Group 9 complexes of an N-heterocycle carbene bearing a pentafluorobenzyl substituent: attempted dehydrofluorinative coupling of cyclopentadienyl and N-heterocycle carbene ligands

Treatment of N-methylimidazole with pentafluorobenzyl bromide produces 1-pentafluorobenzyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (1), which reacts with silver(I) oxide to give the N-heterocycle carbene (NHC) complex 1-pentafluorobenzyl-3-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene silver(I) bromide (2). Complex 2 acts as a carbene transfer reagent giving the complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl₂(NHC)] (3a, M = Rh; 3b M = Ir) on reaction with [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl(μ-Cl)]₂. An attempt to use intramolecular dehydrofluorinative coupling methodology to link the carbene and the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands of [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(CN^tBu)(NHC)]BF₄ was unsuccessful.     

Reactivity studies of (η-arene)ruthenium dimeric complexes towards pyrazoles: isolation of amidines, bis pyrazoles and chloro bridged pyrazole complexes

The complex [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂1 reacts with pyrazole ligands (3a-g) in acetonitrile to afford the amidine derivatives of the type [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(L)(3,5-HRR′pz)](BF4)₂ (4a-f), where L = {HNC(Me)3,5-RR′pz}; R, R′ = H (4a); H, CH₃ (4b); C₆H₅ (4c); CH₃, C₆H₅ (4d) OCH₃ (4e); and OC₂H₅ (4f), respectively. The ligand L is generated in situ through the condensation of 3,5-HRR′pz with acetonitrile under the influence of [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂. The complex [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂2 reacts with pyrazole ligands in acetonitrile to yield bis-pyrazole derivatives such as [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru (3,5-HRR′pz)₂Cl](BF₄) (5a-b), where R, R′ = H (5a); H, CH₃ (5b), as well as dimeric complexes of pyrazole substituted chloro bridged derivatives [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl) (3,5-HRR′pz)}₂](BF₄)₂ (5c-g), where R, R′ = CH₃ (5c); C₆H₅ (5d); CH₃, C₆H₅ (5e); OCH₃ (5f); and OC₂H₅ (5g), respectively. These complexes were characterized by FT-IR and FT-NMR spectroscopy as well as analytical data. The molecular structures¹ of representative complexes [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru{3(5)-Hmpz}₂Cl]⁺5b, [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)(3,5-Hdmpz)]₂²⁺5c and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl){3(5)Me,5(3)Ph-Hpz}]₂²⁺5e were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Syntheses and characterization of [(η-C6Me6)Ru(μ-N3)(X)]2 (X = N3 and Cl) complexes and their reactions towards mono- and bidentate ligands

The reaction of the complex [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl}₂] 1 with sodium azide ligand gave two new dimers of the composition [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-N₃)(N₃)}₂] 2 and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-N₃)Cl}₂] 3, depending upon the reaction conditions. Complex 3 with excess of sodium azide in ethanol yielded complex 2. These complexes undergo substitution reactions with monodentate ligands to yield monomeric complexes of the type [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(X)(N₃)(L)] {X = N₃, Cl, L = PPh₃ (4a, 9a); PMe₂Ph (4b, 9b); AsPh₃ (4c, 9c); X = N₃, L = pyrazole (Hpz) (5a); 3-methylpyrazole (3-Hmpz) (5b) and 3,5-dimethyl-pyrazole (3,5-Hdmpz) (5c)}. Complexes 2 and 3 also react with bidentate ligands to give bridging complexes of the type [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(N₃)(X)]₂(μ-L)} {X = N₃, Cl, L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) (6, 10); 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) (7, 11); 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) (8, 12); X = Cl, L = 4,4-bipyridine (4,4′-bipy) (13)}. These complexes were characterized by FT-IR and FT-NMR spectroscopy as well as by analytical data.The molecular structures of the representative complexes [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-N₃)(N₃)}₂] 2, [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-N₃)Cl}₂] 3,[(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(N₃)₂(PPh₃)] 4a and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(N₃)₂}₂ (μ-dppm)] 6 were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Synthesis and reactivity of homo-bimetallic Rh and Ir complexes containing a N,O-donor Schiff base

Binuclear complexes [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-bsh)] (1) and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-bsh)] (2) containing N,N′-bis(salicylidine)hydrazine (H₂bsh) are reported. The complexes 1 and 2 reacted with EPh₃ (E = P, As) to afford cationic complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(PPh₃)(κ²-Hbsh)]PF₆ (3), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(AsPh₃)(κ²-Hbsh)]PF₆ (4), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(PPh₃)(κ²-Hbsh)]PF₆ (5), and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(AsPh₃)(κ²-Hbsh)]PF₆ (6) which were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. Representative complexes 3 and 5 have been used as a metallo-ligand in the synthesis of binuclear complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(μ-bsh)Ru(η⁶-C₁₀H₁₄)Cl]PF₆ (7) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(μ-bsh)Ru(η⁶-C₁₀H₁₄)Cl]PF₆ (8). The complexes under study have been fully characterized by analytical and spectral (FAB/ESI-MS, IR, NMR, electronic and emission) studies. Molecular structures of 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been determined crystallographically. Structural studies on 1 and 2 revealed the presence of extensive inter- and intra-molecular C-H···O and C-H···π weak bonding interactions. The complexes 1, 2, 3 and 5 moderately emit upon excitation at their respective MLCT bands.     

Mono and dinuclear iridium, rhodium and ruthenium complexes containing chelating carboxylato pyrazine ligands: Synthesis, molecular structure and electrochemistry

The mononuclear complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L¹)] (1), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L¹)] (2), [(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl(L¹)] (3) and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl(L¹)] (4) have been synthesised from pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (HL¹) and the corresponding complexes [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl₂}₂], [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl₂}₂], [{(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl₂}₂], and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl₂}₂], respectively. The related dinuclear complexes [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-L²)] (5), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-L²)] (6), [{(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(μ-L²)] (7) and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L²)] (8) have been obtained in a similar manner from pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₂L²). Compounds isomeric to the latter series, [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-L³)] (9), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-L³)] (10), [{(p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(μ-L³)] (11) and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L³)] (12), have been prepared by using pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (H₂L³) instead of H₂L². The molecular structures of 2 and 3, determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, show the pyrazine-2-carboxylato moiety to act as an N,O-chelating ligand, while the structure analyses of 5-7, confirm that the pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylato unit bridges two metal centres. The electrochemical behaviour of selected representatives has been studied by voltammetric techniques.     

Reactivity of electron-poor decamethyl-1,3-diboraruthenocene with sulfur and phosphorus compounds

Decamethyl-1,3-diboraruthenocene [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂}] (1) reacts with cyclo-octasulfur in hexane to give [(η⁵-C₅Me₅){η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂}RuS] (3), which may also be obtained from 1 and propylene sulfide. 1 reacts with H₂S to form the ruthenathiacarboranyl complex [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁴-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂S}] (6), for which a nido-structure is proposed. The isomeric compounds 3 and 6 have different stabilities: 3 loses sulfur and unexpectedly the closo-cluster [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂Ru₂H(CMe)₃(BMe)₂] (4) is formed with hydrogen bridging the basal and apical Ru centers. Reaction of 1 with carbonylsulfide (COS) yields the dinuclear ruthenium compound [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂(S)(COBMe)}]₂ (7) in which two B-O groups bridge two ruthenium complexes. Its formation results from a complex reaction sequence: sulfur inserts into the diborolyl ring and the ligand CO forms an oxygen-boron bridge to a second molecule, followed by insertion of the carbonyl carbon into the double bond of the diboraheterocycle. Carbon disulfide reacts with 1 to give the dinuclear complex 8 with two CS₂ molecules connecting the ruthenium centers. When 1 and P₄ are heated in toluene, the sandwich 9 is obtained by formal insertion of a P-H group into the diborolyl ring of 1 and the triple-decker [{η⁵-(C₅Me₅)Ru}₂{μ-(MeC)₃P(MeB)₂} (10) is detected in the mass spectrum. The phosphaalkyne PCtBu inserts into 1 to give the ruthenaphosphacarborane [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{(CMe)₂(BMe)(PCtBu)(CMe)(BMe)}] (11) in high yield. Phosphanes react with 1 to give weak donor-acceptor complexes 1 · PH₂R (12) (R=Ph, H). The compositions of the compounds are deduced from spectroscopic and analytical data and are confirmed for 4 and 7 by X-ray structural analyses.     

Mono and dinuclear complexes of half-sandwich platinum group metals (Ru, Rh and Ir) bearing a flexible pyridyl-thiazole multidentate donor ligand

The mononuclear cationic complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl(L)]⁺ (1), [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl(L)]⁺ (2), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)(L)]⁺ (3), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)(L)]⁺ (4), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L)]⁺ (5), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L)]⁺ (6) as well as the dinuclear dicationic complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (7), [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (8), [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)}2(L)]²⁺ (9), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)}₂(L)]²⁺ (10), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (11) and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (12) have been synthesized from 4,4′-bis(2-pyridyl-4-thiazole) (L) and the corresponding complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl)], [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl], [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, respectively. All complexes were isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts and characterized by IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of [3]PF₆, [5]PF₆, [8](PF₆)₂ and [12](PF₆)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centers with a five-membered metallo-cycle in which 4,4′-bis(2-pyridyl-4-thiazole) acts as a N,N′-chelating ligand.     

Insertion vs. site epimerization with singly-bridged and doubly-bridged metallocene polymerization catalysts

A statistical model has been employed to determine the unidirectional site epimerization probability, ε, during propylene polymerization with the following C₁-symmetric metallocene precatalysts activated with MAO (MAO = methylaluminoxane): doubly-bridged rac-(1,2-SiMe₂)₂{η⁵-C₅H₂-4-(CHMe(CMe₃))}{η⁵-C₅H-3,5-(CHMe₂)₂}ZrCl₂ (1) and (1,2-SiMe₂)₂{η⁵-C₅H₂-4-(1R,2S,5R-menthyl)}{η⁵-C₅H-3,5-(CHMe₂)₂}ZrCl₂ (2); and singly-bridged Me₂C(3-(2-adamantyl)-C₅H₃)(C₁₃H₈)ZrCl₂ (3) and Me₂Si(3-(2-adamantyl)-C₅H₃)(C₁₃H₈)ZrCl₂ (4). For 1/MAO a steep tacticity dependence on monomer concentration was found, as ε increased from 0.114 to 0.909 as [C₃H₆] decreased from 12.5 M to 0.5 M; similarly, ε increased for 2/MAO from 0.177 to 0.709. For 3/MAO, ε was moderately responsive to an increase in polymerization temperature, as ε increased from 0.000 to 0.485 from T_p = 0-90 °C ([C₃H₆] = 1.1 M). Similarly, ε increased for 4/MAO from 0.709 to 0.913 from T_p = 0-40 °C; at higher temperatures, bidirectional site epimerization was implicated.     

New group 4 half sandwich complexes containing triethanolamine ligand for polyethylene

(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(TEA) (M = Ti, 1; Zr, 2; Hf, 3; TEA = triethanolateamine) was prepared by the reaction of (η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl₃ with triethanolamine in the presence of NEt₃. The polyethylene catalytic efficiency in terms of activity decreases in the order 1/MAO > 2/MAO ? 3/MAO. In addition, the molecular weight (M_v) and melting temperature (T_m) of all the resulting polyethylene obtained by 2/MAO show the range of M_v = 91,200-356,200 and T_m = 137.0-141.9 °C, respectively; however, 1/MAO and 3/MAO gave polyethylenes with lower molecular weight (M_v = 6800-78,700) and lower melting temperature (T_m = 125.9-136.7 °C). Furthermore, 1/MAO showed significant decrease in the catalytic activity with increasing polymerization temperature though 2/MAO and 3/MAO have no dependence on the polymerization temperature.     

Properties of η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes with quinolin-8-ol and their cytostatic activity

Reaction of dimers [M(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl₂]₂ (M-Rh, Ir) with quinolin-8-ol in molar ratio 1:2 leads to formation of monomer complexes [Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl(qol)] (1) and [Ir(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl(qol)] (2) (qol = quinolin-8-olate). Compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized with elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. ¹H NMR spectra revealed that quinolin-8-olate is coordinated via oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra showed that carbon and hydrogen atoms of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand are equivalent. The structure of rhodium complex has been calculated using DFT B3LYP method. The calculated geometry of complex 1 agrees very well with data found for rhodium complexes containing Cl, C₅Me₅ and qol ligands. Both complexes are active antitumor and antibacterial agents.     

Hydro- and chloro-substituted silyl- and silyl-η-amido-η-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl titanium complexes

Chlorosilyl-cyclopentadienyl titanium precursors [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMeXCl)Cl₃] (X=H 2, Cl 3) were prepared by reaction of TiCl₄ with the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the corresponding cyclopentadienes. Methylation of these compounds with MgClMe under appropriate conditions afforded the methyl complexes [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂R)XMe₂] (R=H, X=Cl 5, Me 6; R=X=Me 7). Reactions of 2 and 3 with two equivalents of LiNH^tBu afforded the ansa-silyl-η-amido compounds [Ti{η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMeX(η¹-N^tBu)}Cl₂] (X=H 8, Cl 9). Methylation of 8 gave [Ti{η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMeH(η¹-N^tBu)}Me₂] 10. Complex 9 was also obtained by reaction of 8 with BCl₃, whereas the same reaction using alternative chlorinating agents (TiCl₄, HCl) resulted in deamidation to give 2, which was also converted into 3 by reaction with BCl₃. All of the new compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of 2 and 4 were determined by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Synthesis and structure of isopropyldimethylsilyl-substituted octamethyltitanocene

Reduction of isopropyldimethylsilyl-substituted titanocene dichloride [TiCl₂(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Prⁱ)₂] (1) by excess magnesium in the presence of excess bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne (btmse) in tetrahydrofuran at 60 °C yielded a mixture of products amongst them only the trinuclear Ti-Mg-Ti hydrido-bridged complex Mg[Ti(μ-H)₂(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Prⁱ)]₂ (3) was isolated and characterized. The precursor of titanocene, [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Prⁱ)₂(η²-btmse)] (6), was obtained from the identical system which, after initial formation of [TiCl(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Prⁱ)₂] (2), reacted at −18 °C overnight and then the solution was rapidly separated from the remaining magnesium. Titanocene [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Prⁱ)₂] (7) was obtained by thermolysis of 6 at 75 °C in vacuum. Crystal structures of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 were determined.     

Mono and dinuclear rhodium, iridium and ruthenium complexes containing chelating 2,2′-bipyrimidine ligands: Synthesis, molecular structure, electrochemistry and catalytic properties

The mononuclear cations [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(bpym)]⁺ (1), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(bpym)]⁺ (2), [(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl(bpym)]⁺ (3) and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl(bpym)]⁺ (4) as well as the dinuclear dications [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (5), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (6), [{(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (7) and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (8) have been synthesised from 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpym) and the corresponding chloro complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl₂]₂, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl₂]₂, [(η⁶-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl₂]₂ and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl₂]₂, respectively. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of [3][PF₆], [5][PF₆]₂, [6][CF₃SO₃]₂ and [7][PF₆]₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centres; in the dinuclear complexes the chloro ligands attached to the two metal centres are found to be, with respect to each other, cis oriented for 5 and 6 but trans for 7. The electrochemical behaviour of 1-8 has been studied by voltammetric methods. In addition, the catalytic potential of 1-8 for transfer hydrogenation reactions in aqueous solution has been evaluated: All complexes catalyse the reaction of acetophenone with formic acid to give phenylethanol and carbon dioxide. For both the mononuclear and dinuclear series the best results were obtained (50 °C, pH 4) with rhodium complexes, giving turnover frequencies of 10.5 h⁻¹ for 1 and 19 h⁻¹ for 5.     

Dinuclear titanium complexes with methylphenylsilylene bridge between cyclopentadienyl rings. Synthesis, characterization and reactivity towards ethylene

The new ansa-titanocene dichloride [{(SiMePh)(η⁵-C₅H₄)₂}TiCl₂] (1) was prepared by one pot reaction, whereas synthesis of its methylated analogue [{(SiMePh)(η⁵-C₅Me₄)₂}TiCl₂] (3) was performed in two steps with isolation of corresponding silane intermediate SiMePh(HC₅Me₄)₂ (2). The reaction of 1 and 3 with TiCl₄ afforded the dinuclear complexes [(SiMePh){(η⁵-C₅R₄)TiCl₃}₂] (R = H (4) and R = Me (5)). The catalysts formed from 4 and 5 after their activation with excess MAO exhibited a modest activity in ethylene polymerization. The polymer products consisted of high molar mass linear polyethylenes with a broad molar mass distribution. The presence of three paramagnetic titanium species in the mixture 4/MAO was revealed by EPR spectroscopy. All new prepared compounds 1-5 were characterized by multinuclear NMR, EI-MS, IR, and solid-state structures of 1, 3 and 5 were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction.     

Syntheses and characterization of mono and dinuclear complexes of platinum group metals bearing benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands

Reaction of the benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands, 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene (L1) and 1,4-bis{bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)methyl}benzene (L2), with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium and iridium complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (M = Rh and Ir) in the presence of NH₄PF₆ results under stoichiometric control in both, mono and dinuclear complexes, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (1); L2 (2)}, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (3); L2 (4)} and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (5); L2 (6)}, [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (7); L2 (8)}. In contrast, reaction of arene ruthenium complexes [(η⁶­arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = C₆H₆, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me and C₆Me₆) with the same ligands (L1 or L2) gives only the dinuclear complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (9); L2 (10)}, [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (11); L2 (12)} and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (13); L2 (14)}. All complexes were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. The single-crystal X-ray crystal structure analyses of [7](PF₆)₂, [9](PF₆)₂ and [11](PF₆)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centers with six-membered metallo-cycle in which the 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene acts as a bis-bidentate chelating ligand.     

Titanocene - 1,4,6-tris(trimethylsilyl)hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne-3-yl complexes - crystal structures and their retro reaction

Paramagnetic titanocene complexes containing the unsaturated carbyl group which consists of one and half molecule of 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)buta-1,3-diyne (BSD) are formed by the reduction of titanocene dichlorides with one molar equivalent of magnesium in the presence of 1.5 molar equivalent BSD in tetrahydrofuran (THF) for titanocene moieties Ti(η⁵-C₅H_5 − nMe_n)₂ (n = 5 (1), 4 (2), and 3 (3)) and Ti{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)₂} (4). The non-methylated titanocene moiety affords under identical conditions known diamagnetic bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)-2,4-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-3,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)titanacyclopenta-2,4-diene (5) as the major product. Crystal structures of 3 and 4 show the same bonding scheme for the 1,4,6-tris(trimethylsilyl)hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne-3-yl ligand as previously found for compound 1 [P.-M. Pellny, F.G. Kirchbauer, V.V. Burlakov, A. Spannenberg, K. Mach, U. Rosenthal, Chem. Commun. (1999) 2505]. Compound 1 is stable against weak proton donors like methanol or alk-1-ynes even at 90 °C, however, it undergoes retroreaction when oxidized by PbCl₂ in THF, yielding nearly quantitatively BSD and [TiCl₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂].     

Aminosilylene-bridged ansa-zirconocenes for branched polyethylenes with bimodal molecular weight distributions

Reactions of the dilithium salt of aminosilylene-bridged ligands with (Me₂N)₂ZrCl₂(THF)₂ followed by the treatment of Me₃SiCl are found to be an efficient synthetic route to aminosilylene-bridged ansa-zirconocenes, R₂N(Me)Si(η⁵-C₅H₄)₂ZrCl₂ (R = Me (1), Et (2)) and Me₂N(Me)Si(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅Me₄)ZrCl₂ (3). Crystal structure of 3 determined by X-ray diffraction study reveals the presence of π-bonding interaction between N and Si atoms, which is further supported by DFT calculation results. These complexes are very active (>1 × 10³ Kg/(mol Cat.·atm·h)) for homopolymerization of ethylene in the presence of methylalumoxane (MAO) cocatalyst, generating polyethylenes that contain branches as well as bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD). Methyl, ethyl, butyl, and other longer branches (n ≥ 6) are observed in the resulting polyethylenes. The polyethylenes from 1, 2 and 3/MAO show a broad MWD range (6.3-42.2, 3.5-4.0 and 2.6-3.4, respectively).     

Synthesis and structure of dinuclear dimethylene- or 1,4-phenylene-linked bis(decamethyltitanoceneoxide) (Ti) complexes

The singly tucked-in titanocene [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CH₂)] (1) reacts smoothly with ethylene glycol or hydroquinone to give bis(titanoceneoxide) (Ti^III) complexes [CH₂OTi(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂]₂ (2) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂TiOC₆H₄OTi(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂] (3) containing dimethylene and 1,4-phenylene link, respectively. EPR spectra of 2 in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass and 3 in toluene glass revealed that the unpaired d¹ electrons are in interaction to form triplet state molecules. The Ti-Ti distance derived from the zero-field splittings D for the two conformations of 2 (7.42 Å and 7.66 Å) are in good agreement with the Ti-Ti distance of 7.2430(7) Å from the X-ray diffraction single-crystal analysis. For 3, however, the Ti-Ti distance derived from D (7.65 Å) is by 1.47 Å shorter than the crystallographic distance of 9.1230(8) Å that indicates an enhancement of the through-space dipole-dipole interaction due to the presence of a conjugated quinonide link.     

Thermolysis of titanocene methyl compounds bearing t-butyl- and benzyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

Elimination of methane during thermolysis of title compounds results in the formation of σ-Ti-C bond to t-butyl or benzyl group. The t-butyl-containing titanocene methyl compound [Ti(III)Me(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)₂] (5) eliminates methane at 110 °C to give cleanly [Ti(III)(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CMe₂CH₂)(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)] (6). The methyl derivative of analogous benzyl-containing titanocene [Ti(III)Me(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)₂] was not isolated because it eliminated methane at ambient temperature to give [Ti(III)(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CH₂-o-C₆H₄)(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)] (7) with one phenyl ring linked to titanium atom in ortho-position. The corresponding titanocene dimethyl compound [TiMe₂{η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)}₂] (9) eliminates two methane molecules at 110 °C to give the singly tucked-in 1,1-dimethylethane-1,2-diyl-tethered titanocene [Ti{η⁵:η¹:η¹-C₅Me₃(CH₂)(CMe₂CH₂)}(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)] (11). In distinction, the analogous benzyl derivative [TiMe₂(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)₂] (10) eliminates at 110 °C only one methane molecule to afford [TiMe(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CH₂-o-C₆H₄)(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)] (12) containing one phenyl group attached to titanium in o-position and one methyl group persisting on the titanium atom. This compound is stable at 150 °C for at least 3 h. The crystal structures of 5, 6, 7, and 10 were determined.     

Facile synthesis and X-ray structures of (η-C5Me5)Ti(OAr)3 (OAr = OC6F5, OCH2C6F5, and OCH2C6F2H3)

New half-sandwich titanocene complexes (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OC₆F₅)₃ (1), (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OCH₂C₆F₅)₃ (2), and (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OCH₂C₆F₂H₃)₃ (3) were synthesized via the displacement of methoxide ligands in (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OMe)₃ by the corresponding aryloxy or benzyloxy ligands. These compounds have been fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods including X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 has a distorted three-legged piano stool structure. However, complexes 2 and 3 have the chariot-like structure, where chariot means a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle. The π electron donation of oxygen atom to Ti center in complexes 1-3 is considerable.