Titanium‐mediated living radical styrene polymerizations. VI. Cp2TiCl‐catalyzed initiation by epoxide radical ring opening: Effect of the reducing agents,temperature, and titanium/epoxide and titanium/zinc ratios

The effects of the reducing agent, temperature, and epoxide/Ti and Ti/Zn ratios were investigated for the Cp₂TiCl‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of styrene initiated by epoxide radical ring opening. No reduction of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride occurred with Cu, Devarda's alloy, Ni, Ce, Cr, Sn, Mo, and ascorbic acid, whereas Al, lithium nitride, Mn, Sm, and Fe led to free‐radical or poorly controlled polymerizations. The best results were obtained with Zn alloy, powder, or nanoparticles. Nano‐Zn provided the lowest polydispersity index values, highest initiator efficiency (IE), and fastest reaction rate while maintaining a well‐defined living polymerization. Progressively lower polydispersity was obtained with an increasing excess of Zn with an optimum at Cp₂TiCl/Zn = 1/2. This was rationalized through the heterogeneous nature of Zn and its possible involvement in the reversible termination step. The polymerization was insensitive to light or dark conditions, and a linear dependence of M_n on the conversion was observed at all temperatures in the 60–130 °C range with an optimum at 70–90 °C. A stoichiometric 1/2 epoxide/Ti ratio provided low polydispersity (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.2) and high IE, whereas increasing the epoxide/Ti ratio to 1/3 maintained a low polydispersity index but decreased the IE. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2156–2165, 2006     

The ligand effect in Ti‐mediated living radical styrene polymerizations initiated by epoxide radical ring opening. 2. Scorpionate and half‐sandwich LTiCl3 complexes

The ligand effect and the reaction conditions for the living radical polymerization of styrene initiated by epoxide radical ring opening was investigated in a series of piano‐stool, Ti(IV) scorpionate and, half‐sandwich metallocenes (LTiCl₃; L = Tp, Cp*, Ind and Cp, where Tp = hydrotris(pyrazol‐1‐ylborato), Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Ind = indenyl and Cp = cyclopentadienyl). The polymerization is mediated by the reversible termination of the growing chains with Ti(III) species derived from Zn reduction of parent Ti(IV) derivatives. A poor performance was observed for TpTiCl₃ because of probable over‐reduction. The strong electron donating effect of Cp* accounts for a strong C? Ti chain end bond and consequently, a living‐like process is observed only at T > 110 °C. However, both Ind and Cp ligands provide a linear dependence of M_n on conversion and narrow polydispersity over a wide range of experimental conditions. Investigation of the effect of temperature and reagent ratios generates an optimum for epoxide/CpTiCl₃/Zn = 1/2/4 at 70–90 °C. On the basis of a combination of steric and electronic properties, the ligands rank as Cp ≥ Ind ? Cp* ? Tp. This trend is different from coordination polymerization, and in conjunction with our previous results on Cp₂TiCl₂, further supports a radical mechanism. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6039–6047, 2005     

The ligand effect in Ti‐mediated living radical styrene polymerizations initiated by epoxide radical ring opening. 1. Alkoxide and bisketonate Ti complexes

Bisketonate and alkoxide Ti(III) complexes derived from Zn reduction of Ti(IV) precursors were evaluated as catalysts for the living radical polymerization (LRP) of styrene initiated by Ti‐catalyzed epoxide radical ring opening and mediated by reversible termination with Ti(III). No polymerization occurred with tris(2,2,6, 6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐heptanedionato)titanium (III), whereas dichlorobis(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐heptanedionato)titanium (IV) affords only a free radical polymerization. Preliminary living features were displayed by (ⁱPrO)₂TiCl₂. Investigations of the effect of epoxide/Ti/Zn ratios, temperature, and nature of the epoxide demonstrated that (ⁱPrO)₃TiCl provides a linear dependence of M_n on conversion over a wide range of conditions with an optimum for [Sty]/[epoxide group]/[Ti]/[Zn] = 50/1/2/4 at 90 °C. However, the polydispersity could not be reduced below 1.4–1.5, with an initiator efficiency of 0.15. These results were rationalized in terms of a combination of decreased Ti oxophilicity and ligand exchange. The lowered oxophilicity decreases the initiation rate and broadens M_w/M_n. The fast alkoxide exchange promotes a weak dependence of the polymerization on reaction conditions and generates macromolecular Ti species with reduced ability to mediate LRP. Thus, while monofunctional epoxides provide homogeneous polymerizations and narrower M_w/M_n, difunctional initiators may lead to gel formation at high conversion. Nonetheless, all polymerizations were light gray to colorless and afforded white polymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6028–6038, 2005     

Living ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone with Ti alkoxides derived from the Cp2TiCl‐catalyzed SET reduction of aldehydes

A series of substituted benzaldehydes were investigated as initiators for the living ring‐opening polymerization (LROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) mediated by titanium alkoxides obtained from the Cp₂TiCl‐catalyzed single electron transfer (SET) reduction of the carbonyl group following the in situ reduction of Cp₂TiCl₂ with Zn. The aldehyde initiation was demonstrated (NMR) by the presence of the initiator derived fragment on the polycaprolactone (PCL) chain end. The effect of the nature of the aldehyde functionality (R‐Ph‐CHO, R = H, Cl, PhCH₂O, NMe₂, CH₃O, NO₂, and CHO), reagent ratios ([CL]/[aldehyde] = 50/1 to 400/1, [aldehyde]/[Cp₂TiCl₂] = 1/1 to 1/4, and [Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn] = 1/0.5 to 1/2), and temperature (T = 75–120 °C) was investigated over a wide range of values to reveal a living polymerization in all cases with an optimum observed at 90 °C with typical stoichiometric ratios of [CL]/[aldehyde]/[Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn] = 100/1/1/2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2869–2877, 2008     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using the novel initiator ethyl 2‐N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl‐butyrate

The atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs) of styrene initiated by a novel initiator, ethyl 2‐N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl‐butyrate (EDDCB), in both bulk and solution were successfully carried out in the presence of copper(I) bromide (CuBr) and N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine at 115 °C. The polymerization rate was first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration, and the molecular weights of the obtained polymers increased linearly with the monomer conversions with very narrow molecular weight distributions (as low as 1.17) up to higher conversions in both bulk and solution. The polymerization rate was influenced by various solvents in different degrees in the order of cyclohexanone > dimethylformamide > toluene. The molecular weight distributions of the produced polymers in cyclohexanone were higher than those in dimethylformamide and toluene. The results of ¹H NMR analysis and chain extension confirmed that well‐defined polystyrene bearing a photo‐labile N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl group was obtained via ATRP of styrene with EDDCB as an initiator. The polymerization mechanism for this novel initiation system is a common ATRP process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 32–41, 2006     

Cp2TiCl‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of styrene initiated from peroxides

The effects of the reaction conditions and nature of the initiator were investigated in the Cp₂Ti(III)Cl‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of styrene initiated by benzoyl peroxide (BPO), tert‐butyl peroxide (TBPO), tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPOB), dicumyl peroxide (CPO), and tert‐butylperoxy 2‐ethylhexyl carbonate (TBPOEHC). The reversible termination of the growing chains with Cp₂Ti(III)Cl affords a linear dependence of molecular weight on conversion over a wide range of temperatures (60–120 °C) with an optimum in polydispersity (M_w/M_n < 1.2) for St/BPO/Cp₂TiCl₂/Zn = 100/1/3/6 at 60–90 °C. The similarity of the kinetic parameters from polymerizations initiated by peroxides with vastly different half‐life times (t = 1 h, t = 543 h) and the minimum peroxide/Ti = 1/2 ratio required for a living process indicate that initiation occurs primarily by the redox reaction of the peroxide with Cp₂Ti(III)Cl rather than peroxide thermal decomposition. This is consistent with one Ti equivalent consumed in the redox initiation and the second one utilized in the reversible termination of the growing chains. Qualitatively, based on the livingness of the process, these initiators ranked as BPO > TBPOB ～ TBPO > CPO > TBPOEHC. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1106–1116, 2006     

Living/controlled radical copolymerization of N‐substituted maleimides with styrene in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and anisole

The atom transfer radical copolymerization of N‐substituted maleimides such as N‐phenylmaleimide (PhMI), N‐cyclohexylmaleimide (ChMI), and N‐butylmaleimide (NBMI) with styrene initiated with dendritic polyarylether 2‐bromoisobutyrates in an ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]), at room temperature and anisole at 110 °C was investigated. The dendritic‐linear block copolymers obtained in ionic liquid possessed well‐defined molecular weight and low polydispersity (1.05 < M_w/M_n < 1.32) and could be used as a macroinitiator for chain‐extension polymerization, suggesting the living nature of the reaction system. The ionic liquids containing catalyst could be recycled in the atom transfer radical polymerization systems without further treatment. Compared with polymerization conducted in anisole, the polymerization in ionic liquid had a stronger tendency for alternation. The tendency for alternation decreased in the order PhMI > NBMI > ChMI in [bmim][PF₆] and PhMI > ChMI > NBMI in anisole. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2156–2165, 2003     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate catalyzed by CuBr/N‐(n‐hexyl)‐2‐pyridylmethanimine

The homogeneous atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of n‐butyl acrylate with CuBr/N‐(n‐hexyl)‐2‐pyridylmethanimine as a catalyst and ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate as an initiator was investigated. The kinetic plots of ln([M]₀/[M]) versus the reaction time for the ATRP systems in different solvents such as toluene, anisole, N,N‐dimethylformamide, and 1‐butanol were linear throughout the reactions, and the experimental molecular weights increased linearly with increasing monomer conversion and were very close to the theoretical values. These, together with the relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index ～ 1.40 in most cases with monomer conversion > 50%), indicated that the polymerization was living and controlled. Toluene appeared to be the best solvent for the studied ATRP system in terms of the polymerization rate and molecular weight distribution among the solvents used. The polymerization showed zero order with respect to both the initiator and the catalyst, probably because of the presence of a self‐regulation process at the beginning of the reaction. The reaction temperature had a positive effect on the polymerization rate, and the optimum reaction temperature was found to be 100 °C. An apparent enthalpy of activation of 81.2 kJ/mol was determined for the ATRP of n‐butyl acrylate, corresponding to an enthalpy of equilibrium of 63.6 kJ/mol. An apparent enthalpy of activation of 52.8 kJ/mol was also obtained for the ATRP of methyl methacrylate under similar reaction conditions. Moreover, the CuBr/N‐(n‐hexyl)‐2‐pyridylmethanimine‐based system was proven to be applicable to living block copolymerization and living random copolymerization of n‐butyl acrylate with methyl methacrylate. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3549–3561, 2002     

Well‐Defined,Nanometer‐Sized LiH Cluster Compounds Stabilized by Pyrazolate Ligands

The assembly of well‐defined large cluster compounds of ionic light metal hydrides is a synthetic challenge and of importance for synthesis, catalysis, and hydrogen storage. The synthesis and characterization of a series of neutral and anionic pyrazolate‐stabilized lithium hydride clusters with inorganic cores in the nanometer region is now reported. These complexes were prepared in a bottom‐up approach using alkyl lithium and lithium pyrazolate mixtures with silanes in hydrocarbon solutions. Structural characterization using synchrotron radiation revealed isolated cubic clusters that contain up to 37 Li⁺ cations and 26 H^? ions. Substituted pyrazolate ligands were found to occupy all corners and some edges for the anionic positions.     

Dicarbonyl pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl iron complex for living radical polymerization: Smooth generation of real active catalysts collaborating with phosphine ligand

We achieved metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization (LRP) through “unique” catalyst transformation of iron (Fe) complex in situ. A dicarbonyl iron complex bearing a pentaphenylcyclopentadiene [(Cp^Ph)Fe(CO)₂Br: Cp^Ph = η‐C₅Ph₅] is too stable itself to catalyze LRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in conjunction with a bromide initiator [H‐(MMA)₂‐Br]. However, an addition of catalytic amount of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) for the system led to a smooth consumption of MMA giving “controlled” polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (～90% conversion within 24 h; M_w/M_n = 1.2). FTIR and ³¹P NMR analyses of the complex in the model reaction with H‐(MMA)₂‐Br and PPh₃ demonstrated that the two carbonyl ligands were irreversibly eliminated and instead the added phosphine was ligated to give some phosphorous complexes. The ligand exchange was characteristic to the Cp^Ph complex: the exchange was much smoother than other cyclopentadiene‐based complexes [i.e., CpFe(CO)₂Br: Cp = C₅H₅; Cp*Fe(CO)₂Br, Cp* = C₅Me₅]. The smooth transformation via the ligand exchange would certainly contribute to the controllability at the earlier stage in the polymerization as well as at the latter. The catalytic activity was enough high, as demonstrated by the successful monomer addition experiment and precise control even for higher molecular weight polymer (M_w/M_n < 1.2 under 1000‐mer condition). Such an in situ transformation from a stable complex would be advantageous to practical applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Syndiotactic‐ and heterotactic‐specific radical polymerizations of N‐n‐propyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide and phase‐transition behaviors of aqueous solutions of poly(N‐n‐propyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide)

Radical polymerization of N‐n‐propyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide (NNPFAAm) was investigated in several solvents at low temperatures in the presence or absence of Lewis bases, Lewis acids, alkyl alcohols, silyl alcohols, or fluorinated alcohols. Different effects of solvents and additives on stereospecificity were observed in the radical polymerizations of NNPFAAm and its hydrocarbon analogs such as N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and N‐n‐propylacrylamide (NNPAAm); for instance, syndiotactic (and heterotactic) specificities were induced in radical polymerization of NNPFAAm in polar solvents (and in toluene in the presence of alkyl and silyl alcohols), whereas isotactic (and syndiotactic) specificities were induced in radical polymerizations of the hydrocarbon analogs under the corresponding conditions. In contrast, heterotactic specificity induced by fluorinated alcohols was further enhanced in radical polymerization of NNPFAAm. The effects of stereoregularity on the phase‐transition behaviors of aqueous solutions of poly(NNPFAAm) were also investigated. Different tendencies in stereoregularity were observed in aqueous solutions of poly(NNPFAAm)s from those in solutions of the hydrocarbon analogs such as poly(NIPAAm) and poly (NNPAAm). The polymerization behavior of NNPFAAm and the phase‐transition behavior of aqueous poly(NNPFAAm) are discussed based on possible fluorine–fluorine repulsion between the monomer and propagating chain‐end, and neighboring monomeric units. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Ethylene polymerization by the new chromium catalysts based on amino‐pyrrolide ligands

A series of amino‐pyrrolide ligands ( 1–4a ) and their derivatives amino‐thiophene ligand ( 5a ), amino‐indole ligand ( 6a ) were prepared. Chromium catalysts, which were generated in situ by mixing the ligands with CrCl₃(thf)₃ in toluene, were tested for ethylene polymerization. The preliminary screening results revealed that the tridentate amino‐pyrrolide ligands containing soft pendant donor, 3a, 4a /CrCl₃(thf)₃ systems displayed high catalytic activities towards ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methyaluminoxane. The electronic and steric factors attached to the ligand backbone significantly affected both the catalyst activity and the polymer molecular weight. Complex 4b was obtained by the reaction of CrCl₃(thf)₃ with one equivalent of the lithium salts of 4a , which was the most efficient ligand among the tested ones. The effect of polymerization parameters such as cocatalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, reaction temperature, and time on polymerization behavior were investigated in detail. The resulting polymer obtained by 4b display wax‐like and possess linear structure, low molecular weight, and unimodal distribution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 713–721, 2009     

2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine as ligand for iron‐based atom transfer radical polymerization

2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine (DPPMP) was successfully used as a bidentate ligand in the iron‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with various initiators and solvents. The effect of the catalytic system on ATRP was studied systematically. Most of the polymerizations with DPPMP ligand were well controlled with a linear increase in the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) versus conversion and relatively low molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.10–1.3) being observed throughout the reactions, and the measured molecular weights matched the predicted values. Initially added iron(III) bromide improved the controllability of the polymerization reactions in terms of molecular weight control. The ratio of ligand to metal influenced the controllability of ATRP system, and the optimum ratio was found to be 2:1. It was shown that ATRP of MMA with FeX₂/DPPMP catalytic system (X = Cl, Br) initiated by 2‐bromopropionitrile (BPN) was controlled more effectively in toluene than in polar solvents. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing the polymerization temperature and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be 56.7 KJ mol^?1. In addition, reverse ATRP of MMA was able to be successfully carried out using AIBN in toluene at 80 °C. Polymerization of styrene (St) was found to be controlled well by using the PEBr/FeBr₂/DPPMP system in DMF at 110 °C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2922–2935, 2008     

Iron‐catalyzed radical polymerization of acrylamides in the presence of Lewis acid for simultaneous control of molecular weight and tacticity

This work is directed to the stereospecific living radical polymerization of acrylamides such as N,N‐dimethylacrylamide and N‐isopropylacrylamide with an iron complex and a Lewis acid. DMAM was polymerized with [FeCp(CO)₂]₂ in conjunction with an alkyl iodide [(CH₃)₂C(CO₂Et)I] as an initiator in the presence of Y(OTf)₃ in toluene/methanol (1/1) at 60 °C to be converted almost quantitatively to the polymers with controlled molecular weights and high isotacticity (m > 80%), wherein the Fe‐complex generates radical species from a covalent C? I bond of the dormant species and the Lewis acid controls the stereochemistry of the polymerization via coordination with the amide groups of the polymer terminal and the monomer. A series of Lewis acids were also used for the iron(I)‐catalyzed DMAM polymerization, and Yb(OTf)₃ and Yb(NTf₂)₃ proved effective in giving isotactic polymers without deteriorating the molecular weight control similar to Y(OTf)₃. Furthermore, a slight enhancement of isospecificity was observed for the iron‐catalyzed system in comparison with the α,α‐Azobisisobutyronitrile‐initiated, when coupled with Y(OTf)₃. Stereoblock polymerization of DMAM via a one‐pot reaction was also achieved by just adding the Y(OTf)₃ methanol solution in the course of the polymerization to give atactic‐b‐isotactic poly(DMAM). A similar but slightly lower control in the molecular weight and tacticity was achieved in the polymerization of NIPAM with [FeCp(CO)₂]₂/Y(OTf)₃. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2086–2098, 2006     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of β‐Ketoiminate‐Stabilized Gallium Hydrides for Chemical Vapor Deposition Applications

Bis‐β‐ketoimine ligands of the form [(CH₂)_n{N(H)C(Me)?CHC(Me)?O}₂] (LⁿH₂, n=2, 3 and 4) were employed in the formation of a range of gallium complexes [Ga(Lⁿ)X] (X=Cl, Me, H), which were characterised by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The β‐ketoimine ligands have also been used for the stabilisation of rare gallium hydride species [Ga(Lⁿ)H] (n=2 ( 7 ); n=3 ( 8 )), which have been structurally characterised for the first time, confirming the formation of five‐coordinate, monomeric species. The stability of these hydrides has been probed through thermal analysis, revealing stability at temperatures in excess of 200 °C. The efficacy of all the gallium β‐ketoiminate complexes as molecular precursors for the deposition of gallium oxide thin films by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) has been investigated through thermogravimetric analysis and deposition studies, with the best results being found for a bimetallic gallium methyl complex [L³{GaMe₂}₂] ( 5 ) and the hydride [Ga(L³)H] ( 8 ). The resulting films ( F5 and F8 , respectively) were amorphous as‐deposited and thus were characterised primarily by XPS, EDXA and SEM techniques, which showed the formation of stoichiometric ( F5 ) and oxygen‐deficient ( F8 ) Ga₂O₃ thin films.     

Aminimides derived from p‐substituted benzoylformic acid ester as thermal/photolatent bases and photoradical initiators

Derivatives of 1,1‐dimethyl‐1‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)amine benzoylformimide (BFI and 1a–c) were synthesized from 1,1‐dimethylhydrazine, propylene oxide, and p‐substituted benzoylformic acid ester, respectively, and their activity as thermal/photolatent bases and photoradical initiators was studied in detail. Their thermal decomposition activity increased by the electron‐donating substituents on the benzene ring, being in order of 1a (p‐NMe₂) > 1b (p‐MeO) > BFI (H) > 1c (p‐NO₂). Photolysis activities were also affected by the substituents, in the following order: 1b > BFI > 1a > 1c. Thermal and photoinduced base‐catalyzed polymerization of the epoxide/thiol system and photoradical polymerization of a vinyl monomer, 2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate, were carried out by using the aminimides as latent initiators. Their activity as thermal base and photobase/radical initiators could be correlated to their thermal decomposition and the photolysis activity, respectively. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4292–4300     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H,Me, Ph) and Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOR)2 (R = Me,Ph). The Molecular Structure of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOPh)2

A series of titanium(IV) complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H ( 1 ), CH₃ ( 2 ), or Ph ( 3 )) is prepared quantitatively from reactions of [Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₂(THF)(μ‐Cl)]₂ with 2 molar equiv. PhCOR. Treatment of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃ with 2 molar equiv. of PhCOR affords the disubstituted complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(PhCOR)₂ (R = CH₃ ( 4 ) or Ph ( 5 )). The ¹³C NMR study of these complexes shows that the relative bonding abilities are in the order of PhCOCH₃ > PhCHO > PhCOPh. The molecular structure of 5 reveals that one of the benzophenone ligands is trans to the strongest 2‐propoxide ligand with a long Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.193(5) Å which is much longer than the other Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.097(4) Å by ?0.1 Å. All ligands cis to the alkoxide ligand are bending away from the alkoxide ligand with the RO‐Ti‐L angles ranging from 93.6(2) to 99.0(2)°.     

Synthesis,kinetic study,and application of Ti[O(CH2)4OCHCH2]4 in ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and radical polymerization

Ti[O(CH₂)₄OCH?CH₂]₄, used for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone, was synthesized through the ester‐exchange reaction of titanium n‐propoxide and 1,4‐butanediol vinyl ether, and its chemical structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanism and kinetics of Ti[O(CH₂)₄OCH?CH₂]₄‐initiated bulk polymerization of ε‐caprolactone were investigated. The results demonstrate that Ti[O (CH₂)₄OCH?CH₂]₄‐initiated polymerization of ε‐caprolactone proceeds through the coordination‐insertion mechanism, and all the four alkoxide arms in Ti[O (CH₂)₄OCH?CH₂]₄ share a similar activity in initiating ROP of ε‐caprolactone. The polymerization process can be well predicted by the obtained kinetic parameters, and the activation energy is 106 KJ/mol. Then, the rheological method was employed to investigate the feasibility of producing the crosslinked poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐poly (n‐butyl acrylate) network by using Ti[O(CH₂)₄OCH?CH₂]₄ as the ROP initiator. The tensile test demonstrates that the in situ generated crosslinked PCL‐PBA network in PMMA matrix provides the possibility of ameliorating the tensile properties of PMMA. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7773–7784, 2008     

Heterometallic (ZrIII)2—Al hydrides [(Cp2Zr)2(μ-H)](μ-H)2AlX2 (X = Cl or Br): preparative synthesis and reactivity. Molecular structure of [(Cp2Zr)2(μ-Cl)](μ-H)2AlCl2

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of trinuclear cyclic (Zr^III)₂—Al hydrides [(Cp₂Zr)₂(μ-H)](μ-H)₂AlX₂ (X = Cl (1a) or Br (1b)). These complexes were prepared in 60–65% yields by the reaction of Cp₂ZrX₂ with LiAlH₄ in the presence of CoBr₂ and tolane. The structures of complexes 1a and 1b and iodide 1c (X = I) were studied by NMR spectroscopy in solvents of different basicities (toluene, THF, and pyridine). Complex 1a is unsolvated and monomeric in all solvents; complex 1b, in toluene and THF; complex 1c, in toluene only. At room temperature, complex 1a does not catalyze hydrogenation of hex-1-ene and does not react with tolane, but reacts with the latter at high temperature to give bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylzirconacyclopentadiene. The reaction of equivalent amounts of complex 1a and HCl produces the [(Cp₂Zr)₂(μ-Cl)](μ-H)₂AlCl₂ complex. The structure of the latter was established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2418–2423, November, 2005.     

Stereospecific radical polymerization of fluoroalkyl acrylates

The free‐radical polymerization of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl acrylate (TFEA), 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propyl acrylate (HFiPA) and perfluoro‐tert‐butyl acrylate (PFtBA) was carried out under various conditions and the stereostructure of the obtained polymers was investigated. Most polymerizations of the three monomers afforded polymers rich in diad syndiotacticity (r) in bulk or in solution; the r‐specificity was higher in the HFiPA and PFtBA polymerization than in the TFEA polymerization. Although the tacticity was nearly independent of reaction temperature during the polymerization of TFEA, the r‐specificity increased by lowering the reaction temperature during the polymerization of the other two monomers. The polymerization stereochemistry was also affected by the reaction solvents including toluene, tetrahydrofuran, and fluoroalcohols. It was noted that the stereochemistry of the polymerization of HFiPA and PFtBA also depended on the monomer concentration, and a lower monomer concentration led to a higher r‐specificity. By optimizing the aforementioned reaction conditions, the poly(HFiPA) having r = 81% (polymerization in tetrahydrofuran at −98 °C at [M]_o = 0.2M) and the poly(PFtBA) having r = 77% (polymerization in toluene at −78 °C at [M]_o = 0.2M) were obtained. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1024–1032, 2000