Novel metallocene catalysts for syndiotactic polystyrene

A series of new half-metallocene complexes of titanium containing siloxy ligands and a new bimetallic titanocene complex (compound 1) with a crystallographically determined structure have been prepared. When activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), they showed high activities toward polymerization of styrene with high syndiotacticity. Origin of the high activity and syndiotacticity found in this work was investigated systematically by comparison with polymerization results using other known complexes.     

Coordination polymerization with the novel η-C20H17Ti(OPr)3 complex

Modified corannulene based transition metal complexes of titanium as a novel group of metallocene catalysts were synthesized and investigated in coordination polymerization reactions as catalysts in the syndiospecific bulk polymerization of styrene. In comparison to the zirconium complex exo-(η⁵-C₂₀H₁₇)(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂, the titanium complex η⁵-C₂₀H₁₇Ti(OⁱPr)₃ shows a significantly increased polymerization activity, a considerably improved stereoregularity of the syndiotactic polymer chain, indicated by the increased melting temperature of 269 °C, as well as a higher weight average molecular weight and a narrower molecular weight distribution.     

Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activities in syndiospecific polymerization of styrene for half-sandwich titanium complexes with non-Cp tridentate dianionic ligands MeN(CH2CR2O)2

New half-titanocenes, Cp^∗TiCl[(OCR₂CH₂)NMe(CH₂CR^′₂O)] [R,R′ = H (1), R,R′ = Me, H, (2), R,R′ = Me (3)], were prepared from Cp^∗TiCl₃ (4) with the corresponding alcohols in the presence of triethylamine. X-ray analysis shows that 1 has slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around Ti. These complexes exhibited moderate catalytic activities for syndiospecific styrene polymerization in the presence of MAO and the activity increased in the order: 2 > 1 > 4 > 3 (at 50 °C), 1 > 2 > 4 > 3 (at 70 °C and 90 °C).     

Tris(4-hydroxy-3,5-diisopropylbenzyl)amine as a new bridging ligand for novel trinuclear titanium complexes

Tris(4-hydroxy-3,5-diisopropylbenzyl)amine (LH₃) was synthesized by the reaction of 2,6-diisopropylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid or paraformaldehyde. Its solid state structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Its fully deprotonated specie, (4-O-3,5-i-Pr₂PhCH₂)₃N (L), was used to form novel trinuclear half-sandwich titanocene complexes, namely [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)TiCl₂]₃L (1) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OMe)₂]₃L (2), which were then tested for the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Their catalytic properties were directly compared with those of trichloro(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) (3) and dichloro(2,6-diisopropylphenolato)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) (4). 1/MAO and 2/MAO systems showed higher activities towards styrene polymerization than the mononuclear catalytic systems 3/MAO and 4/MAO, giving syndiotactic polystyrene of high molecular weight.     

Interaction of half-sandwich alkylmolybdenum(III) complexes with B(C6F5)3. The X-ray structure of [CpMo(η-C4H6)(μ-Cl)(μ-CH2)(O)MoCp][CH3B(C6F5)3]

The reactions of the half-sandwich molybdenum(III) complexes CpMo(η⁴-C₄H₄R₂)(CH₃)₂, where Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅ and R=H or CH₃, with equimolar amounts of B(C₆F₅)₃ have been investigated in toluene. EPR monitoring shows the formation of an addition product which does not readily react with Lewis bases such as ethylene, pyridine, or PMe₃. The analysis of the EPR properties and the X-ray structure of a decomposition product obtained from dichloromethane, [CpMo(η⁴-C₄H₆)(μ-Cl)(μ-CH₂)(O)MoCp][CH₃B(C₆F₅)₃], indicate that the borane attack has occurred at the methyl position.     

Multiparameter equations of state for siloxanes: [(CH3)3-Si-O1/2]2-[O-Si-(CH3)2]i=1,…,3, and [O-Si-(CH3)2]6

This article presents the continuation of the work on the development of technical equations of state for linear and cyclic siloxanes already documented in this journal. The fluids considered herewith are octamethyltrisiloxane (MDM, C₈H₂₄Si₃O₂), decamethyltetrasiloxane (MD₂M, C₁₀H₃₀Si₄O₃), dodecamethylpentasiloxane (MD₃M, C₁₂H₃₆Si₅O₄), dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D₆, C₁₂H₃₆Si₆O₆). The 12-parameter functional form proposed by Span and Wagner has been selected because of its positive characteristics. Siloxanes are produced in bulk quantities and are mostly utilized in the cosmetics industry and, mixed, as high-temperature heat transfer fluids. Furthermore, they are used as working fluids in high-temperature organic Rankine cycle power plants. The available property measurements are carefully evaluated and selected for the optimization of equation of state parameters. For some of the fluids, experimental values are scarce, therefore ad hoc estimation methods have been used to supply more information to the procedure for the optimization of the parameters of the equation of state. In addition, saturated liquid density and vapor pressure measurements are correlated with the equations proposed by Daubert and Wagner–Ambrose, respectively, to provide short, simple, and accurate equations for the computation of these properties. The recently developed isobaric ideal-gas heat capacity correlation for the selected siloxanes is included in the thermodynamic models. The performance of the newly developed equations of state is tested by comparison with experimental data and also with predictions calculated with the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera cubic EoS, as this model was adopted in previous technical studies. The new thermodynamic models perform significantly better than cubic equations of state. T–s and P  – v$v$ diagrams for all the substances are also reported.     

Preparation and structural characterization of [RuCl2(CO)2{Te(CH2SiMe3)2}2] and [RuCl2(CO){Te(CH2SiMe3)2}3]

The objective of the present work was to synthesize mononuclear ruthenium complex [RuCl₂(CO)₂{Te(CH₂SiMe₃)₂}₂] (1) by the reaction of Te(CH₂SiMe₃)₂ and [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂. However, the stoichiometric reaction affords a mixture of 1 and [RuCl₂(CO){Te(CH₂SiMe₃)₂}₃] (2). The X-ray structures show the formation of the cis(Cl), cis(C), trans(Te) isomer of 1 and the cis(Cl), mer(Te) isomer of 2. The ¹²⁵Te NMR spectra of the complexes are reported. The complex distribution depends on the initial molar ratio of the reactants. With an excess of [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂ only 1 is formed. In addition to the stoichiometric reaction, a mixture of 1 and 2 is observed even when using an excess of Te(CH₂SiMe₃)₂. Complex 1 is, however, always the main product. In these cases the ¹²⁵Te NMR spectra of the reaction solution also indicates the presence of unreacted ligand.     

Density functional studies of influences of Ni triad metals and solvents on oxidative addition of MeI to [M(CH3)2(NH3)2] complexes and C-C reductive elimination from [M(CH3)3(NH3)2I] complexes

Three metal square planar complexes of the type [M(CH₃)₂(NH₃)₂] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt), with a systematic variation in the metals, are chosen to investigating their S_N2-type oxidative addition reactions with methyl iodide by using the B3LYP levels of theory. The oxidative addition was found to take place via a transition state with a nearly linear arrangement of the I-CH₃-M moiety. Solvation effects in these oxidative addition reactions were also investigated. Considering the nature of the metal centre and solvation effects, the following conclusions emerge: (i) addition of MeI is exothermic for all three metals, and Pt is predicted to react with a much lower barrier than either Pd or Ni. The results describe that the MeI addition would be expected to be more favourable with the complex bearing the third-row metal (platinum) as compared to the other triad metals, nickel or palladium, in which case a more strongly bound MeI adduct is formed with a lower activation barriers and the reaction being more exothermic; (ii) the reaction is very difficult to occur in low polar solvents, such as benzene, due to the high barrier which is induced by dissociation of iodide anion from methyl group, but the reaction easily occurs in polar solvents, such as acetonitrile; this is attributed to the ability of polar solvents to solvate and therefore stabilize the related polar intermediate ion pair. Ethane reductive elimination from the M(VI) complexes fac-[M(CH₃)₃(NH₃)₂I] were also studied, indicating that the Ni(IV) and Pd(IV) complexes are very prone to undergo the reductive elimination while the Pt(IV) analogous is less reactive towards the reductive elimination. The results indicate that in contrast to the Me-Me reductive elimination, the S_N2 oxidative addition reaction of MeI to M(II) is much less sensitive to the nature of the metal centre, suggesting that the nucleophilicity of M(II) in [M(CH₃)₂(NH₃)₂] does not change significantly as one moves from M = Ni to Pt.     

Preparation of some complexes of the type (C6H5)3P[(CH3)2AsCH2CH(R)CH2As(CH3)2] M(CO)3 (M = Mo or W,R = H or C(CH3)3)

The title compounds, which contain six-membered chelate rings locked in the chair conformation, have been prepared by the reaction of (C₆H₅)₃P with the appropriate tetracarbonyl derivative in refluxing mesitylene.     

Multiple ligand transfer reaction between [CpRu(L)(AN)2][PF6] (L=AN, CO, P(OMe)3; AN=acetonitrile) and CpFe(CO)L′X (L′=CO, PMe3, PMe2Ph, PMePh2, PPh3, P(OPh)3; X=Cl, Br, I)

Treatment of ruthenium complexes [CpRu(AN)₃][PF₆] (1a) (AN=acetonitrile) with iron complexes CpFe(CO)₂X (2a–2c) (X=Cl, Br, I) and CpFe(CO)L′X (6a–6g) (L′=PMe₃, PMe₂Ph, PMePh₂, PPh₃, P(OPh)₃; X=Cl, Br, I) in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ for 3 h results in a triple ligand transfer reaction from iron to ruthenium to give stable ruthenium complexes CpRu(CO)₂X (3a–3c) (X=Cl, Br, I) and CpRu(CO)L′X (7a–7g) (L′=PMe₃, PMe₂Ph, PMePh₂, PPh₃, P(OPh)₃; X=Br, I), respectively. Similar reaction of [CpRu(L)(AN)₂][PF₆] (1b: L=CO, 1c: P(OMe)₃) causes double ligand transfer to yield complexes 3a–3c and 7a–7h. Halide on iron, CO on iron or ruthenium, and two acetonitrile ligands on ruthenium are essential for the present ligand transfer reaction. The dinuclear ruthenium complex 11a [CpRu(CO)(μ-I)]₂ was isolated from the reaction of 1a with 6a at 0°C. Complex 11a slowly decomposes in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature to give 3a, and transforms into 7a by the reaction with PMe₃.     

Proton magnetic relaxation in [N(CH3)4]2 ZnCl4

Proton spin-lattice relaxation times were measured in polycrystalline tetramethylammonium tetrachlorozincate between 77 and 420 K at several Larmor frequencies. Besides the C₃ reorientation of the methyl groups and the isotropic tumbling of the tetramethylammoniunm ions, the results indicate the inequivalence of these ions. Activation energies for different motions are evaluated.     

Synthesis, vibrational and NMR spectroscopic characterization of [N(CH3)4][IO2F2] and X-ray crystal structure of [N(CH3)4]2[IO2F2][HF2]

The salt, [N(CH₃)₄][IO₂F₂], was prepared from [N(CH₃)₄][IO₃] and 49% aqueous HF, and characterized by Raman, infrared, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Crystals of [N(CH₃)₄]₂[IO₂F₂][HF₂] were obtained by reduction of [N(CH₃)₄][cis-IO₂F₄] in the presence of [N(CH₃)₄][F] in CH₃CN solvent and were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction: C2/m, a = 14.6765(2) Å, b = 8.60490(10) Å, c = 13.9572(2) Å, β = 120.2040(10)°, V = 1523.35(3) Å³, Z = 4 and R = 0.0192 at 210 K. The crystal structure consists of two IO₂⁻F₂ anions that are symmetrically bridged by two H⁻F₂ anions, forming a [F₂O₂I(FHF)₂IO₂F₂]⁴⁻ dimer. The symmetric bridging coordination for the H⁻F₂ anion in this structure represents a new bonding modality for the bifluoride anion.     

Selective formation of trans and cis(CH3CN) isomers of [Ru(bpy)(CO)2(CH3CN)2] (bpy=2,2-bipyridine) from [Ru(CO)2(CH3CN)3]2(PF6)2 using an electrochemical oxidation step

The selective in situ synthesis of trans and cis(CH₃CN)-[Ru(bpy)(CO)₂ (CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ isomers from the same [Ru(CO)₂ (CH₃CN)₃]₂²⁺ dimer precursor but using either an electrochemical-chemical or chemical-electrochemical process is described.     

Actinide-centered cyclometalation chemistry. An unusually distorted thorium bishydrocarbyl: Thp[η5-(CH3)5C5]2CH2Si(CH3)3]2

The crystal and molecular structure of the complex Th[η⁵-(CH₃)₅C₅]₂[CH₂-Si(CH₃)₃]₂, which undergoes facile intramolecular cyclometalation to the thoracyclobutane Th[η⁵-(CH₃)₅C₅]₂(CH₂)₂Si(CH₃)₂, is reported. While the Th[η⁵-(CH₃)₅C₅]₂ ligation is unexceptional, the Th[CH₂Si(CH₃)₃]₂ fragment is highly unsymmetrical having Th-C (corresponding angle Th-C-Si) 2.51(1) Å (132.0(6)°) and 2.46(1) Å (148.0(7)°). This conformation, which appears to result from severe intramolecular non-bonded contacts, allows a methyl hydrogen atom of one CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ ligand to approach within ca. 2.3 Å of the α-carbon atom of the other CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ ligand.     

Bond energies and thermal decomposition of [Pt(X)(CH3)(P(C2H5)3)2] complexes

The thermal decomposition of the complexes trans-[Pt(X)(CH₃)L₂] (L  P(C₂H₅)₃; X  Cl, Br, I, CN) in decalin at 170 and 200°C affords methane platinum metal and [Pt(X)₂L₂]. The kinetics of the decomposition of the complexes were determined by monitoring the appearance of methane by GLC. The observed first-order rate constant was found to be independent on the nature of the ligand X. The thermal decomposition of the trideuteriomethyl complexes [Pt(X)(CD₃)L₂] (X  I, CN) in decalin-d₁₈ at 170 and 200°C was studied by GLC/MS. The thermolysis affords CD₃H and CD₄ in ratios which are independent of the nature of X and of the temperature used. The mass spectra of the complexes were also examined. A relative scale of platinum-to-methyl bond dissociation energies has been established by measuring the appearance potential of the fragment ion [Pt(X)L₂]⁺ and the ionization energies in the series [Pt(X)(CH₃)L₂]. Ionization potentials and PtCH₃ bond energies show a clear dependence on the nature of X which is not reflected in corresponding changes in the decomposition rates.     

Preparation and properties of (η-C5H5)2ZrCl[Si(CH3)3] and (η-C5H5)2Zr[Si(CH3)3]2; trimethylsilyl group transfer from mercury to zirconium

Two silyl-zirconium compounds (η-C₅H₅)₂ZrCl[Si(CH₃)₃] (I) and (η-C₅H₅)₂-Zr[Si(CH₃)₃]₂ (II), have been prepared by the reaction of (η-C₅H₅)₂ZrCl₂ with Hg[Si(CH₃)₃]₂ in refluxing benzene. While I is unreactive toward 1-hexyne (55–60°C) and CO (350 psi), the zirconiumsilicon bond is cleaved by electrophiles such as Cl₂, HgCl₂, and AlCl₃.     

1-Heptyne semihydrogenation catalysed by [PdCl2(NH2(CH2)5CH3)2]

The [PdCl₂(NH₂(CH₂)₅CH₃)₂] complex was tested as catalyst for 1-heptyne semihydrogenation under mild conditions of temperature and pressure in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Species were characterized by XPS and FTIR techniques. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of hybrid materials: [Ce(H2O)]2[O2C(CH2)2CO2]3 and [Sm(H2O)]2[O2C(CH2)2CO2]3·H2O

The rare-earth dicarboxylate hybrid materials [Ce(H₂O)]₂[O₂C(CH₂)₂CO₂]₃ ([Ce(Suc)]) and [Sm(H₂O)]₂[O₂C(CH₂)₂CO₂]₃·H₂O ([Sm(Suc)]) have been hydrothermally synthesized (200°C, 3 days) under autogenus pressure. [Ce(Suc)] is triclinic, a=7.961 (3) Å, b=8.176 (5) Å, c=14.32 (2) Å, α=97.07° (7), β=96.75° (8), γ=103.73° (6), and z=2. The crystal structure of this compound has been determined using 3120 unique single crystal data. The final refinements let the agreement factors R₁ and wR₂(F²) converge to 0.0138 and 0.0363, respectively. [Ce(Suc)] is built up from infinite chains of edge-sharing nine-fold coordinated cerium atoms running along [100]. These chains are interconnected by the carbon atoms of the succinate anions, leading to a three-dimensional hybrid framework. The cell constants of [Sm(Suc)], isotypic with monoclinic C2/c [Pr(H₂O)]₂[O₂C(CH₂)₂CO₂]₃·H₂O ([Pr(Suc)]), were refined starting from X-ray powder data: a=20.275 (3) Å, b=7.919 (6) Å, c=14.130 (3) Å, and β=121.45° (1). Despite its lower symmetry, [Ce(Suc)] presents an important structural filiation with [Sm(Suc)]     

Carbonylvanadium complexes of the tripod ligands MeC(CH2PPh2)3 and P(CH2CH2PPh2)3

UV irradiation of [Et₄N] [V(CO)₆] in the presence of the tripod ligands (L) MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃ (cp₃) and P(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₃ (pp₃) yields [Et₄N] [V(CO)₅L], cis-[Et₄N] [V(CO)₄L] and mer-[Et₄N] [V(CO)₃L] (where the meridional configuration for L = cp₃ is uncertain). Except for [Et₄N] [V(CO)₅cp₃], all these species were isolated. The complexes are characterized by their IR, ³¹P and ⁵¹V NMR spectra.