohydrazide] has recently been reported as a promising new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The X‐ray structures of seven new 1,4‐diaryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles, namely 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐phenyl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₇H₁₄F₃N₃, 1 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 2 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 3 ), 1‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 4 ), 1‐[2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]‐4‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₀F₉N₃O, 5 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₉H₁₈F₃N₃O₄, 6 ) and 3‐[4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐1‐yl]phenol (C₁₇H₁₄F₃N₃O₃, 7 ), have been determined and compared to that of J147 . B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) calculations have been performed to determine the potential surface and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of J147 , and to examine the correlation between hydrazone J147 and the 1,2,3‐triazoles, both bearing a CF₃ substituent. Using MEPs, it was found that the minimum‐energy conformation of 4 , which is nearly identical to its X‐ray structure, is closely related to one of the J147 seven minima.     

(Fluoroorgano)fluoroboranes and ‐borates. 7 [1] The Reaction of RFBF2 and K [RFBF3] (RF = perfluorophenyl‐, perfluoroalk‐1‐enyl‐ and perfluoroalkyl) with Xenon Difluoride in Anhydrous HF

The dissolution of (perfluoroorgano)difluoroboranes R_FBF₂ in anhydrous HF (aHF) resulted in equilibrium mixtures of the starting borane and different kinds of acid‐base products: [H₂F] [R_FBF₂(F · HF)] (R_F = C₆F₅, cis‐C₂F₅CF=CF, trans‐C₄F₉CF=CF) or [H₂F] [R_FBF₃] (R_F = C₆F₁₃). In aHF the aryl compounds C₆F₅BF₂ and K [C₆F₅BF₃] showed two parallel reactivities with XeF₂: xenodeborylation (formation of the [C₆F₅Xe]⁺ cation) and fluorine addition to the aryl group. In aHF perfluoroalk‐1‐enyldifluoroboranes R_FBF₂ as well as potassium perfluoroalk‐1‐enyltrifluoroborates K [R_FBF₃] (R_F = cis‐C₂F₅CF=CF, trans‐C₄F₉CF=CF) underwent only fluorine addition across the carbon‐carbon double bond under the action of XeF₂. Potassium perfluorohexyltrifluoroborate K [C₆F₁₃BF₃] did not react with XeF₂ in aHF.     

Stannylium ions, a tin(II) arene complex, and a tin dication stabilized by weakly coordinating anions

The reactivity of aryl‐substituted stannylenes, Ar₂Sn ( 4 ), towards silylarenium borates, [R₃SiArH][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 3 ), was investigated. The reaction with 2,3,4‐trimethyl‐6‐tert‐butylphenyl (mebp)‐substituted stannylene gave silyl‐substituted stannylium ions 2 a , b , which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy supported by the results of quantum‐mechanical computations of molecular structures and magnetic properties. The tri‐iso‐propylphenyl‐substituted stannylium ions 2 c , d undergo a decomposition reaction in toluene to give the dicationic tin–arene complex [Sn(C₇H₈)₃]²⁺ ( 5 ) in the form of the [B(C₆F₅)₄] salt in high yields. The 5 [B(C₆F₅)₄]₂ salt was identified by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The bonding situation was investigated by using natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations. The substitution of the weakly coordinating borate anion by the carboranate [CB₁₁H₆Br₆]^? results in replacement of the toluene ligands and formation of tin(II) carboranate with only weak Sn²⁺–anion interactions as suggested by the solid‐state structure of the isolated salt.     

Structures and properties of π Br‐bond in complexes C2H4−nFn?BrF (n = 0–2)

Using the counterpoise‐corrected potential energy surface method, the stationary structures of the π Br‐bond complexes C₂H_4‐nF_n? BrF (n = 0–2) with all real frequencies have been obtained at MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level. The order of the π Br‐bond length is 2.625 Å (C₂H₄? BrF) < 2.714 Å (C₂H₃F? BrF) < 2.751 Å (g‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF) < 2.771 Å (trans‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF) < 2.778 Å (cis‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF). The interaction energies (E_int) are, respectively,‐5.9 (C₂H₄? BrF),‐4.4 (C₂H₃F? BrF),‐3.7 (g‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF),‐3.1 (cis‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF),‐2.8 kcal/mol (trans‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF), at the CCSD (T)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level, which include larger electron correlation contributions (E_corre). The order of E_corre is‐3.40 (C₂H₄? BrF),‐3.60 (C₂H₃F? BrF),‐3.85 (g‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF),‐3.86 (cis‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF),‐3.88 kcal/mol (trans‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF). The earlier results show above that the F substituent effect elongates the π Br‐bond, reduces the E_int, and increases the E_corre contribution of the interaction energy. Interestingly, the interaction energy of the cis‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF structure with longer interaction distance is larger than that of the corresponding trans‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF structure with shorter interaction distance. This reason comes from a special secondary interaction between lone pairs of Br atom with positive charge and some atoms (H, C) with positive charges of C₂H₂F₂ in the cis‐C₂H₂F₂? BrF structure. Comparing with corresponding C₂H_4‐nF_n? ClF and C₂H_4‐nF_n? HF, the C₂H_4‐nF_n? BrF system has the larger E_int in which main contribution comes from the larger E_corre, representing the larger dispersion interaction. The larger E_corre contribution of the E_int of π Br‐bond can be used to understand that the π Br‐bond is shorter and stronger than corresponding π Cl‐bond. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Neue Synthesen und Kristallstrukturen von Bis(fluorphenyl)quecksilber,Hg(Rf)2 (Rf = C6F5, 2, 3, 4, 6‐F4C6H, 2, 3, 5, 6‐F4C6H, 2, 4, 6‐F3C6H2, 2, 6‐F2C6H3)

New Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Bis(fluorophenyl) Mercury, Hg(R_f)₂ (R_f = C₆F₅, 2, 3, 4, 6‐F₄C₆H, 2, 3, 5, 6‐F₄C₆H, 2, 4, 6‐F₃C₆H₂, 2, 6‐F₂C₆H₃) Bis(fluorophenyl) mercury compounds, Hg(R_f)₂ (R_f = C₆F₅, C₆HF₄, C₆H₂F₃, C₆H₃F₂), are prepared in good yields by the reactions of HgF₂ with Me₃SiR_f. The crystal structures of Hg(2, 3, 4, 6‐F₄C₆H)₂ (monoclinic, P2₁/n), Hg(2, 3, 5, 6‐F₄C₆H)₂ (monoclinic, C2/m), Hg(2, 4, 6‐F₃C₆H₂)₂ (monoclinic, P2₁/c) and Hg(2, 6‐F₂C₆H₃)₂ (triclinic, P1) are described.     

C−F Bond Activation by a Saturated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: Mesoionic Compound Formation and Adduct Formation with B(C6F5)3

The reaction of SIPr, [1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene] ( 1 ), with C₆F₆ led to the formation of an unprecedented mesoionic compound ( 2 ). The formation of 2 is made accessible by deprotonation of the SIPr backbone with simultaneous elimination of HF. The C?F bond para to the imidazolium ring in 2 is only of 1.258(4) Å, which is the one of the shortest structurally authenticated C?F bonds known to date. The liberation of HF during the reaction is unequivocally proved by the addition of one more equivalent of SIPr, which leads to the imidazolium salt with the HF₂^? anion. To functionalize 2 , the latter reacted with B(C₆F₅)₃ to give an unusual donor–acceptor compound, where the fluoride atom from the C₆F₅ moiety coordinates to B(C₆F₅)₃ and the carbanion moiety remains unaffected. Such coordination susceptibility of the fluoride atom of a nonmetallic system to a main‐group Lewis acid (F_non‐metal→BR₃) is quite unprecedented.     

Isolation and Structural X‐ray Investigation of Perfluoroalkyl Derivatives of Six Cage Isomers of C84

Perfluoroalkylation of a higher fullerene mixture with CF₃I or C₂F₅I, followed by HPLC separation of CF₃ and C₂F₅ derivatives, resulted in the isolation of several C₈₄(R^F)_n (n=12, 16) compounds. Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography with the use of synchrotron radiation allowed structure elucidation of eight C₈₄(R^F)_n compounds containing six different C₈₄ cages (the number of the C₈₄ isomer is given in parentheses): C₈₄ (23)(C₂F₅)₁₂ ( I ), C₈₄ (22)(CF₃)₁₆ ( II ), C₈₄ (22)(C₂F₅)₁₂ ( III ), C₈₄ (11)(C₂F₅)₁₂ ( IV ), C₈₄ (16)(C₂F₅)₁₂ ( V ), C₈₄ (4)(CF₃)₁₂ ( VI with toluene and VII with hexane as solvate molecules), and C₈₄ (18)(C₂F₅)₁₂ ( VIII ). Whereas some connectivity patterns of C₈₄ isomers (22, 23, 11) had previously been unambiguously confirmed by different methods, derivatives of C₈₄ isomers numbers 4, 16, and 18 have been investigated crystallographically for the first time, thus providing direct proof of the connectivity patterns of rare C₈₄ isomers. General aspects of the addition of R^F groups to C₈₄ cages are discussed in terms of the preferred positions in the pentagons under the formation of chains, pairs, and isolated R^F groups.     

The Reactivity of Potassium Polyfluoroaryl‐, Polyfluoroalkenyl‐, and Perfluoroalkyltrifluoroborates and their Hydrocarbon Analogues towards Acids of Different Strength: A Systematic Study of the Hydrodeboration

The hydrodeboration of the (fluoroorgano)trifluoroborates K [R_FBF₃] [R_F = C₆F₅, XCF=CF (X = F, cis‐ and trans‐Cl, C₃F₇O, cis‐C₂F₅, trans‐C₄F₉, ‐C₄H₉) and C₆F₁₃] and of the organotrifluoroborates K [RBF₃] (R = C₆H₅, cis‐ and trans‐C₄H₉CH=CH, C₄H₉ and C₈H₁₇) with CH₃CO₂H (100 %), CF₃CO₂H (100 %), aqueous HF and anhydrous HF was investigated. In the alkenyltrifluoroborates K [R'CF=CFBF₃] the formal replacement of BF₃ by a proton occurred stereospecifically under retention of the configuration. The ¹⁹F NMR spectra of K [R_FBF₃] in acids indicate strong interactions of the BF₃ group with protons or acid molecules.     

Autoinduced Catalysis and Inverse Equilibrium Isotope Effect in the Frustrated Lewis Pair Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Imines

The frustrated Lewis pair (FLP)‐catalyzed hydrogenation and deuteration of N‐benzylidene‐tert‐butylamine ( 2 ) was kinetically investigated by using the three boranes B(C₆F₅)₃ ( 1 ), B(2,4,6‐F₃‐C₆H₂)₃ ( 4 ), and B(2,6‐F₂‐C₆H₃)₃ ( 5 ) and the free activation energies for the H₂ activation by FLP were determined. Reactions catalyzed by the weaker Lewis acids 4 and 5 displayed autoinductive catalysis arising from a higher free activation energy (2 kcal mol^?1) for the H₂ activation by the imine compared to the amine. Surprisingly, the imine reduction using D₂ proceeded with higher rates. This phenomenon is unprecedented for FLP and resulted from a primary inverse equilibrium isotope effect.     

Formation and Reactivity of an Aluminabenzene Ligand at Pentadienyl‐Supported Rare‐Earth Metals

The half‐open rare‐earth‐metal aluminabenzene complexes [(1‐Me‐3,5‐tBu₂‐C₅H₃Al)(μ‐Me)Ln(2,4‐dtbp)] (Ln=Y, Lu) are accessible via a salt metathesis reaction employing Ln(AlMe₄)₃ and K(2,4‐dtbp). Treatment of the yttrium complex with B(C₆F₅)₃ and tBuCCH gives access to the pentafluorophenylalane complex [{1‐(C₆F₅)‐3,5‐tBu₂‐C₅H₃Al}{μ‐C₆F₅}Y{2,4‐dtbp}] and the mixed vinyl acetylide complex [(2,4‐dtbp)Y(μ‐η¹:η³‐2,4‐tBu₂‐C₅H₄)(μ‐CCtBu)AlMe₂], respectively.     

Latent cationic palladium(II) phosphine carboxylate complexes for norbornene polymerization

The catalytic efficacy of trans‐[(R₃P)₂Pd(O₂CR′)(LB)][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 1 ) (LB = Lewis base) and [(R₃P)₂Pd(κ²‐O,O‐O₂CR′)][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 2 ) for mass polymerization of 5‐n‐butyl‐2‐norbornene (Butyl‐NB) was investigated. The nature of PR₃ and LB in 1 and 2 are the most critical components influencing catalytic activity/latency for the mass polymerization of Butyl‐NB. Further, it was shown that 1 is in general more latent than 2 in mass polymerization of Butyl‐NB. 5‐n‐Decyl‐2‐norbornene (Decyl‐NB) was subjected to solution polymerization in toluene at 63(±3) °C in the presence of several of the aforementioned palladium complexes as catalysts and the polymers obtained were characterized by gel permeation chromatography. Cationic trans‐[(R₃P)₂PdMe(MeCN)][B(C₆F₅)₄] [R = Cy ( 3a ), and ⁱPr ( 3b )] and trans‐[(R₃P)₂PdH (MeCN)][B(C₆F₅)₄] [R = Cy ( 4a ), and ⁱPr ( 4b )], possible products from thermolysis of trans‐[(R₃P)₂Pd(O₂CMe)(MeCN)][B(C₆F₅)₄] [R = Cy ( 1a ) and ⁱPr ( 1g )], as well as trans‐[(R₃P)₂Pd(η³‐C₃H₅)][B(C₆F₅)₄] [R = Cy ( 5a ), and ⁱPr ( 5b )], were also examined as catalysts for solution polymerization of Decyl‐NB. A maximum activity of 5360 kg/(molPd h) of 2a was achieved at a Decyl‐NB/Pd: 26,700 ratio which is slightly better than that achieved with 5a [activity: 5030 kg/(molPd h)] but far less compared with 4a [activity: 6110 kg/(molPd h)]. Polydispersity values indicate a single highly homogeneous character of the active catalyst species. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 103–110, 2009     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of Diazene Adducts: Isolation of iso‐Diazene Stabilized as a Borane Adduct

This work describes the synthesis and full characterization of a series of GaCl₃ and B(C₆F₅)₃ adducts of diazenes R¹?N?N?R² (R¹=R²=Me₃Si, Ph; R¹=Me₃Si, R²=Ph). Trans‐Ph?N?N?Ph forms a stable adduct with GaCl₃, whereas no adduct, but instead a frustrated Lewis acid–base pair is formed with B(C₆F₅)₃. The cis‐Ph?N?N?Ph ? B(C₆F₅)₃ adduct could only be isolated when UV light was used, which triggers the isomerization from trans‐ to cis‐Ph?N?N?Ph, which provides more space for the bulky borane. Treatment of trans‐Ph?N?N?SiMe₃ with GaCl₃ led to the expected trans‐Ph?N?N?SiMe₃ ? GaCl₃ adduct but the reaction with B(C₆F₅)₃ triggered a 1,2‐Me₃Si shift, which resulted in the formation of a highly labile iso‐diazene, Me₃Si(Ph)N?N; stabilized as a B(C₆F₅)₃ adduct. Trans‐Me₃Si?N?N?SiMe₃ forms a labile cis‐Me₃Si?N?N?SiMe₃ ? B(C₆F₅)₃ adduct, which isomerizes to give the transient iso‐diazene species (Me₃Si)₂N?N ? B(C₆F₅)₃ upon heating. Both iso‐diazene species insert easily into one B?C bond of B(C₆F₅)₃ to afford hydrazinoboranes. All new compounds were fully characterized by means of X‐ray crystallography, vibrational spectroscopy, CHN analysis, and NMR spectroscopy. All compounds were further investigated by DFT and the bonding situation was assessed by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis.     

Effects of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane on the activation of a metal alkyl‐free Ni‐based catalyst in the polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene

The activation of a metal alkyl‐free Ni‐based catalyst with B(C₆F₅)₃ was investigated in the polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene. A catalyst of bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel (Ni(COD)₂)/B(C₆F₅)₃ was found to have high catalytic activity and 1,4‐cis stereoregularity. The catalyst was also found to provide polybutadiene having a molecular weight (M_w) of up to 117,000, even in the absence of AlR₃ and MAO. Variations in the mol ratio of B(C₆F₅)₃ to Ni affected catalytic activity, 1,4‐cis stereoregularity, and the M_w of polybutadiene, while the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polybutadiene showed little correlation with the mol ratio of B(C₆F₅)₃ to Ni. The use of other borane compounds such as B(C₆H₅)₃, BEt₃, and BF₃ etherate in place of B(C₆F₅)₃ clearly showed the two main functions of B(C₆F₅)₃ in the present catalyst. The high Lewis acidity of B(C₆F₅)₃ enabled it to activate catalytic complexes, thus inducing the polymerization. The steric bulkiness of B(C₆F₅)₃ suppressed chain transfer reactions, contributing to the production of polybutadiene with a high M_w. Kinetic studies showed that the catalyst had an induction period, possibly due to the time needed for the formation of catalytic complexes starting from Ni(COD)₂. A plot of ?ln (1?X), where X is the fractional conversion, as a function of time resulted in a linear relationship, showing that the present catalyst system followed first‐order kinetics with respect to monomer concentration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1164–1173, 2004