Influences of steric bulkiness in hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands on ethylene polymerization reaction

Manganese(II) complex catalysts with hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands have been examined on their catalytic performance in ethylene polymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The activities of [Mn(L6)(Cl)(NCMe)] ( 1 ) and [Mn(L10)(Cl)] ( 2 ) activated by Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] for ethylene polymerization go up to 326 and 11 kg mol (cat^?1) h^?1, respectively, (L6^? = hydrotris(3‐phenyl‐5‐methyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)borate anion, L10^? = hydrotris(3‐adamantyl‐5‐isopropyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)borate anion). In particular, for ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization, complex 1 gives high‐molecular‐weight poly(ethylene‐co‐1‐hexene)s with the highest M_w of 439,000 in manganese olefin polymerization catalyst systems. Moreover, the 1‐hexene incorporation by complex 1 seems more efficient than that by [Mn(L3)(Cl)] ( 4 ) (L3^? = hydrotris(3‐tertiary butyl‐5‐isopropyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)borate anion). In this work, we demonstrated that the coordination geometry and coordination number are also important factors for ethylene polymerization reaction as well as steric hindrances and ligand frameworks in our manganese(II) catalysts. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5720–5727, 2009     

Structural and electronic differences of copper(I) complexes with tris(pyrazolyl)methane and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands

Copper(I) complexes with tripodal nitrogen-containing neutral ligands such as tris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L1') and tris(3-tertiary-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L3'), and with corresponding anionic ligands such as hydrotris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L1-) and hydrotris(3-tertiary-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L3-) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L1')Cl] (1), [Cu(L1')(OClO3)] (2), [Cu(L1')(NCMe)](PF6) (3a), [Cu(L1')(NCMe)](ClO4) (3b), [Cu(L1')(CO)](PF6) (4a), and [Cu(L1')(CO)](ClO4) (4b) were prepared using the ligand L1'. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L3')Cl] (5) and [Cu(L3')(NCMe)](PF6) (6) with the ligand L3' were also synthesized. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L1)(NCMe)] (7) and [Cu(L1)(CO)] (8) were prepared using the anionic ligand L1-. Finally, copper(I) complexes with anionic ligand L3- and acetonitrile (9) and carbon monoxide (10) were synthesized. The complexes obtained were fully characterized by IR, far-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The structures of both ligands, L1' and L3', and of complexes 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5, 6, 7, and 10 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The effects of the differences in (a) the fourth ligand and the counteranion, (b) the steric hindrance at the third position of the pyrazolyl rings, and most importantly, (c) the charge of the N3 type ligands, on the structures, spectroscopic properties, and reactivities of the copper(I) complexes are discussed. The observed differences in the reactivities toward O2 of the copper(I) acetonitrile complexes are traced back to differences in the oxidation potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. A special focus is set on the carbonyl complexes, where the 13C NMR and vibrational data are presented. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to shed light on the differences in CO bonding in the compounds with neutral and anionic N3 ligands. In correlation with the vibrational and electrochemical data of these complexes, it is demonstrated that the C-O stretching vibration is a sensitive probe for the "electron richness" of copper(I) in these compounds.     

Proton-assisted addition reactions on trimethylsilylalkynyl nitrosylrutheniums of hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate

Incorporation of H₂O or HCl on treatment of trimethylsilylalkynyl nitrosylruthenium TpRuCl(CCSiMe₃)(NO) (1) (Tp = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate) with protic acid, and the dependence of its product formation on the reaction solvents, are reported. Reactions of 1 with HBF₄ or HCl (aq.) in MeOH gave rise to the mixture of the mono(ethynyl) TpRuCl(CCH)(NO) (2) and the mono(acyl) TpRuCl{C(O)CH₃}(NO) (3). The H₂O-incorporated 3 was quantitatively obtained from the reactions of 2 with HCl (aq.) in MeOH. On the other hand, reactions of 1 with HCl (aq.) in CH₂Cl₂ gave the η¹-α-chlorovinyl TpRuCl{C(Cl)CH₂}(NO) (4). In the bis(alkynyl) system TpRu(CCSiMe₃)₂(NO) (5), the similar reactivities were observed. Proton-assisted hydration of 5 afforded the bis(acyl) TpRu{C(O)CH₃}₂(NO) (6), while the HCl-treatment led to the formation of the bis(α-chlorovinyl) TpRu{C(Cl)CH₂}₂(NO) (7).     

Syntheses and structures of lanthanide(III) complexes with some bis(pyrazolyl)borate and tris(pyrazolyl)borate podand ligands

Two new poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands have been prepared: potassium tris[3-{(4-^tbutyl)-pyrid-2-yl}-pyrazol-1-yl]hydroborate (KTp^BuPy) which has three bidentate arms and is therefore hexadentate; and potassium bis[3-(2-pyridyl)-5-(methoxymethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-dihydroborate (KBp^(COC)Py) which has two bidentate arms and is therefore tetradentate. The crystal structures of their lanthanide complexes [La(Tp^BuPy)(NO₃)₂] and [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂X] (X=nitrate or triflate) have been determined. In [La(Tp^BuPy)(NO₃)₂] the metal ion is ten-coordinate, from the hexadentate N-donor podand ligand and two bidentate nitrates. [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂(NO₃)] is also ten-coordinate, from two tetradentate ligands and a bidentate nitrate, but in [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂(CF₃SO₃)] the metal ion is nine-coordinate because the triflate anion is monodentate. Two unexpected new complexes which arose from partial decomposition of the poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands have also been characterised structurally. In [La(^BuPypzH)₃(O₃SCF₃)₃] the metal ion is nine-coordinate from three bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine arms (liberated by decomposition of KTp^BuPy) and three triflate anions; there is extensive NH· · · O hydrogen-bonding between the pyrazolyl and triflate ligands. [Nd(Tp^Py)(Bp^Py)][Nd(PypzH)(NO₃)₄] was isolated from the reaction of hexadentate tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazol-1-yl]hydroborate (Tp^Py) with Nd(NO₃)₃. One of the Tp^Py ligands has lost one bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine ‘arm’ (PypzH) to leave tetradentate tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazol-1-yl]dihydroborate (Bp^Py). In this structure, the cation [Nd(Tp^Py)(Bp^Py)]⁺ is ten-coordinate from inter-leaved hexadentate and tetradentate ligands, and the anion [Nd(PypzH)(NO₃)₄]⁻ is also ten-coordinate from the bidentate N-donor ligand PypzH and four bidentate nitrates.     

Substitution and hydrogenation reactions on rhodium(I)-ethylene complexes of the hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands T (T = Tp, TpMe2)

The bis(ethylene) Rh species TpMe2Rh(C2H4)2(1*) (TpMe2 = tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazol-1-yl)hydroborate) has been obtained from [RhCl(C2H4)2]2 and KTpMe2. Complex 1* easily decomposes in solution to give mainly the butadiene species TpMe2Rh(eta74-C4H6). In the solid state its thermal decomposition follows a different course and the allyl TpMe2RhH(syn-C3H4Me) is cleanly obtained as a mixture of exo and endo isomers. The complexes Tp'Rh(C2H4)2 (Tp' = Tp, TpMe2) afford the monosubstituted species Tp'Rh(C2H4)(PR3) upon reaction with PR3 but react differently with L = CO or CNR: the Tp compound gives dinuclear [TpRh]2(mu-L)3 complexes, while, in the case of 1*, TpMe2Rh(C2H4)(L) species are obtained. The ethylene ligand of complexes TpMe2Rh(C2H4)(PR3) is labile, and several peroxo compounds of composition TpMe2Rh(O2)(PR3) have been isolated by their reaction with O2. All the mononuclear Rh(I) complexes are formulated as 18e- trigonal bipyramidal species on the basis of IR and NMR spectroscopic studies. A series of dihydride complexes of Rh(III) of formulation Tp'RhH2(PR3) have been prepared by the hydrogenation of the corresponding ethylene derivatives. Complexes [TpRh]2(mu-CNCy)3, TpMe2Rh(C2H4)(PEt3), and TpMe2Rh(O2)(PEt3) have been further characterized by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Ln(III) methyl and methylidene complexes stabilized by a bulky hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand

The reaction of Ln(AlMe(4))(3) with bulky hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate (Tp(t)(Bu,Me))H proceeds via a sequence of methane elimination and C-H bond activation, affording unprecedented rare-earth metal ligand moieties including Ln(Me)[(micro-Me)AlMe(3)] and X-ray structurally characterized "Tebbe-like" Ln[(micro-CH(2))(2)AlMe(2)].     

Chiral poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands and complexes: III. Chiral poly(pyrazolyl)borate isonitrile complexes of molybdenum and tungsten

The syntheses of enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric Bpz₄M★(CO)(NO)(CNR) complexes (M = Mo, W; R = CH₂CH₃, CH₂Ph, C★H(CH₃)(C₆H₅)) are reported. When R = CH₂CH₃ or CH₂C₆H₅ the presence of the diastereotopic methylene hydrogens does not allow the detection of the neighbouring chiral center, because they are magnetically equivalent. The diastereoisomeric complexes show different ¹H NMR signals, but cannot be resolved by liquid chromatography or by crystallization.     

Sterically bulky tris(triazolyl)borate ligands as water-soluble analogues of tris(pyrazolyl)borate

The recently synthesized 3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole reacted with KBH4 to give the new potassium tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolyl)borate K(Ttz(tBu,Me)) ligand. Ttz(tBu,Me) formed a four-coordinate (Ttz(tBu,Me))CoCl complex and five-coordinate (Ttz(tBu,Me))CoNO3 and (Ttz(tBu,Me))ZnOAc complexes. When these complexes were compared to their Tp(tBu,Me) analogues, it was found that Ttz(tBu,Me) resulted in negligible steric differences. K(Ttz(tBu,Me)) is more water-soluble than K(Tp(tBu,Me)), so bulky tris(triazolyl)borate ligands should lead to functional models for enzyme active sites in an aqueous environment and the creation of water-soluble analogues of Tp catalysts.     

Titanium and zirconium complexes containing sterically hindered hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands: synthesis, structural characterization, and ethylene polymerization studies

The synthesis, characterization and ethylene polymerization behavior of a set of Tp^′MCl₃ complexes (4, M=Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-neopentyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Np); 5, M=Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-tert-butyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^tBu); 6, M = Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-phenyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Ph); 7, M=Zr, Tp^′=HB(3-phenyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Ph); 8, M=Zr, Tp^′ = HB(3-tert-butyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^tBu)) is described. Treatment of these tris(pyrazolyl)borate Group IV compounds with methylalumoxane (MAO) generates active catalysts for ethylene polymerization. For the polymerization reactions performed in toluene at 60 °C and 3 atm of ethylene pressure, the activities varied between 1.3 and 5.1 × 10³ g of PE/mol[M] · h. The highest activity is reached using more sterically open catalyst precursor 4. The viscosity-average molecular weights () of the PE’s produced with these catalyst precursors varying from 3.57 to 20.23 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ with melting temperatures in the range of 127-134 °C. Further polymerization studies employing 7 varying Al/Zr molar ratio and temperature of polymerization showed that the activity as well as the polymer properties are dependent on these parameters. In that case, higher activity was attained at 60 °C. The viscosity-average molecular weights of the polyethylene’s decreases with increasing Al/Zr molar ratio.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of copper(II)-nitrito complexes with hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate and related coligands

This study focuses on the geometric (molecular) structures, spectroscopic properties, and electronic structures of copper(II)-nitrito complexes as a function of second coordination sphere effects using a set of closely related coligands. With anionic hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands, one nitrite is bound to copper(II). Depending on the steric demand of the coligand, the coordination mode is either symmetric or asymmetric bidentate, which leads to different ground states of the resulting complexes as evident from EPR spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra of these compounds are assigned using isotope substitution and DFT calculations. The results demonstrate that nu sym(N-O) occurs at higher energy than nu asym(N-O), which is different from the literature assignments for related compounds. UV-vis absorption and MCD spectra are presented and analyzed with the help of TD-DFT calculations. The principal binding modes of nitrite to Cu(II) and Cu(I) are also investigated applying DFT. Using a neutral tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand, two nitrite ligands are bound to copper. In this case, a very unusual binding mode is observed where one nitrite is eta1-O and the other one is eta1-N bound. This allows to study the properties of coordinated nitrite as a function of binding mode in one complex. The N-coordination mode is easily identified from vibrational spectroscopy, where N-bound nitrite shows a large shift of nu asym(N-O) to >1400 cm-1, which is a unique spectroscopic feature. The optical spectra of this compound exhibit an intense band around 300 nm, which might be attributable to a nitrite to Cu(II) CT transition. Finally, using a bidentate neutral bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand, two eta1-O coordinated nitrite ligands are observed. The vibrational and optical (UV-vis and MCD) spectra of this compound are presented and analyzed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and theoretical studies of group 4 amido hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes

Titanium and zirconium amido complexes containing a hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate (Tp) or hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp*) ligand TpM(NMe(2))(3) (M = Ti, 1; M = Zr, 2) and Tp*M(NMe(2))(3) (M = Ti, 3; M = Zr, 4) were prepared by the reactions of M(NMe(2))(3)Cl (M = Ti, Zr) with sodium hydridotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate and potassium hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, respectively. The structures of 1, 2, and 4.CH(2)Cl(2) were determined by X-ray diffraction and show octahedral coordination geometry around the metal centers. Density functional theory calculations at the B3PW91 level were performed to understand the orientations and the rotational behavior of amido ligands in these metal complexes.     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of first-row transition metal(II) substituted blue copper model complexes with hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate

[CuL(SC(6)F(5))] (1) (L = hydrotris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate anion) has been reported as a good model for blue copper proteins [Kitajima, N.; Fujisawa, K.; Tanaka, M.; Moro-oka, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 9232-9233]. To obtain more structural and spectroscopic insight, the first-row transition metal(II) substituted complexes of Cu(II) (1) to Mn(II) (2), Fe(II) (3), Co(II) (4), Ni(II) (5), and Zn(II) (6) were synthesized and their crystal structures were determined. These model complexes have a distorted tetrahedral geometry arising from the tripodal ligand L. The d value, which is defined by the distance from the N(2)S basal plane to the metal(II) ion, and the bond angles such as N-M-N and S-M-N are good indicators of these structural distortions. The obtained complexes were characterized by UV-vis absorption, EPR, NMR, far-IR, and FT-Raman spectroscopies and electrochemical and magnetic properties. In UV-vis absorption spectra, the sulfur-to-metal(II) CT bands and the d-d transition bands are observed for 1 and 3-5. For 1, the strong sulfur to Cu(II) CT band at 663 nm, which is one of the unique properties of blue copper proteins, is observed. The CT energies of the Fe(II) (3), Co(II) (4), and Ni(II) (5) complexes are shifted to higher energy (308 and 355 nm for 3, 311 and 340 nm for 4, 357 and 434 nm for 5) and are almost the same as the corresponding Co(II)- and Ni(II)-substituted blue copper proteins. In the far-IR spectra, three far-IR absorption bands for 2-6 at ca. 400, ca. 350, and ca. 310 cm(-1) are also observed similar to those for 1. Other properties are consistent with their distorted tetrahedral geometries.     

Preparation of mononuclear and dinuclear Rh hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borato complexes containing arenethiolato ligands and conversion of the mononuclear complexes into dinuclear Rh-Rh and Rh-Ir complexes with bridging arenethiolato ligands

Reactions of [Tp*Rh(coe)(MeCN)](; Tp*= HB(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)(3); coe = cyclooctene) with one equiv. of the organic disulfides, PhSSPh, TolSSTol (Tol = 4-MeC(6)H(4)), PySSPy (Py = 2-pyridyl), and tetraethylthiuram disulfide in THF at room temperature afforded the mononuclear Rh(III) complexes [Tp*Rh(SPh)(2)(MeCN)](3a), [Tp*Rh(STol)(2)(MeCN)](3b), [Tp*Rh(eta(2)-SPy)(eta(1)-SPy)](6), and [Tp*Rh(eta(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(eta(1)-S(2)CNEt(2))](7), respectively, via the oxidative addition of the organic disulfides to the Rh(I) center in 1. For the Tp analogue [TpRh(coe)(MeCN)](2, Tp = HB(pyrazol-1-yl)(3)), the reaction with TolSSTol proceeded similarly to give the bis(thiolato) complex [TpRh(STol)(2)(MeCN)](4) as a major product but the dinuclear complex [[TpRh(STol)](2)(micro-STol)(2)](5) was also obtained in low yield. Complex 3 was treated further with the Rh(III) or Ir(III) complexes [(Cp*MCl)(2)(micro-Cl)(2)](Cp*=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) in THF at room temperature, yielding the thiolato-bridged dinuclear complexes [Tp*RhCl(micro-SPh)(2)MCp*Cl](8a: M = Rh, 8b: M = Ir). Dirhodium complex [TpRhCl(micro-STol)(2)RhCp*Cl](9) was obtained similarly from 4 and [(Cp*RhCl)(2)(micro-Cl)(2)]. Anion metathesis of 8a proceeds only at the Rh atom with the Cp* ligand to yield [Tp*RhCl(micro-SPh)(2)RhCp*(MeCN)][PF(6)](10), when treated with excess KPF(6) in CH(2)Cl(2)-MeCN. The X-ray analyses have been undertaken to determine the detailed structures of 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a, 9, and 10.     

Hydration of nitrosylruthenium bis(alkynyl) complexes with hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate: insertion/hydration and double hydration products

Hydration of nitrosylruthenium bis(alkynyl) complex TpRu(CCPh)2(NO) (1) (Tp = BH(pyrazol-1-yl)3) was carried out in the presence of HBF4.Et2O in distilled MeOH and afforded the metallacycle TpRu{CH=C(Ph)C(O)CH(Ph)}(NO) (2) (39%) and the bis(ketonyl) TpRu(CH2C(O)Ph)2(NO) (3) (37%). While double hydration of 1 gave 3, 2 was produced through a combination of insertion and hydration processes. On the other hand, a similar reaction performed in THF instead of MeOH afforded 2 (52%), the acyl-ketonyl complex TpRu(C(O)CH2Ph)(CH2C(O)Ph)(NO) (4) (8.9%), and trace amounts of 3 and TpRu(CCPh)(CH2C(O)Ph)(NO) (5). Moreover, the 1/HBF4.Et2O/H2O reaction system in distilled MeOH at 0 degrees C gave rise to 5 exclusively (79%). Treatment of THF solution of isolated 5 with water in the presence of protic acid furnished 3 and 4, revealing that 5 is the intermediate in their formation.     

Structural analysis of the conformational flexibility of tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands and their analogues

Database analysis and molecular mechanics were used to determine the conformational flexibility of tridentate scorpionate ligands. The tris(pyrazolyl)methane and tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands act like molecular vises, opening their tripodal structure for larger metals and closing around smaller metal ions. Tris(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)methane has significant preference for larger metal ions than its unsubstituted parent compound. Tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates have similar conformational flexibilities. Placing sterically hindered groups on the central carbon or boron has only a minor effect on the geometry of the tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates. However, it does influence the flexibility of the ligands, particularly when they have to open far from their ideal geometry, which commonly occurs.     

TpRu complexes as recoverable Lewis acid catalysts for enantioselective solvent-free cycloaddition reactions (Tp = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate)

The enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure dinitrogen-bridged complexes [{TpRu(L)}₂(μ-N₂)][PF₆]₂ (L = R,R- or S,S-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinoamino)cyclohexane (R,R- or S,S-dppach)) were prepared by reaction of the corresponding chloro-complexes [TpRuCl(L)] with NaPF₆ in dichloromethane under dinitrogen. The dinitrogen adducts react with neat methacrolein furnishing the labile complexes [TpRu(methacrolein)(L)][PF₆] (L = R,R- or S,S-dppach). Both the dinitrogen and methacrolein derivatives are catalysts for the solvent-free regio- and enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene or pentamethylcyclopentadiene, with moderate enantiomeric excesses ranging from 36 to ca. 70%. The metal complex can be easily recovered and re-utilised for further reactions. The dinitrogen complexes also catalyse the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between methacrolein and benzylidenephenylamine N-oxide to yield 5-methyl-2-N-3-diphenyl-isoxazolidine-5-carbaldehyde with very high regioselectivity and 32% enantiomeric excess.     

Cationic tris(pyrazolyl)borate bipyrimidine complexes

The cationic complexes, [Tp^RNi(bpym)]⁺ {Tp^R = tris(3,5-diphenylpyrazolyl)borate, R = Ph₂ 1; tris(3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate, R = Ph,Me 2} were synthesized by reacting [Tp^RNiBr] (R = Ph₂; Ph,Me) with bipyrimidine followed by subsequent addition of KPF₆ in CH₂Cl₂. The green solids have been characterized by IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Crystallographic studies of [Tp^Ph,MeNi(bpym)]PF₆ reveal a five-coordinate square pyramidal nickel centre with a κ³-coordinated Tp^Ph,Me ligand and a chelating bipyrimidine ligand. Cyclic voltammetric studies show irreversible reduction with the degree of reversibility dependent on the type of Tp^R ligand.     

A homoleptic hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate complex of titanium

The reaction of [Ti(2)(micro-Cl)(2)(thf)(2)(eta-C(8)H(8))(2)] with Na[HB(mt)(3)] (mt = methimazolyl) provides the unusual salt [Ti{HB(mt)(3)}(2)][TiCl(4)(thf)(2)], the cation of which features homoleptic Ti(III)S(6) coordination.     

Tris(pyrazolyl)borate carbosilane dendrimers and metallodendrimers

A modified tris(pyrazolylborate) ligand has been prepared in two steps. First, reaction of triisopropylborate with allylmagnesium bromide and further treatment with benzoyl chloride gave CH(2) = CHCH(2)B(O(i)Pr), which was then reacted with potassium pyrazolate and pyrazole to give the compound K[CH(2) = CHCH(2)Bpz(3)]. The new allyl-containing scorpionate anion of acts as a bi- or tri-dentate ligand, as shown by the mononuclear complexes [CH(2) = CHCH(2)Bpz(3)M(LL)] (M = Rh, LL = nbd, ; LL = tfb, ; LL = (CO)(PPh(3)), ; M = Ir, LL = cod, ), obtained from reactions of the chlorido-bridged dinuclear complexes [{M(mu-Cl)(LL)}(2)] with 2. Furthermore, the borate represents a key material to achieve the attachment of tris(pyrazolyl)borate groups to the peripheries of carbosilane dendrimers. Thus, the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions of compound with the dendritic cores Si[(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)H](4) (G(0)-(SiH)(4)), (G(1)-(SiH)(8)), and (G(2)-(SiH)(16)) gave the corresponding borate-containing dendrimers Si[(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)(CH(2))(3)B(O(i)Pr)(2)](4) (G(0)-B(4)), Si[(CH(2))(3)SiMe{(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)(CH(2))(3)B(O(i)Pr)(2)}(2)](4) (G(1)-B(8)), and Si[(CH(2))(3)SiMe{(CH(2))(3)SiMe[(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)(CH(2))(3)B(O(i)Pr)(2)](2)}(2)](4) (G(2)-B(16)) selectively in the anti-Markovnikov direction. Further reactions of G(0)-B(4), G(1)-B(8) and G(2)-B(16) with potassium pyrazolate and pyrazole rendered the corresponding polyanionic dendrimers K(4)[Si{(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)(CH(2))(3)Bpz(3)}(4)] (G(0)-(Bpz(3))(4)), G(1)-(Bpz(3))(8), and G(2)-(Bpz(3))(16), respectively, which contain 4, 8, and 16 tris(pyrazolyl)borate groups symmetrically located around the dendritic peripheries. These unusual polyanionic dendrimers are excellent scaffolds to support metal centres, as shown by the reactions of G(0)-(Bpz(3))(4), G(1)-(Bpz(3))(8), and G(2)-(Bpz(3))(16) with [{Rh(mu-Cl)(nbd)}(2)] to give the neutral rhodadendrimers [Si{(CH(2))(3)SiMe(2)(CH(2))(3)Bpz(3)Rh(nbd)}(4)] G(0)-(Bpz(3)Rh)(4), G(1)-(Bpz(3)Rh)(8) and G(2)-(Bpz(3)Rh)(16) as stable solids in excellent yields. Following this protocol, mixed rhodium/iridium metallodendrimers can be prepared.