H-, C-NMR and ethylene polymerization studies of zirconocene/MAO catalysts: effect of the ligand structure on the formation of active intermediates and polymerization kinetics

Using ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies, cationic intermediates formed by activation of L₂ZrCl₂ with methylaluminoxane (MAO) in toluene were monitored at Al/Zr ratios from 50 to 1000 (L₂ are various cyclopentadienyl (Cp), indenyl (Ind) and fluorenyl (Flu) ligands). The following catalysts were studied: (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂ (R=Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, Me₅, n-Bu, t-Bu), rac-ethanediyl(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂Si(1-Ind-2-Me)₂ZrCl₂, rac-ethanediyl(1-Ind-4,5,6,7-H₄)₂ZrCl₂, (Ind-2-Me)₂ZrCl₂, Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂, Me₂C(Cp-3-Me)(Flu)ZrCl₂ and Me₂Si(Flu)₂ZrCl₂. Correlations between spectroscopic and ethene polymerization data for catalysts (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=H, Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, Me₅, n-Bu, t-Bu) and rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ were established. The catalysts (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/AlMe₃/CPh₃⁺B(C₆F₅)₄⁻ (R=Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, n-Bu, t-Bu) were also studied for comparison of spectroscopic and polymerization data with MAO-based systems. Complexes of type (Cp-R)₂ZrMe⁺←Me⁻-Al≡MAO (IV) with different [Me-MAO]⁻ counteranions have been identified in the (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=n-Bu, t-Bu) systems at low Al/Zr ratios (50-200). At Al/Zr ratios of 500-1000, the complex [L₂Zr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂]⁺[Me-MAO]⁻ (III) dominates in all MAO-based reaction systems studied. Ethene polymerization activity strongly depends on the Al/Zr ratio (Al/Zr=200-1000) for the systems (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=H, Me, n-Bu, t-Bu), while it is virtually constant in the same range of Al/Zr ratios for the catalytic systems (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄) and rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO. The data obtained are interpreted on assumption that complex III is the main precursor of the active centers of polymerization in MAO-based systems.     

Reactivity of the Peroxo Complexes of Copper(II) Hydroxide

In the interaction with H₂O₂ in an alkaline medium, Cu(OH)₂ forms terminal Cu–OOH and bridging peroxo complexes with the -1,1 and -²:² structures. It was found that the terminal peroxide is active in the reactions of H₂O₂ decomposition, diphenol oxidation, and nitrile conversion into acid amides. The promoting effect of ammonia on these reactions was found. A possible mechanism is discussed.     

In situ study of the interaction between <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl chloride and aluminum activated with liquid In-Ga eutectic

The interaction between tert-butyl chloride and activated aluminum was studied by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy near room temperature (18–25°C). A long induction period of ∼240–260 min was observed. The ionic aluminum chloride complexes [Al _n Cl_3n+1]⁻ (n = 1, 2) and the molecular species AlCl₃ were identified at the activated aluminum/tert-butyl chloride interface during the reaction. The formation of the ion in the AlCl₄⁻ ion in the liquid medium and the presence of the same ion and a molecular AlCl₃-tert-butyl chloride complex in the resinous products of the reaction were confirmed by ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The reaction products were analyzed qualitatively by GC/MS. The reactivities of activated aluminum and anhydrous aluminum chloride toward tert-butyl chloride under the same conditions were compared. A distinctive feature of the interaction activated aluminum and tert-butyl chloride is the dominant formation of the AlCl₄⁻ ion. By contrast, the interaction between aluminum chloride and tert-butyl chloride yields the polynuclear ion Al₂Cl₇⁻ and, likely, Al₃Cl₁₀⁻.     

EPR, 1H and 2H NMR, and reactivity studies of the iron-oxygen intermediates in bioinspired catalyst systems

Complexes [(BPMEN)Fe(II)(CH(3)CN)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1, BPMEN = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane) and [(TPA)Fe(II)(CH(3)CN)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2, TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) are among the best nonheme iron-based catalysts for bioinspired oxidation of hydrocarbons. Using EPR and (1)H and (2)H NMR spectroscopy, the iron-oxygen intermediates formed in the catalyst systems 1,2/H(2)O(2); 1,2/H(2)O(2)/CH(3)COOH; 1,2/CH(3)CO(3)H; 1,2/m-CPBA; 1,2/PhIO; 1,2/(t)BuOOH; and 1,2/(t)BuOOH/CH(3)COOH have been studied (m-CPBA is m-chloroperbenzoic acid). The following intermediates have been observed: [(L)Fe(III)(OOR)(S)](2+), [(L)Fe(IV)═O(S)](2+) (L = BPMEN or TPA, R = H or (t)Bu, S = CH(3)CN or H(2)O), and the iron-oxygen species 1c (L = BPMEN) and 2c (L = TPA). It has been shown that 1c and 2c directly react with cyclohexene to yield cyclohexene oxide, whereas [(L)Fe(IV)═O(S)](2+) react with cyclohexene to yield mainly products of allylic oxidation. [(L)Fe(III)(OOR)(S)](2+) are inert in this reaction. The analysis of EPR and reactivity data shows that only those catalyst systems which display EPR spectra of 1c and 2c are able to selectively epoxidize cyclohexene, thus bearing strong evidence in favor of the key role of 1c and 2c in selective epoxidation. 1c and 2c were tentatively assigned to the oxoiron(V) intermediates.     

Titanium Salan/Salalen Complexes: The Twofaced Janus of Asymmetric Oxidation Catalysis

Optically pure chiral epoxides and sulfoxides are ubiquitous building blocks in fine organic synthesis, employed in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and cosmetic industries. On the road to chiral epoxides and sulfoxides, efficient and stereoselective transition metal‐based catalysts are the most promising guides. Among transition metals, we favor titanium for its cheapness and availability, nontoxicity, and well‐known ability to catalyze a variety of stereoselective transformations, including oxidations with environmentally benign H₂O₂. In this personal account, we summarize the state‐of‐the‐art of rational design of chiral titanium(IV) salan and salalen catalysts, and investigations of their catalytic reactivities and stereoselectivities in the epoxidations of olefins and oxidations of thioethers, unraveling the peculiarities and mechanisms of their catalytic action.     

Cr(III)(salen)Cl catalyzed asymmetric epoxidations: insight into the catalytic cycle

Intermediates of chromium-salen catalyzed alkene epoxidations were studied in situ by EPR, (1)H and (2)H NMR, and UV-vis/NIR spectroscopy (where chromium-salens were (S,S)-(+)-N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamino chromium(III) chloride (1) and racemic N,N'-bis(3,4,5,6-tetra-deuterosalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamino chromium(III) chloride (2)). High-valence chromium complexes, intermediates of epoxidation reactions, were detected and characterized by EPR and NMR. They are the reactive mononuclear oxochromium(V) intermediate (A) Cr(V)O(salen)L (where L = Cl(-) or a solvent molecule) and an inactive chromium-salen binuclear complex (B) which acts as a reservoir of the active species. The latter complex demonstrates an EPR signal characteristic of oxochromium(V)-salen species and (1)H NMR spectra typical for chromium(III)-salen complexes, and it is identified as mixed-valence binuclear L(1)(salen)Cr(III)OCr(V)(salen)L(2) (L(1), L(2) = Cl(-) or solvent molecules). The intermediates Cr(V)O(salen)L and L(1)(salen)Cr(III)OCr(V)(salen)L(2) exist in equilibrium, and their ratio can be affected by addition of donor ligands (DMSO, DMF, H(2)O, pyridine). Addition of donor additives increases the fraction of A over that of B. The same two complexes can be obtained with m-CPBA as oxidant. Reactivities of the Cr(V)O(salen)L complexes toward E-beta-methylstyrene were measured in DMF. The L(1)(salen)Cr(III)OCr(V)(salen)L(2) intermediate has been proposed to be a reservoir of the true reactive chromium(V) species. The chromium-salen catalysts demonstrate low turnover numbers (ca. 5), probably due to ligand degradation processes.