Solvent effects in the polymerization of propylene catalyzed by octahedral complexes

The effect of solvents (toluene, dichloromethane, and hexane) was studied on the polymerization of propylene with the octahedral complexes bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate titanium dichloride(a), bis(acetylacetonate) titanium dichloride(b), and bis(diethylamino) titanium di‐2‐(diphenylphosphanylamino)pyridine as catalytic precursors and methylalumoxane as the cocatalyst. For comparison, the polymerization was also performed in plain liquid propylene without the addition of any solvent. The obtained polymers were fractionated by refluxing hexane. The activity of the complexes and the molecular weights and tacticities of the whole polymers and their different fractions were the studied parameters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4505–4516, 2005     

Sulfur-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Pd(II): syntheses, structures and catalytic activities

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can be easily modified by introducing functional groups at the nitrogen atoms, which leads to versatile coordination chemistry as well as diverse catalytic applications of the resulting complexes. This article summarizes our contributions to the field of NHCs bearing different types of sulfur functions, i.e., thioether, sulfoxide, thiophene, and thiolato. The experimental evidence for the truly hemilabile coordination behavior of a Pd(II) thioether-NHC complex has been reported as well. In addition, complexes bearing rigid CSC-pincer ligands have been synthesized and the reasons for pincer versus pseudo-pincer formation investigated. Incorporation of the electron-rich thiolato function resulted in the isolation of structurally diverse complexes. The catalytic activities of selected complexes have been tested in Suzuki-Miyaura, Mizoroki-Heck and hydroamination reactions.     

Dinuclear nickel(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands: syntheses, structures and bio-relevant catalytic activities

Three Ni(II) complexes of cresol-based Schiff-base ligands, namely [Ni₂(L¹)(NCS)₃(H₂O)₂], (1) [Ni₂(L²)(CH₃COO)(NCS)₂(H₂O)] (2) and [Ni₂(L³)(NCS)₃] (3), (where L¹ = 2,6-bis(N-ethylpyrrolidineiminomethyl)-4-methylphenolato, L² = 2,6-bis(N-ethylpiperidineiminomethyl)-4-methylphenolato and L³ = 2,6-bis{N-ethyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl iminomethyl)}-4-methylphenolato), have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction in addition to routine physicochemical techniques. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to understand the nature of the electronic spectra of the complexes. Complexes 1?C3 when reacted with 4-nitrophenyl phosphate in 50:50 acetonitrile?Cwater medium promote the cleavage of the O?CP bond to form p-nitrophenol and smoothly convert 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ) either in MeOH or in MeCN medium. Phosphatase- and catecholase-like activities were monitored by UV?Cvis spectrophotometry and the Michaelis?CMenten equation was applied to rationalize all the kinetic parameters. Upon treatment with urea, complexes 1 and 2 give rise to [Ni₂(L¹)(NCS)₂(NCO)(H₂O)₂] (1??) and [Ni₂(L²)(CH₃COO)(NCO)(NCS)(H₂O)] (2??) derivatives, respectively, whereas 3 remains unaltered under same reaction conditions.     

(Salen)tin complexes: syntheses, characterization, crystal structures, and catalytic activity in the formation of propylene carbonate from CO(2) and propylene oxide

A series of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes was synthesized. The (salen)tin(IV) complexes, (salen)SnX(2) (X = Br and I), were prepared in good yields via the direct oxidation reaction of (salen)tin(II) complexes with Br(2) or I(2). (Salen)SnX(2) successfully underwent the anion-exchange reaction with AgOTf (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) to form (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) and (salen)Sn(X)(OTf) (X = Br). The (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) complex was easily converted to any of the dihalide (salen)SnX(2) compounds using halide salts. All complexes were fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, while some were characterized by (13)C, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy. Several crystal structures of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) were also determined. Finally, both (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes were shown to efficiently catalyze the formation of propylene carbonate from propylene oxide and CO(2). Of the series, (3,3',5,5'-Br(4)-salen)SnBr(2), 3i, was found to be the most effective catalyst (TOF = 524 h(-)(1)).     

Ruthenium complexes with tetraphenylimidodiphosphinate: syntheses, structures, and applications to catalytic organic oxidation

Treatment of Ru(PPh3)3Cl2 with K(tpip) (tpip(-)=[N(Ph2PO)2](-)) afforded Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl (1), which reacted with 4- t-Bu-C6H4CN, SO2(g), and NH 3(g) to give Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl(4- t-BuC6H4CN) (2), Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl(SO2) (3), and fac-[Ru(NH3)3(PPh3)2Cl][tpip] (4), respectively. Reaction of [Ru(CO)2Cl2] x with K(tpip) in refluxing tetrahydrofuran (THF) led to isolation of the K/Ru bimetallic compound K 2Ru2(tpip)4(CO)4Cl2 (5). Photolysis of cis-Ru(tpip) 2(NO)Cl in MeCN and wet CH 2Cl 2 afforded cis-Ru(tpip) 2(MeCN)Cl ( 6) and cis-Ru(tpip)2(H2O)Cl (7), respectively. Refluxing 6 in neat THF yielded Ru(tpip) 2(THF)Cl (8). Treatment of Ru(CHR)Cl2(PCy3)2 (Cy=cyclohexyl) with [Ag(tpip)] 4 afforded cis-Ru(tpip)2(CHR)(PCy3) [R=Ph (9), OEt (10)]. Complex 9 is capable of catalyzing oxidation of alcohols and olefins with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide and iodosylbenzene, respectively. The crystal structures of 2-7 and 9 were determined.     

Group 4 complexes derived from o-carborane: synthesis, structures and ethylene polymerization properties

Nine thermally stable complexes (η⁵-Cp*)[η⁵-(C₅H₄)CMe₂CB₁₀H₁₀CR]MCl₂ (R=H and Me) and (η⁵-Cp*)[η⁵; η¹-(C₅H₄)CMe₂(CB₁₀H₁₀C)]MCl have been prepared via metathesis reactions of Cp*MCl₃ (M=Ti, Zr and Hf, Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) with monolithium salts of (C₅H₅)CMe₂(CB₁₀H₁₀CR) (R=H and Me) and with dilithium salt of (C₅H₅)CMe₂(CB₁₀H₁₀CH), respectively. These compounds have been fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods and elemental analyses. All of the compounds except (η⁵-Cp*)[η⁵-(C₅H₄)CMe₂CB₁₀H₁₀CMe]HfCl₂ were additionally characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study, establishing their monomeric bent metallocene structural feature with carborane acting as a substituent or an ancillary ligand. The titanium and zirconium complexes produce high-density polyethylenes with the activity range of about 10³-10⁴ g PE per mol of M bar h in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane cocatalyst.     

Synthesis, molecular structure and catalytic activity of chiral benzamidinate nickel complexes

Two new nickel complexes containing the chiral benzamidinate ligation: [PhC(N-SiMe₃)(N′-myrtanyl)]₂Ni(py)₂(3) and {[PhC(NH)(N′-myrtanyl)]₂Ni}₂ (6) have been synthesized and characterized. The solid-state molecular structures of these complexes have been determined by low-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 3 was obtained via two different procedures. In complex 3, the metal adopts a nearly ideal octahedral environment, whereas in complex 6 the two divalent nickel metals are coordinated in a square-planar geometry, forming a dimer. Complex 3 activated with MAO has been found to oligomerize propylene producing a mixture of dimers, trimers and tetramers with a turnover frequency of 5200 h⁻¹, whereas complex 6 being activated with MAO oligomerizes ethylene to a mixture of dimers and trimers with a high turnover frequency of 15,400 h⁻¹. In addition, when activated with MAO both complexes showed a good activity for the vinyl-type polymerization of norbornene.     

Group 11 metal complexes of SPS-based pincer ligands: syntheses, X-ray structures and reactivity

New group 11 d10 (Cu, Au) metal complexes with SPS pincer ligand were synthesized. Insoluble dimeric or oligomeric complexes [(SP(R)S)Cu](n) (R = Bu:4, Me:5) were readily cleaved by several two-electron donor ligands (phosphines, isocyanides, pyridine) to yield a range of new complexes (6-13). X-Ray crystal studies were performed on complexes 7, 8, 9, 11, which revealed distorted tetrahedral geometries and proved once again the flexibility of the SPS ligand, which can accommodate square planar, tetrahedral, octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal geometries. A dimeric gold species with an Au-Au interaction 16 was also synthesized. This dimer could be cleaved with two electron donor ligand (PPh(3):17, RNC: 18). Reactivity of complex 11 with ethyl diazoacetate yielded new lambda5-phosphinine 14.     

α-Methyl-benzylcalcium complexes: syntheses, structures and reactivity

α-Methyl-benzylcalcium complexes were prepared analogue to α-Me₃Si-benzylcalcium complexes for which procedures were reported earlier. The crystal structures of homoleptic bis(2-Me₂N-α-Me-benzyl)calcium·(THF)₂ and heteroleptic (9-Me₃Si-fluorenyl)(2-Me₂N-α-Me-benzyl)calcium·(THF) were determined. For both compounds only one of the two diastereomers crystallized. Barriers for inversion of the chiral benzylic carbon were estimated by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. The α-methyl-benzylcalcium compounds are less stable and show a higher reactivity and faster initiation of styrene polymerization than the analogue α-Me₃Si-benzylcalcium complexes. Intramolecular CH activation in a heteroleptic α-methyl-benzylcalcium complex was observed and the product, a calcium complex with a dianionic alkyl/fluorenyl ansa-ligand, was characterized by crystal structure determination.     

Yttrium alkyl complexes with a sterically demanding benzamidinate ligand: synthesis,structure and catalytic ethene polymerisation

The benzamidinate yttrium dialkyl complexes [PhC(NAr)2]Y(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)n (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl; n = 1, 2) were prepared; when activated with [PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4], the species with n = 1 polymerises ethene to polyethene with a narrow polydispersity.     

Nickel and cobalt complexes bearing β‐ketoamine ligands: syntheses,structures and catalytic behavior for norbornene polymerization

Late transition metal (nickel, cobalt) complexes (1, 2) with β‐ketoamine ligand (L) based on the pyrazolone derivative are synthesized by condensing 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐benzoyl‐5‐pyrazolone with p‐fluoroaniline, and then treating the β‐ketoamine (L) produced with the respective metal halide. The bis(β‐ketoamine)metal complexes can act as catalyst precursors for norbornene polymerization with activation by methylaluminoxane. The effects of the central metal variation in the complex on catalyst activities and polymer microstructure are described. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Retro-Brook rearrangement induces the formation of an octahedral nickel(benzamidinate) complex; synthesis, structure and catalytic activity

The neutral octahedral nickel complex (PhC(NSiMe₃)NC(Ph)CHSiMe₃)Ni(acac)(TMEDA) (7), has been synthesized and characterized including X-ray diffraction analysis. The complex was formed by the reaction of Ni(acac)₂(TMEDA) with the lithium salt of the corresponding β-diketiminate ligand. The formation of the benzamidinate motif from the corresponding β-diketiminate is a consequence of a retro-Brook isomerization that is operative only at the nickel centre. A plausible mechanism for the metal mediated isomerization is proposed. When complex 7 was activated with MAO it showed a good catalytic activity for the addition polymerization of norbornene. Furthermore, this catalytic system has been found to oligomerize ethylene to a mixture of butenes and hexenes with a high turnover frequency, η = 29,300 h⁻¹, when the reaction is performed in dichloromethane.     

Hydrothermal syntheses,crystal structures and antibacterial activities of two transition metal complexes with ciprofloxacin

Hydrothermal reactions of ciprofloxacin with Co(OH)₂, and with oxalate and Fe(OH)₃, yield [Co(Cip)₂] · 2H₂O (1) and [Fe(H-Cip) · (C₂O₄)] · (H₂Cip) · 5H₂O (2), which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal diffraction analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 were screened for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureas, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Quinoline-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of iridium: Synthesis, structures and catalytic activities in transfer hydrogenation

Iridium complexes containing quinoline-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been synthesized by the transmetalation route from silver carbene precursors. The silver complexes undergo a facile reaction with [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) to yield a series of carbene complexes [(NHC)Ir(COD)Cl] (NHC = 3-methyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2a); 3-n-butyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2b); 3-benzyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2c); 1,3-di(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2d). The coordinated COD was replaced by carbon monoxide to yield the corresponding carbonyl species [(NHC)Ir(CO)₂Cl] (3). Complexes 2 and 3 have been characterized by IR, ESI-MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and elemental analyses. The molecular structures of complexes 2b and 2c have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Two analogous Ir(I) complexes 5 and 6 with naphthalene-containing NHC have also been synthesized and characterized. These Ir(I) complexes in the current work have been proved to be active catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones to alcohols using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source.     

Two binuclear tetracarboxylate-bridged complexes: syntheses,structures, and properties

Cu₂(C₉N₅H₉)₂(C₆H₅CO₂)₄ (1) and Zn₂(C₉N₅H₉)₂(C₁₀H₇CH₂CO₂)₄ (2) have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods with 2,4-diamine-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (phdat) and aromatic carboxylic acid (benzoic acid (ba) or naphthylacetic acid (naa)) as ligands and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractions, elemental analyses, infrared spectra, magnetism, fluorescence spectra, and thermogravimetric analyses. In 1 and 2, the two metals are bridged by four carboxylates in paddle-wheel-shaped binuclear [M₂(CO₂)₄] units (M=Cu (1) and Zn (2)) and coordinated by one nitrogen from phdat, forming five-coordinate centers. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility of 1 was obtained from 300 to 2?K, showing an anti-ferromagnetic interaction between Cu(II)'s. Compound 2 exhibits solid state fluorescence at 404?nm upon excitation at 304?nm.     

Novel heterotetranuclear V2Mo2 or V2W2 complexes with 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine: syntheses, crystal structures, and catalytic activities

Two novel heterotetranuclear complexes [V(2)O(2)(μ-MeO)(2)(μ-WO(4))(2)(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)(2)] (1) and [V(2)O(2)(μ-MeO)(2)(μ-MoO(4))(2)(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)(2)] (2) were synthesized, and the solid state structures of these complexes were revealed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The heterotetranuclear complexes 1 and 2 are centrosymmetric building blocks, considered as consisting of two [VO(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)](3+) units bridged by μ-MO(4)(2-) (M = W or Mo) anions connected with methoxy groups. Furthermore, catalytic activities of 1 and 2 in the alcohol oxidation with hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidants in water as solvent were investigated.     

Cyano-bridged FeIII2CuII3 and FeIII4NiII4 complexes: syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties

Two tricyanometallate precursors, (Bu4N)[(Tp4Bo)Fe(CN)3].H2O.2MeCN (1) and (Bu4N)[(pzTp)Fe(CN)3] (2) [Bu4N+ = tetrabutylammonium cation; Tp4Bo = tris(indazolyl)hydroborate; pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate], with a low-spin FeIII center have been synthesized and characterized. The reactions of 1 or 2 with [Cu(Me3tacn)(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (Me3tacn = N,N',N' '-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) afford two pentanuclear cyano-bridged clusters, [(Tp4Bo)2(Me3tacn)3Cu3Fe2(CN)6](ClO4)4.5H2O (3) and [(pzTp)2(Me3tacn)3Cu3Fe2(CN)6](ClO4)4.4H2O (4), respectively. Assembly reactions between 2 and [Ni(phen)(CH3OH)4](ClO4)2 (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) or Zn(OAc)2.2H2O afford a molecular box [(pzTp)4(phen)4Ni4Fe4(CH3OH)4(CN)12](ClO4)4.4H2O (5) and a rectangular cluster [(pzTp)2Zn2Fe2(OAc)2(H2O)2(CN)6] (6). Their molecular structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complexes 1 and 2, the central FeIII ions are coordinated by three cyanide carbon atoms and three nitrogen atoms of Tp4Bo- or pzTp-. Both complexes 3 and 4 show a trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, in which [(L)Fe(CN)3]- units occupy the apical positions and are linked through cyanide to [Cu(Me3tacn)]2+ units situated in the equatorial plane. Complex 5 possesses a cubic arrangement of eight metal irons linked through edge-spanning cyanide bridges, while complex 6 shows Zn2Fe2(CN)4 rectangular structure, in which FeIII and ZnII ions are alternately bridged by the cyanide groups. Intramolecular ferromagnetic couplings are observed for complexes 3-5, and they have S = 5/2, 5/2, and 6 ground states and appreciable magnetic anisotropies with negative D values equal to -0.49, -2.39, and -0.39 cm-1, respectively.     

Synthesis,crystal structures,and catalytic activities of palladium imidazole complexes formed by 2-hydroxyethyl group cleavage

N-4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinylimidazole 1 and its hydroxyethyl derivative 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)imidazolium chloride 2 have been synthesized and characterized. The attempted synthesis of bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)palladium complexes via the direct reaction of 2 with Pd(OAc)₂ results in the unexpected formation of a bis(N-arylimidazole) palladium complex 3. Additionally, the analogous bis(N-methylimidazole) palladium complex 4 has also been synthesized by the above method. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and ¹H NMR. Additionally, their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Complexes 3 and 4 were found to be efficient catalysts for the Suzuki reaction.     

Magnesium, zinc, and calcium complexes based on tridentate nitrogen ligands: Syntheses, structures, and catalytic activities to the ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide

A series of magnesium, zinc, and calcium monoalkyl or monoamide complexes containing tridentate nitrogen ligands, CH₃C(2,6-(ⁱPr)₂C₆H₃N)CHC(CH₃) (NCH₂CH₂-D) (D = NMe₂, N((CH₂CH₂)₂CH₂)), have been synthesized, and six of which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction results show that the metal complexes are all solvent-free monomers and the pendant arm D bonds to the metal ion. These metal complexes are highly active for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide and give preference for heterotactic polylactide.