Synthesis and characterization of aluminum complexes based on amino‐benzotriazole phenoxide ligand: luminescent properties and catalysis for ring‐opening polymerization

Aluminum complexes coordinated by a ^C1DEABTP ligand (^C1DEABTP‐H = 2‐(2H‐benzotriazol‐2‐yl)‐6‐((diethylamino)methyl)‐4‐methylphenol) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The formation of Al complexes is dependent on the stoichiometry of AlMe₃ to ^C1DEABTP ligand ratio. The reaction of ^C1DEABTP‐H with AlMe₃ (1.0 molar equiv.) in hexane produced mono‐adduct aluminum complex [(^C1DEABTP)AlMe₂] (1), but treatment of ^C1DEABTP‐H with 2.0 molar equiv. of AlMe₃ afforded mixtures of [(^C1DEABTP)Al₂Me₅] (2) and [(^C1DEABTP)Al₃Me₈] (3). The penta‐coordinated bis‐adduct aluminum complex [(^C1DEABTP)₂AlMe] (4) was synthesized through the reaction of AlMe₃ with ^C1DEABTP‐H (2.0 molar equiv.) in hexane. Tri‐adduct Al complex [(^C1DEABTP)₃Al] (5) resulted from treatment of AlMe₃ with ^C1DEABTP‐H (3.0 equiv.); the Al center is hexa‐coordinated with three N,O‐bidentate ^C1DEABTP ligands. X‐ray diffraction of single crystals indicates that the bonding modes of the ^C1DEABTP ligands in complexes 2–3 are greatly affected when excess AlMe₃ is coordinated. The optical properties and catalysis for lactone polymerizations of ^C1DEABTP coordinated to Al complexes were tested. Tri‐adduct Al complex 5 produced an intense green fluorescence in both solution and the solid state. Complex 4 is an active catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) and L‐lactide (L‐LA) in the presence of 9‐anthracenemethanol (9‐AnOH). In ε‐CL polymerization, Al complex 4 catalyzes efficiently in both a 'controlled' and 'immortal' manner, giving polymers with the expected molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indexes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel aluminium compounds derived from Schiff bases: Synthesis,characterization and catalytic performance in hydroboration

Seven novel aluminium complexes supported by Schiff base ligands derived from o‐diaminobenzene or o‐aminothiophenol were synthesized and characterized. The reactions of AlMe₃ with L¹ (N,N′‐bis(benzylidine)‐o‐phenylenediamine) and L² (N,N′‐bis(2‐thienylmethylene)‐o‐phenylenediamine) gave the complexes L¹AlMe₃ ( 1 ) and L²AlMe₂ ( 2 ), respectively, which involved two types of reaction mechanisms: one was proton transfer and ring closure, and the other was alkyl transfer. Complexes L³AlMe₂ (HL³ = 4‐chlorobenzylidene‐o‐aminothiophenol) ( 3 ), L⁴AlMe₂ (HL⁴ = 2‐thiophenecarboxaldehyde‐o‐aminothiophenol) ( 4 ), L³AlH(NMe₃) ( 5 ), L⁴AlH(NMe₃) ( 6 ) and L⁵AlH(NMe₃) (HL⁵ = 4‐methylbenzylidene‐o‐aminothiophenol) ( 7 ) were prepared by reacting HL^3–5 with equimolar AlMe₃ or H₃Al?NMe₃, respectively. Compounds 3 – 7 feature an organic–inorganic hybrid containing CNAlSC five‐membered ring. All complexes were characterized using ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystal structure analysis and elemental analysis. The efficient catalytic performances of 1 – 7 for the hydroboration of carbonyl groups were investigated, with compound 4 exhibiting the highest catalytic activity among all the complexes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of β‐Diketiminate Aluminum Compounds and Their Use in the Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone

Four aluminum alkyl compounds, [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}₂AlMe₂] ( 1 ), [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}₂AlEt₂] ( 2 ), [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2‐iPrC₆H₄}₂AlMe₂] ( 3 ), and [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2‐iPrC₆H₄}₂AlEt₂] ( 4 ), bearing β‐diketiminate ligands [CH{(Me)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}]₂ (L¹H) and [CH{(Me)CN‐2‐ⁱPrC₆H₄}]₂ (L²H) were obtained from the reactions of trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum with the corresponding β‐diketiminate, respectively. All compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis, and elemental analysis. Compounds 1 – 4 were found to catalyze the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) with good activity.     

Chemical synthesis of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates catalyzed by novel versatile aluminum metal complexes bearing salen ligands

Two novel aluminum metal complexes ( 2 and 3 ) bearing salen ligands were in situ prepared from trimethyl aluminum (AlMe₃), methanol, and (R,R)‐N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane with original synthetic strategies, and a preliminarily resoluted (R,R)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane was applied as a synthetic precursor. By means of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, NMR spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry, 2 and 3 were revealed to be distinct molecular structures with corresponding yields of 85 and 10%, respectively. Further studies via ²⁷Al NMR techniques and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction indicated that dimeric metal complex 3 appeared in the six‐coordinated state, whereas there was a dynamic equilibrium transition between the five‐ and six‐coordinated states for metal complex 2 in a CDCl₃ solution. The more stable dimeric metal complex ( 3 ) exhibited two inequivalent aluminum metal centers coordinated to nitrogen atoms attributed to two different salen ligands, and this was different from the reported salen aluminum complex structures. Furthermore, 2 and 3 were employed as candidate catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of some important biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates, including poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(δ‐valerolactone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), and poly(2,2‐dimethyl trimethylene carbonate). The synthetic results indicated that both metal complexes efficiently catalyzed ROP at 100 °C in an anisole solution, and 3 showed much better controlled characteristics of ROP than 2 . Very narrow molecular weight distributions close to 1.21 for PCL were detected with 3 as the ROP catalyst. In addition, a catalytic mechanism study confirmed that ROP catalyzed by these metal complexes was in good agreement with the commonly accepted coordination polymerization reported for aluminum triiso [Al(OⁱPr)₃] and stannous octanoate [Sn(Oct)₂]. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 373–384, 2005     

N,O‐chelate aluminum and zinc complexes: synthesis and catalysis in the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

Reaction between 2‐(1H‐pyrrol‐1‐yl)benzenamine and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde or 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde afforded 2‐(4,5‐dihydropyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalin‐4‐yl)phenol (HOL¹NH, 1a) or 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐(4,5‐dihydropyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalin‐4‐yl)phenol (HOL²NH, 1b). Both 1a and 1b can be converted to 2‐(H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalin‐4‐yl)phenol (HOL³N, 2a) and 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐(H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalin‐4‐yl)phenol (HOL⁴N, 2b), respectively, by heating 1a and 1b in toluene. Treatment of 1b with an equivalent of AlEt₃ afforded [Al(Et₂)(OL²NH)] (3). Reaction of 1b with two equivalents of AlR₃ (R = Me, Et) gave dinuclear aluminum complexes [(AlR₂)₂(OL²N)] (R = Me, 4a; R = Et, 4b). Refluxing the toluene solution of 4a and 4b, respectively, generated [Al(R₂)(OL⁴N)] (R = Me, 5a; R = Et, 5b). Complexes 5a and 5b were also obtained either by refluxing a mixture of 1b and two equivalents of AlR₃ (R = Me, Et) in toluene or by treatment of 2b with an equivalent of AlR₃ (R = Me, Et). Reaction of 2a with an equivalent of AlMe₃ afforded [Al(Me₂)(OL³N)] (5c). Treatment of 1b with an equivalent of ZnEt₂ at room temperature gave [Zn(Et)(OL²NH)] (6), while reaction of 1b with 0.5 equivalent of ZnEt₂ at 40 °C afforded [Zn(OL²NH)₂] (7). Reaction of 1b with two equivalents of ZnEt₂ from room temperature to 60 °C yielded [Zn(Et)(OL⁴N)] (8). Compound 8 was also obtained either by reaction between 6 and an equivalent of ZnEt₂ from room temperature to 60 °C or by treatment of 2b with an equivalent of ZnEt₂ at room temperature. Reaction of 2b with 0.5 equivalent of ZnEt₂ at room temperature gave [Zn(OL⁴N)₂] (9), which was also formed by heating the toluene solution of 6. All novel compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The structures of complexes 3, 5c and 6 were additionally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. The catalysis of complexes 3, 4a, 5a–c, 6 and 8 toward the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone was evaluated. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rare‐Earth‐Metal Dialkynyl Dimethyl Aluminates

A new class of rare‐earth‐metal alkynyl complexes has been prepared. The reactions of the tris(tetramethylaluminate)s of lanthanum, praseodymium, samarium, yttrium, holmium, and thulium, [Ln(AlMe₄)₃], with phenylacetylene afforded compounds [Ln{(μ‐C?CPh)₂AlMe₂}₃] (Ln=La ( 1 ), Pr ( 2 ), Sm ( 3 ), Y ( 4 ), Ho ( 5 ), Tm ( 6 )). All of these compounds have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, and by elemental analysis. NMR spectroscopic studies of the series of para‐ magnetic compounds [Ln(AlMe₄)₃] and [Ln{(μ‐C?CPh)₂AlMe₂}₃] have also been performed.     

Rare‐Earth‐Metal Alkylaluminates Supported by N‐Donor‐Functionalized Cyclopentadienyl Ligands: C?H Bond Activation and Performance in Isoprene Polymerization

Homoleptic tetramethylaluminate complexes [Ln(AlMe₄)₃] (Ln=La, Nd, Y) reacted with HCp^NMe2 (Cp^NMe2=1‐[2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐ethyl]‐2,3,4,5‐tetramethyl‐cyclopentadienyl) in pentane at ?35 °C to yield half‐sandwich rare‐earth‐metal complexes, [{C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂NMe₂(AlMe₃)}Ln(AlMe₄)₂]. Removal of the N‐donor‐coordinated trimethylaluminum group through donor displacement by using an equimolar amount of Et₂O at ambient temperature only generated the methylene‐bridged complexes [{C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂NMe(μ‐CH₂)AlMe₃}Ln(AlMe₄)] with the larger rare‐earth‐metal ions lanthanum and neodymium. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of isostructural complexes and the C? H bond activation of one aminomethyl group. The formation of Ln(μ‐CH₂)Al moieties was further corroborated by ¹³C and ¹H‐¹³C HSQC NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the largest metal center, lanthanum, this C? H bond activation could be suppressed at ?35 °C, thereby leading to the isolation of [(Cp^NMe2)La(AlMe₄)₂], which contains an intramolecularly coordinated amino group. The protonolysis reaction of [Ln(AlMe₄)₃] (Ln=La, Nd) with the anilinyl‐substituted cyclopentadiene HCp^AMe2 (Cp^AMe2=1‐[1‐(N,N‐dimethylanilinyl)]‐2,3,4,5‐tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) at ?35 °C generated the half‐sandwich complexes [(Cp^AMe2)Ln(AlMe₄)₂]. Heating these complexes at 75 °C resulted in the C? H bond activation of one of the anilinium methyl groups and the formation of [{C₅Me₄C₆H₄NMe(μ‐CH₂)AlMe₃}Ln(AlMe₄)] through the elimination of methane. In contrast, the smaller yttrium metal center already gave the aminomethyl‐activated complex at ?35 °C, which is isostructural to those of lanthanum and neodymium. The performance of complexes [{C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂NMe(μ‐CH₂)AlMe₃}‐ Ln(AlMe₄)], [(Cp^AMe2)Ln(AlMe₄)₂], and [{C₅Me₄C₆H₄NMe(μ‐CH₂)AlMe₃}Ln(AlMe₄)] in the polymerization of isoprene was investigated upon activation with [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄], [PhNMe₂H][B(C₆F₅)₄], and B(C₆F₅)₃. The highest stereoselectivities were observed with the lanthanum‐based pre‐catalysts, thereby producing polyisoprene with trans‐1,4 contents of up to 95.6 %. Narrow molecular‐weight distributions (M_w/M_n<1.1) and complete consumption of the monomer suggested a living‐polymerization mechanism.     

Syntheses and Structures of Zinc Bis(phosphinimino)methanide Complexes

Reactions of bis(phosphinimino)methanes H₂C(PPh₂NR)₂ [R = SiMe₃ (L¹H), Ph (L²H), 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃ (DIPP) (L³H)] with ZnR₂ (R = Me, Et) yielded the corresponding bis(phosphinimino)methanide zinc complexes LZnMe [L² ( 1 ), L³ ( 2 )] and LZnEt [L¹ ( 3 ), L² ( 4 ), and L³ ( 5 )]. Complexes 1 – 5 were characterized by heteronuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P) and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Containing‐PMBP N2O2‐donors transition metal(II) complexes: Synthesis,crystal structure,Hirshfeld surface analyses and fluorescence properties

Three newly designed containing‐PMBP N₂O₂‐donors complexes, [Co(L¹)(CH₃OH)₂] ( 1 ), [{Zn(L²)(CH₃OH)(H₂O)}₃] ( 2 ) and [Cu₄(L²)₄]?2CHCl₃ ( 3 ), have been synthesized and structurally characterized using elemental analyses, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. X‐ray crystal structure determinations revealed that 1 consists of one Co(II) atom, one completely deprotonated (L¹)^2? unit and two coordinated methanol molecules. Complex 2 consists of three Zn(II) atoms, three completely deprotonated (L²)^2? units, three coordinated methanol molecules and three coordinated water molecules. However, 3 includes four Cu(II) atoms, four completely deprotonated (L²)^2? units and two crystallization chloroform molecules. The Co(II) and Zn(II) atoms in the structures of 1 and 2 adopt slightly distorted octahedral geometries. While, Cu(II) atoms in 3 can be best described as adopting slightly distorted square planar geometries. Complex 2 is a novel structure, and the ratio of H₂L² to Zn(II) atom is 3:3. In addition, two‐, three‐ and three‐dimensional supramolecular structures were constructed for 1 , 2 and 3 . Most importantly, Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1 , 2 and 3 was conducted and fluorescence properties were investigated.     

A new entry into aluminum chemistry: [L(1)AlMe]⋅THF, a versatile building block for bimetallic and polymetallic complexes

[L¹AlMe]?THF ( 1 ; L¹=CH[C(CH₂)](CMe)(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N)₂) is prepared by a new method to test its reactivity towards metal complexes to give heterobimetallic or polymetallic complexes. The treatment of 1 with germanium chloride ([LGeCl]), tin chloride ([LSnCl]; L=CH(CMe2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N)₂), bismuth amide ([1,8‐C₁₀H₆(NSiMe₃)₂BiNMe₂]), and dimethyl zinc (ZnMe₂) gave the desired compounds with different functional groups on the aluminum center. All compounds have been thoroughly characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, EI mass spectrometry, X‐ray crystallography ( 2 , 3 , and 5 ), and elemental analysis.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide catalyzed by Al(III) and Zn(II) complexes incorporating Schiff base ligands derived from pyrrole‐2‐carboxaldehyde

A series of Al(III) chloride [LAl‐Cl]; Al(III) alkoxide [LAl‐OR]₂; and Zn(II) [LZn]₂ complexes with Schiff base ligands were obtained. ¹H NMR and X‐ray diffraction studies indicate that [LAl‐Cl] complexes have C_s symmetry and the Al center is penta‐coordinated. The Al(III) alkoxide complex [L⁵Al‐OⁱPr]₂ is a dimer bridged by OⁱPr^? with the Al center in a distorted octahedral environment. Zn complexes [LZn]₂ are double helix dimers with tetra‐coordinated Zn centers. The catalytic activity for the ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide was evaluated. The best activity in this series is shown by the aluminium chloride complex with a flexible three‐carbon bridge; more flexible four‐carbon bridges lower the activity.     

A DFT quantum‐chemical study on the structures and active sites of polymethylaluminoxane

The electronic structure and geometry of polymethylaluminoxane (MAO) [—Al(CH₃)O—]_n with different size (n = 4–12) have been studied using quantum‐chemical DFT (density functional theory) calculations. It has been found: 1) Starting from n = 6, the three‐dimensional oxo‐bridged (cage) structure of MAO is more stable than the cyclic structure. 2) Both for cage structure and for cyclic structure the Lewis acidity of Al atoms characterized by their net positive charge amplifies with increasing size of MAO (n). 3) Trimethylaluminium (AlMe₃) reacts with the cage structure of MAO with cleavage of an Al‐O dative bond and formation of acidic tri‐coordinated Al^v and basic di‐coordinated O^v atoms in the MAO molecule. Two molecules AlMe₃ are associated with acidic Al^v and basic O^v centers. As the MAO increases in size, the acidity of Al^v centers amplifies and the distance Al^v‐(AlMe₃) shortens; on the contrary, interaction of AlMe₃ with O^v centers weakens and the distance O^v‐(AlMe₃) increases with increasing n value. The total heat of Al₂Me₆ interaction with MAO (sum interaction of Al^v‐(AlMe₃) and O^v‐(AlMe₃)) noticeably decreases as the size of MAO increases (from 50.9 kcal/mol for n = 4 to 20.2 kcal/mol for n = 12). It is proposed that acidic Al^v and basic O^v centers formed in the cage structure of MAO interact with zirconocene yielding ‘cation‐like’ zirconium active centers.     

Aluminum(III) complexes containing O,O chelating ligand

The stoichiometric reactions of trimethylaluminum with 2,6‐(MeOCH₂)₂C₆H₃OH (LH) revealed compounds L₃Al ( 1 ) and L₂AlMe ( 2 ). On the other hand reaction of 1 equiv. of LH with trimethylaluminum did not lead to the formation of complex LAlMe₂ ( 3 ), rather 2 together with Me₃Al were observed as a result of a disproportionation of 3 . Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and in the case of 1 by X‐ray diffraction. Derivative 2 underwent transmetalation with Ph₃SnOH, giving LSnPh₃ ( 4 ) as the result of a migration of ligand L from the aluminum to the tin atom. The identity of 4 was established by elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy and ¹H, ¹¹⁹Sn HMBC experiments. The system 2 and B(C₆F₅)₃ in a 1:1 molar ratio was shown to be active in the polymerization of propylene oxide and ε‐caprolactone. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Structures of Gallium‐β‐Diketiminate Complexes: Isolation of a Dinuclear Gallium(II) Complex

The sterically demanding β‐diketiminate ligand L^dmp [L^dmp = HC{(CMe)N(dmp)}₂, dmp = C₆H₃‐2,6‐Me₂] was used to stabilize various gallium complexes in the formal oxidation states +II and +III. The reaction of in situ generated [L^dmpLi] with gallium chloride affords [L^dmpGaCl₂] ( 1 ), which was used as starting complex to synthesize a variety of gallium(III) compounds [L^dmpGaX₂] [X = F ( 2 ), I ( 3 ), H ( 4 ), and Me ( 5 )]. Synthesis of the dinuclear complex [L^dmpGaI]₂ ( 6 ), with gallium in the formal oxidation state +II was accomplished by converting “GaI” with in situ generated [L^dmpLi] in toluene. All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, NMR spectroscopy, LIFDI‐TOF‐MS, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Additionally DFT calculations were performed for analysis of the bonding in 6 .     

Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer aluminum complexes as catalysts for ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

New aluminum alkyl complexes, supported by o‐phenylene‐derived phosphido diphosphine pro‐ligands [Ph‐PPP]‐H and [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H ([Ph‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine; [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diisopropylphosphinophenyl)phosphine) are reported. Compounds [Ph‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 1 ), [ⁱPr‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 2 ), and [Ph‐PPP]AlⁱBu₂ ( 3 ) have been synthesized by reaction of the pro‐ligand with the appropriate trialkyl aluminum precursor and have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solution NMR data and theoretical calculations suggest for all complexes trigonal bipyramidal structures with C_2v symmetry in which the phosphido diphosphine ligand acts as a κ³ coordinated ligand. All complexes promote the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, L‐ and rac‐lactide. Polyesters with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities are obtained. Upon addition of isopropanol, efficient binary catalytic systems for the immortal ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic esters are produced. Preliminary investigations show the ability of these complexes to promote copolymerization of l ‐lactide and ?‐caprolactone to achieve copolymers whose microstructures are depending on the structure of the catalyst. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 49–60     

Synthesis and Structure of Novel Dimethylcobalt(III) Complexes Containing Trimethylphosphine and Salicylaldiminato(N:O) Ligands

Dimethyl(salicylaldiminato[N:O])cobalt complexes [CoMe₂(2‐O‐C₆H₁R¹R² R³‐CH=NR⁴)L₂] (L=PMe₃) ( 1 ‐ 6 ) have been prepared through the reaction of [CoMe₃(PMe₃)₃] with the corresponding substituted salicylaldimine. The complexes were characterized with IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ³¹P NMR and elemental analyses. The X‐ray crystal structure of complex 1 shows an octahedral coordination of cobalt, with two equatorial cis‐methyl groups opposite to the planar N:O‐chelate ring.     

Synthesis,characterization and single crystal structure determination of aluminum alkoxydisilanolates: precursors for silica–alumina composite

Several novel aluminum alkoxydisilanolate complexes were prepared by reaction of triphenylsilanol with aluminum 2‐methoxyethoxide, aluminum 2‐ethoxyethoxide, aluminum sec‐butoxide and aluminum iso‐propoxide. All new complexes, [(Ph₃SiO)₂Al(OR)]₂ [where R = CH₂CH₂OCH₃ (1), CH₂CH₂OC₂H₅ (2), CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ (3) and CH(CH₃)₂ (4)] were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy (IR), as well as ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopies. The solid‐state structures of the representative compound 2 and 4 were also verified by single‐crystal X‐ray analyses. Complexes 2 and 4 are dimers having distorted trigonal bipyramidal and tetrahedral coordination at the aluminum center, respectively. The ²⁷Al NMR spectrum of compound 2 showed that the solid‐state structure of the complex was not retained in solution, and tetracoordinated aluminum was found in solution in contrast to the pentacoordinated geometry in the solid state. The hydrothermal treatment of 1 and 4 at 200 °C and the subsequent calcination at 1000 °C resulted in the formation of alumina–silica composite (4SiO₂·Al₂O₃) with γ‐alumina in the silica matrix. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studien zur Reaktivität des viergliedrigen basenstabilisierten Iminoalans [(Me3N)HAlNDipp]2 mit elementarem Iod

Studies on the Reactivity of the Four‐membered Base‐stabilized Iminoalane [(Me₃N)HAlNDipp]₂ with Elemental Iodine The base‐stabilized iminoalane [(Me₃N)HAlNDipp]₂ (Dipp = 2, 6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) reacts with iodine under substitution of the hydridic H atom at the Al center and formation of HI, which subsequently protonates the Lewis basic imin nitrogen. A mixture of [DippN{AlI₂(NMe₃)}₂] ( 1 ), [DippN(H)AlI₂(NMe₃)] ( 2 ), [{DippN(H)}₂AlI(NMe₃)] ( 3 ) and DippNH₂ is formed. 1 ‐ 3 were identified by spectroscopic methods (¹H, ¹³C, IR, and mass spectroscopy), 1 and 2 also by single crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Unbridged bidentate aluminum complexes supported by diaroylhydrazone ligands: Synthesis,structure and catalysis in polymerization of ε-caprolactone and lactides

A series of novel diaroylhydrazone aluminum complexes have been synthesized and well-defined structurally, and their catalytic performance in the polymerization of ε-caprolactone and lactides have also been evaluated. Complexes [(L^1–4)₂AlMe] ( 1 – 4 ) {[L¹ = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCOC₆H₅], [L² = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-OCH₃)], [L³ = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-Br)] and [L⁴ = (2-OMe-C₆H₄)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-^tBu)]} were prepared through treatment of AlMe₃ with the corresponding proligands L^1–4H in molar ratios of 1: 1 or 1: 2. Chemical structures of all the complexes were well-defined by elemental analysis, NMR spectra as well as single-crystal X-ray study. Complexes [(L^1–4)₂AlMe] ( 1 – 4 ) in this work represent the first examples of aluminum complexes of aroylhydrazone ligands with crystallographic characterization. Specifically, they are all in monomeric form with a penta-coordinated aluminum center, including two approximately co-planar five-membered metallacycles with aluminum. Introduced bulky tert-butyl substituents in aroylhydrazone ligands could affect the geometry around the central metal which is a distorted square-based pyramid in complexes 1 – 3 while being a trigonal bipyramidal in complex 4 , thus affecting their catalytic behaviors. The complexes can successfully catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and _L-lactide under mild conditions without any activator. In addition, complexes 1 – 4 could also polymerize rac-lactide, affording atactic polylactides with high conversions and good controllability in relatively short reaction time.     

Ultra‐wideline 27Al NMR Investigation of Three‐ and Five‐Coordinate Aluminum Environments

Ultra‐wideline ²⁷Al NMR experiments are conducted on coordination compounds with ²⁷Al nuclei possessing immense quadrupolar interactions that result from exceptionally nonspherical coordination environments. NMR spectra are acquired using a methodology involving frequency‐stepped, piecewise acquisition of NMR spectra with Hahn‐echo or quadrupolar Carr–Purcell Meiboom–Gill (QCPMG) pulse sequences, which is applicable to any half‐integer quadrupolar nucleus with extremely broad NMR powder patterns. Despite the large breadth of these central transition powder patterns, ranging from 250 to 700 kHz, the total experimental times are an order of magnitude less than previously reported experiments on analogous complexes with smaller quadrupolar interactions. The complexes examined feature three‐ or five‐coordinate aluminum sites: trismesitylaluminum (AlMes₃), tris(bis(trimethylsilyl)amino)aluminum (Al(NTMS₂)₃), bis[dimethyl tetrahydrofurfuryloxide aluminum] ([Me₂‐Al(μ‐OTHF)]₂), and bis[diethyl tetrahydrofurfuryloxide aluminum] ([Et₂‐Al(μ‐OTHF)]₂). We report some of the largest ²⁷Al quadrupolar coupling constants measured to date, with values of C_Q(²⁷Al) of 48.2(1), 36.3(1), 19.9(1), and 19.6(2) MHz for AlMes₃ , Al(NTMS₂)₃ , [Me₂‐Al(μ‐OTHF)]₂ , and [Et₂‐Al(μ‐OTHF)]₂ , respectively. X‐ray crystallographic data and theoretical (Hartree–Fock and DFT) calculations of ²⁷Al electric field gradient (EFG) tensors are utilized to examine the relationships between the quadrupolar interactions and molecular structure; in particular, the origin of the immense quadrupolar interaction in the three‐coordinate species is studied via analyses of molecular orbitals.