Electrochemically generated tungsten‐based active species as catalysts for metathesis‐related reactions: 2. Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene

The present work reports the application of the WCl₆–e^?–Al–CH₂Cl₂ catalyst system to the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene. Analysis of the polynorbornene microstructure by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer contains a mainly cis stereoconfiguration of the double bonds (σ_c = 0.61) and a blocky distribution (r_tr_c > 1) of cis and trans double bonds (r_tr_c = 3.37). This catalytic system is reluctant to facilitate the competing addition reactions of cycloalkenes while proceeding with the polymerization reactions with good conversions and at short periods. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of electrochemically generated molybdenum‐based catalyst system to the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene and a comparison with the tungsten analogue

This study describes the application of the electrochemically generated molybdenum‐based catalyst system MoCl₅? e^?? Al? CH₂Cl₂ to ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene (norbornene). The results are compared with those previously obtained by the WCl₆? e^?? Al? CH₂Cl₂ system. The polymer product has been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and gel‐permeation chromatography techniques. This molybdenum‐based catalyst system has led to a mainly trans stereoconfiguration (ca 60%) of the double bonds, in contrast to the polymer obtained with the tungsten‐based analogue, where the cis content is 60%. Analysis of the poly(1,3‐cyclopentylenevinylene) microstructure by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed that the polymer having σ_c = 0.41 (fraction of double bonds with cis configuration) contains a slightly blocky distribution (r_tr_c > 1) of the double‐bond dyads (r_tr_c = 1.44). In addition, the influence of reaction parameters, e.g. reaction time, electrolysis time and catalyst aging time, on conversion has been analysed in detail. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of ketimide ligand for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization catalyzed by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes-MAO catalyst systems: Structural analysis for CpTiCl2(NCPh2)

Ligand effects on the catalytic activity [and norbornene (NBE) incorporation] for both ethylene polymerization and ethylene/NBE copolymerization using half-titanocenes (titanium half-sandwich complexes) containing ketimide ligand of type Cp′TiCl₂[NC(R¹)R²] [Cp′ = Cp (1), C⁵Me⁵ (Cp^∗, 2); R¹,R² = ^tBu,^tBu (a), ^tBu,Ph (b), Ph,Ph (c)]-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems have been investigated. CpTiCl₂[NC(^tBu)Ph] (1b) CpTiCl₂(NCPh₂) (1c), and Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) were prepared and identified; the structure of Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization increased in the order: 1a > 1b > 1c, suggesting that an electronic nature of the ketimide ligand affects the activity. However, molecular weight distributions for resultant (co)polymers prepared by 1b,c and by 2c-MAO catalyst systems were bi- or multi-modal, suggesting that the ketimide substituent plays a key role in order for these (co)polymerizations to proceed with single catalytically-active species. CpTiCl₂(NC^tBu₂) (1a) exhibited both remarkable catalytic activity and efficient NBE incorporation for ethylene/NBE copolymerization.     

Synthesis and structure of stable cis-dimethyl complex of oxotungsten(VI)

Oxotungsten(VI) complex cis-[WO(L^tBu)Me₂] (L^tBu = methylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenolate) dianion) was prepared by the transmetallation reaction of [WO(L^tBu)Cl₂] (either cis or trans isomer) with methyl magnesium iodide. This unexpectedly stable dialkyl complex can be activated by Et₂AlCl to catalyze the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene.     

Mechanochemical-induced cis-to-trans isomerization of poly(2-ethynyl-3-n-octylthiophene) prepared with a Rh complex catalyst

Highly stereoregular polymerization of 2-ethynyl-3-n-octylthiophene was successfully performed with a [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂ catalyst to produce the corresponding polymers in fairly high yields by using triethylamine or a mixture of it with other solvents as the polymerization solvent. We found that the obtained polymer using CHCl₃ was a mixture of cis-transoid form, ca. 68% and trans-transoid form, ca. 32% unlike our previous conjecture. Further, we found that the cis-to-trans isomerization can be also induced when the pristine predominant cis polymer was subjected to mechanochemical grinding (MCG) treatment at 77 K using a mortar filled with liquid nitrogen to decrease the cis content from ca. 68% to ca. 7%. The polymers obtained before and after the MCG treatment were characterized in detail using ¹H NMR, laser Raman, solution UV-vis, diffuse reflective UV-vis, and ESR methods in order to determine the geometry of the main-chain CC bonds in the polymer. The data showed that the polymer obtained by the treatment has a fairly distorted trans conjugation length, i.e., bent trans structure in which less mobile unpaired electrons generated by the rotational scission of the original cis CC bonds are stabilized.     

Das chlorsilylsubstituierte Silanimin Bu2SiNSiClBu2

In the thermolysis of the silaterazolines silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₃SiN₃ the silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ and the silyl azide ^tBu₃SiN₃ are formed quantitatively. The silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ has been trapped with Et₃NHF, Me₃NHCl, water, 1-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, isobutene, methylvinyl ether, and ^tBu₂SiClN₃. The structure of the disiloxane (^tBu₂SiCl-NH-Si^tBu₂)₂O and of the bis(di-tert-butylchlorsilyl)-substituted silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₂SiClN₃ has been determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Synthesis and characterisation of the amidine complexes trans-[PtCl(NH3){HNC(NH2)R}2]Cl (R = Me, Ph, CH2Ph) derived from addition of NH3 to the coordinated nitriles in trans-[PtCl2(NCR)2]

The di-nitrile complexes trans-[PtCl₂(NCR)₂] (R = Me, Ph, CH₂Ph) react with an excess of gaseous NH₃ in CH₂Cl₂ at −10 °C to form, in high yield, the corresponding di-amidine complexes trans-[PtCl(NH₃){HNC(NH₂)R}₂]Cl in which also one chlorine ligand has been displaced by NH₃. The ¹H NMR spectra in DMSO showed the formation of different species which were characterized through NOESY, TOCSY and ¹H/¹³C heteronuclear correlations as trans-[Pt(NH₃){HNC(NH₂)R}₂(DMSO)]Cl₂ and trans-[PtCl{HNC(NH₂)R}₂(DMSO)]Cl.     

Synthesis and structures of bimetallic silicon-containing imido alkylidene complexes of tungsten (R′O)2(ArN)WCH-SiR2-CHW(NAr)(OR′)2 (R = Me, Ph) and (R′O)2(ArN)WCH-SiMe2SiMe2-CHW(NAr)(OR′)2

Bimetallic alkylidene complexes of tungsten (R′O)₂(ArN)WCH-SiR₂-CHW(NAr)(OR′)₂ (R = Me (1), Ph (2)) and (R′O)₂(ArN)WCH-SiMe₂SiMe₂-CHW(NAr)(OR′)₂ (3) (Ar = ; R′ = CMe₂CF₃) have been prepared by the reactions of divinyl silicon reagents R₂Si(CHCH₂)₂ with known alkylidene compounds R′′-CHMo(NAr)(OR′)₂. (R′′ = Bu^t, PhMe₂C) Complexes 1-3 were structurally characterized. Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene using compounds 1-3 as initiators led to the formation of high molecular weight polyoctenamers with predominant trans-units content in the case of 1 and 3 and predominant cis-units content in the case of 2.     

Difluoroethylene as a chain transfer agent during ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene by a ruthenium alkylidene complex: A computational study

The polynorbornene chain transfer reaction pathways to ethylene (2a), trans-1,2-difluoroethylene (2b) and trans-1,4-dichloro-2-butene (2c) by (1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) (PCy₃)Cl₂RuCHPh (I) have been studied at B3LYP/LACVP^∗ level of theory. The calculations show that the free Gibbs activation energy of metathesis reaction is dependent on the volume of substituents directly linked to the double bond of an olefin. Highest activation energy is observed for 2c with highest molecular volume. The activation energy is lower for 2a with small molecular volume. Compared to 2a and 2c, fluorinated olefin 2b binds more strongly to the 14 electron Ru-alkylidene catalyst to form tighter transition state. Therefore, sterical factor is the most important contribution to the activation energy for Ru-alkylidene mediated olefin metathesis.     

Titanium ketimide complexes as α-olefin homo- and copolymerisation catalysts. X-ray diffraction structures of [TiCp(NCBu2)Cl2] (Cp=Ind, Cp*)

The synthesis of [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] and the applications of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*, Cp) as ethylene and propylene homopolymerisation catalysts, as well as its behaviour as catalysts of ethylene and 10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation are described. The optimisation of the catalytic reactions showed that all compounds are very active homopolymerisation catalysts, particularly [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] that gives 123.37 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [E] h) and 50.77 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [P] h) of linear polyethylene and atatic polypropylene, respectively. The less active homopolymerisation catalyst, [TiCp(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂], is the most effective ethylene/10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation catalyst, leading to the highest degree of polar monomer incorporation. The polymers obtained were characterised by NMR and DSC. The molecular structures of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*) were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Controlled/living cationic polymerization of styrene with BF3OEt2 as a coinitiator in the presence of water: Improvements and limitations

The controlled/living cationic polymerization of styrene using R-OH/BF₃OEt₂ (R-OH = 1-phenylethanol (1), 2-phenyl-2-propanol (2) and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol (3)) at 0 °C in CH₂Cl₂ and in the presence of water was investigated. With 1/BF₃OEt₂, the poor control over molecular weight and molecular weight distribution was ascribed to a competitive protonic initiation induced by water. The molecular weight of the polymers obtained with 2/BF₃OEt₂ and 3/BF₃OEt₂ at low water content ([H₂O] ? 0.11 M) increased in direct proportion to the monomer conversion in agreement with the calculated values, assuming that one initiator molecule generates one polymer chain, but the molecular weight distribution was found relatively broad (M_w/M_n ∼ 1.8). ¹H NMR analyses confirmed that polymerization proceeds via reversible activation of C-OH terminus, but some loss of hydroxyl functionality was revealed. Some trials using high water contents in the recipe ([H₂O] ? 1.6 M) produced only traces of polymer due to catalyst decomposition.     

Synthesis, characterization, and ethylene polymerization behavior of [(RR′-admpzp)2Ti(OPr)2] complexes (RR′-admpzp = 1-dialkylamino-3-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-propan-2-olate)

[(RR′-admpzp)₂Ti(OPrⁱ)₂] complexes (2a-c), synthesized from reaction of Ti(OPrⁱ)₃Cl (0.5 equiv) with 1-dialkylamino-3-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol compounds in the presence of triethylamine (0.5 equiv), are pseudo-octahedral with each RR′-admpzp ligand κ²-O,N(pyrazolyl) coordinated to the titanium center. In solution, 2a-c adopt isomeric structures that are in dynamic equilibrium. At 23 °C, 2a-c/1000 MAO catalyst systems furnished high molecular weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 2.7-2.8). At 100 °C, 2a-c/MAO catalyst systems exhibited increased polymerization activity and 2c/1000 MAO system furnished high molecular weight polyethylene with a molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 2.1) that is close to that found for single-site catalysts.     

First FT-Raman and H NMR comparative investigations in ring opening metathesis polymerization

Kinetics of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo,exo-5,6-di(methoxycarbonyl)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, promoted by the Grubbs’ 1st generation precatalyst, has been effectively monitored by FT-Raman and NMR spectroscopy. Both techniques evidenced similar monomer conversions to be attained under the same reaction conditions. The present FT-Raman study provided information on the polymer steric configuration, the Raman bands at 1670 and 1677 cm⁻¹ being specifically assigned to stretching vibrations of double bonds from the cis- and trans-polymer, respectively. The trans/cis ratio observed by FT-Raman parallels the corresponding result from ¹H NMR. For the first time, a comparison was made on application of these complementary methods on the same ROMP reaction, evidencing their assets and disadvantages and reliability of FT-Raman.     

Two new octahedral/pyramidal frameworks containing both cation channels and lone-pair channels: syntheses and structures of Ba2MnMn2(SeO3)6 and PbFe2(SeO3)4

The hydrothermal syntheses, single crystal structures, and some properties of Ba₂Mn^IIMn₂^III(SeO₃)₆ and PbFe₂(SeO₃)₄ are reported. These related phases contain three-dimensional frameworks of vertex (FeO₆) and vertex/edge linked (MnO₆) octahedra and SeO₃ pyramids. In each case, the MO₆/SeO₃ framework encloses two types of 8 ring channels, one of which encapsulates the extra-framework cations and one of which provides space for the Se^IV lone pairs. Crystal data: Ba₂Mn₃(SeO₃)₆, M_r=1201.22, monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), a=5.4717 (3) Å, b=9.0636 (4) Å, c=17.6586 (9) Å, β=94.519 (1)°, V=873.03 (8) Å³, Z=2, R(F)=0.031, wR(F²)=0.070; PbFe₂(SeO₃)₄, M_r=826.73, triclinic, (No. 2), a=5.2318 (5) Å, b=6.7925 (6) Å, c=7.6445 (7) Å, α=94.300 (2)°, β=90.613 (2)°, γ=95.224 (2)°, V=269.73 (4) Å³, Z=1, R(F)=0.051, wR(F²)=0.131.     

Bis(pyrrolide-imine) Ti complexes with MAO: A new family of high performance catalysts for olefin polymerization

This contribution reports on the syntheses, structures and olefin polymerization behavior of Ti complexes having a pair of chelating pyrrolide-imine [N⁻,N] ligands. X-ray analyses as well as ¹H NMR studies demonstrate that bis(pyrrolide-imine) Ti complexes (named PI Catalysts) contain approximately octahedrally coordinated metal centers with mutually trans-pyrrolide-Ns, cis-imine-Ns and cis-Cls. DFT studies suggest that PI Catalysts, when activated, provide a metal alkyl in the cis position to a vacant coordination site for monomer binding. These theoretical studies also show that the active species derived from PI Catalysts normally possess higher electrophilicity and a sterically more open nature compared with those produced using bis(phenoxy-imine) Ti complexes (Ti-FI Catalysts) which are known as high performance olefin polymerization catalysts. These structural as well as electronic features suggest that PI Catalysts have high potential for the polymerization of olefinic monomers.Unlike high performance Ti-FI Catalysts, PI Catalysts do not require the presence of steric bulk in close proximity to the anionic donor. PI Catalysts combined with MAO display high ethylene polymerization activities (max. 33,200 kg-polymer/mol-cat/h, 25 °C, atmospheric pressure) comparable to those obtained with early group 4 metallocene catalysts (e.g., Cp₂TiCl₂ 16,700 kg-polymer/mol-cat/h) under identical conditions. As expected, PI Catalysts exhibit higher incorporation capability for propylene and 1-hexene relative to FI Catalysts though the incorporation levels are lower than those for Cp₂TiCl₂. To our surprise, PI Catalysts/MAO show remarkably high norbornene (NB) incorporation, superior to that seen with the [Me₂Si(Me₄Cp)N-tBu]TiCl₂ (CGC) catalyst system, and they readily form ethylene-NB copolymers with high NB contents. The highly electrophilic and sterically open nature is probably responsible for the high NB affinity. Additionally, PI Catalysts/MAO possess characteristics of living ethylene polymerization (though under limited conditions) and afford high molecular weight PEs with very narrow molecular weight distributions (M_n 225,000, M_w/M_n 1.15, 10-s polymerization, 25 °C). Moreover, these catalysts can copolymerize ethylene and NB in a highly controlled living manner to afford monodisperse alternating copolymers with very high molecular weights (M_n > 500,000, M_w/M_n < 1.2) at room temperature. This unique living nature allows the preparation of a number of ethylene- and NB-based block copolymers, including PE-b-poly(ethylene-co-NB) and poly(ethylene-co-NB)_a-b-poly(ethylene-co-NB)_b, in which each segment contains a different NB content. These are probably the first examples of the syntheses of block copolymers from ethylene and NB. Consequently, the discovery and application of PI Catalysts has exercised a significant influence on olefin polymerization catalysis and polymer synthesis.     

Trans-stereospecific polymerization of butadiene and random copolymerization with styrene using borohydrido neodymium/magnesium dialkyl catalysts

The combination of a neodymium borohydride, Nd(BH₄)₃(THF)₃ (1) or Cp^*Nd(BH₄)₂(THF)_x (2), with MgⁿBuEt (BEM), affords an efficient and highly selective (up to 96.7% 1,4-trans) catalyst for butadiene polymerization. In the presence of excesses of Mg co-catalyst, polymer chain transfer takes place between neodymium and magnesium, and significant amounts of 1,2-units are observed. When considered for butadiene-styrene statistical copolymerization, the catalytic system based on 2 showed a good ability to produce poly[(1,4-trans-butadiene)-co-styrene)], with strong impact of the Mg/Nd ratio on the yield and on the copolymer microstructure, including the percentage of inserted styrene (up to 16.9 mol%). Whatever the co-monomers concentration the polybutadiene backbone remained 1,4-trans. The precise microstructure of the polymers and copolymers was thoroughly analyzed by means of high resolution NMR spectroscopy (900 MHz) and MALDI-ToF spectrometry.     

Pentynol to furan conversion - Search for the best trans-[MX2(YNC10H14O)2] catalyst

Conversion of 4-pentyn-1-ol (A) into 2-methyl-2-pent-4-ynyloxy-tetrahydrofuran (B) is catalysed by camphorimine complexes trans-[PdCl₂(YNC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] (Y = NMe₂, NHMe, NH₂, OH, OMe, Prⁱ, Ph), trans-[PdBr₂(YNC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] (Y = NMe₂, NH₂, OH, Ph), trans-[PtCl₂(YNC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] (Y = NMe₂, NHMe, NH₂). In the presence of H₂O those catalysts further promote the conversion of 2-methyl-2-pent-4-ynyloxy-tetrahydrofuran (B) into 5-(2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yloxy)-pentan-2-one (C). The efficiency of each process highly depends on the characteristics of the Y group (at the camphor ligand), the halide (co-ligand) and the transition metal. To ascertain on the relevance of each parameter into the properties of the catalysts, the rate constants for A → B and B → C processes, TON, TOF and catalysts Activities (A_i) for A → B conversion were calculated. From the three sets of complexes studied the most efficient catalyst is trans-[PdCl₂(H₂NNC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] while trans-[PdCl₂(PhNC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] is the less efficient. Palladium chloride are considerably better catalysts than palladium bromide complexes except in the case of trans-[PdBr₂(HONC₁₀H₁₄O)₂] that resembles chloride complexes efficiency. Compared to palladium, platinum complexes are considerably less efficient catalysts.     

The synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structures of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of the difluorovinyl and 1-chloro-2-fluorovinyl-substituted phosphines, PPh2(Z-CFCFH) and PPh2(E-CClCFH)

The coordination chemistry of the fluorovinyl substituted phosphines PPh₂(Z-CFCFH) and PPh₂(E-CClCFH) with K₂MX₄ (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, and I) salts has been investigated resulting in the first reported palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of phosphines containing partially fluorinated vinyl groups. The complexes have been characterised by a combination of multinuclear [¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ¹⁹F, ³¹P{¹H}] NMR spectroscopy, and IR/Raman spectroscopy. The single-crystal X-ray structures of trans-[PdX₂{PPh₂(CFCFH)}₂], X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), trans-[PdCl₂{PPh₂(CClCFH)}₂] (4), cis-[PtX₂{PPh₂(CFCFH)}₂], X = Cl (5), Br (6), trans-[PtI₂{PPh₂(CFCFH)}₂] (7), and both cis- and trans-[PtCl₂{PPh₂(CClCFH)}₂] (8), have been determined. Results obtained from spectroscopic and crystallographic data suggest that replacement of a β-fluorine by hydrogen, whilst reducing the steric demand of the ligand, has little effect on the electronic character of the ligand. The presence of a proton in the vinyl group results in short proton-halide secondary interactions in the solid state (d(H?X) = 2.72(3) for 1, and 2.92(5) Å for 2) forming an infinite chain ribbon motif.     

The reaction of the group-13 alkyls ER3 (E = Al, Ga, In; R = CH2t-Bu, CH2 SiMe3) with the platinum-complex [(dcpe)Pt(H)(CH2t-Bu)]

The reactions of the sterically demanding group-13 alkyls ER₃ (E = Al, Ga, In; R = CH₂t-Bu, CH₂SiMe₃) with the platinum-complex [(dcpe)Pt(H)(CH₂t-Bu)] were re-investigated. The bimetallic compounds [(dcpe)Pt(ER₂)(R)] (3: E = Ga, R = CH₂SiMe₃; 5: E = In, R = CH₂t-Bu; dcpe = bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane) with direct σ(Pt-E) bonds were obtained by oxidative addition of an E-C bond to the coordinatively unsaturated fragment [(dcpe)Pt] produced in situ by thermolysis of the starting complex [(dcpe)Pt(CH₂t-Bu)(H)]. The single crystal structure determination reveals a Pt-Ga bond length of 2.376(2) Å and a Pt-In bond length of 2.608(1) Å. All new compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, ³¹P and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy. Interestingly, the Pt-Ga compound 3 slowly transforms into the platinum alkyl/hydride isomer {(dcpe)Pt(μ₂-H)[CH₂Si(CH₃)₂ CH₂Ga(CH₂SiMe₃)₂]} (4) during crystallization from solution at room temperature. The X-ray single crystal structure analysis revealed both complexes 3 and 4 coexisting in the unit cell in a 1:1 relation. The inaccessibility of analytically pure samples of the Pt-Al complex {(dcpe)Pt[Al(CH₂t-Bu)₂](CH₂t-Bu)} (6), postulated as intermediate of the reaction of [(dcpe)Pt(H)(CH₂t-Bu)] with Al(CH₂t-Bu) on the basis of ³¹P and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR data, is attributed to an enhanced tendency to isomerisation into the alkyl/hydride Pt/Al congener of 4. A brief DFT analysis of the bonding situation of the model complex [(dhpe)Pt(GaMe₂)(Me)] (1M) revealed, that the contribution of π(Pt-Ga) back-bonding is negligible.