Ionization of Cp2ZrMe2 and Lewis Bases by Methylaluminoxane: Computational Insights

The interactions of the Lewis bases CO, octamethyltrisiloxane (OMTS) and 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy) with a sheet model for the principal activator (MeAlO)₁₆(Me₃Al)₆ (16,6) in hydrolytic methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated by DFT. These studies reveal that OMTS and bipy form adducts with Me₃Al prior to methide abstraction by 16,6 to form the ion-pairs Me₂Al(κ²-L)] 16,6 ] ( 5 : L=OMTS, 6 : L=bipy, 16,6 ]^?=(MeAlO)₁₆(Me₃Al)₆ Me]^?) while CO simply binds to a reactive edge site without ionization. The binding and activation of Cp₂ZrMe₂ with 16,6 to form both neutral adducts 1 Cp₂ZrMe₂ ? 16,6 and contact ion-pairs 4 and 7 , both with formula Cp₂ZrMe]μ-Me(MeAlO)₁₆(Me₃Al)₆], featuring terminal and chelated MAO-anions, respectively was studied by DFT. The displacement of the anion with either excess Cp₂ZrMe₂ or Me₃Al was also studied, forming outer-sphere ion-pairs (Cp₂ZrMe)₂μ-Me] 16,6 ] ( 2 ) and Cp₂Zr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂] 16,6 ] ( 3 ). The theoretical NMR spectra of these species were compared to experimental spectra of MAO and Cp₂ZrMe₂ and found to be in good agreement with the reported data and assignments. These studies confirm that 16,6 is a very suitable model for the activators present in MAO but highlight the difficulty in accurately calculating thermodynamic quantities for molecules in this size regime.