Chromogenic betaine lariates for highly selective calcium ion sensing in aqueous environment

This paper describes the design, synthesis, and the characterization of the two new chromogenic crown ethers 2,2′-[1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diylbis(methylene)]bis[4-[(1-methyl-4-(1H)-pyridinylidene)ethylidene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one (KBC-001) and the lipophilic derivative 2,2′-[1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diylbis(methylene)]bis[4-[(1-dodecyl-4-(1H)-pyridinylidene)ethylidene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one (KBC-002). A merocyanine dye that forms a betainic structure upon intramolecular charge transfer and shows solvent polarity dependent spectral sensitivity was selected as the chromophore system to develop the new chromoionophores. This approach allows the design of overall electrically neutral ligands bearing charged groups without the need of external counter ions. A proton ionizable group in the dye moiety acts as a charged ion-binding site and is an integral part of a lariat crown ether ionophore. A chromoionophore for calcium ion sensing has been developed, which combines the size-selective binding character of a crown ether with strong electrostatic attraction between the positively charged calcium ion and two negatively charged lariat side arms in the overall neutral compound. This water-soluble dye selectively responds to the presence of calcium ions in water at pH 8.5 with a dynamic response range between 10 μM and 10 mM. The binding event can be monitored both by absorption spectrometry and by fluorescence spectrometry. No cross-sensitivity was found for the physiologically important cations Mg²⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ up to concentrations of 0.1 M under the same experimental conditions. In contrast to the water-soluble reagent KBC-001, the lipophilized derivative KBC-002 having two long alkyl chains was successfully applied to ion-exchange type optode membranes made from plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The dynamic response range of the optode at pH 9.0 was between 10 μM and 10 mM while retaining the high calcium selectivity.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the cationic samarium phenoxide complex [(ArO)2Sm(DME)2][BPh4] · THF and its catalytic activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone

The first cationic samarium phenoxide complex, [(ArO)₂Sm(DME)₂][BPh₄] · THF (ArO = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-metyl-phenoxide) (1), has been synthesized by one-electron oxidation reaction of (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃ with AgBPh₄ in high yield and structurally characterized. The complex 1 can be used as a single-component catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) with high activity. The activity of the complex 1 is much higher than that of the parent neutral complex (ArO)₃Sm(THF)₂, and is comparable to that of the divalent complex (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃. A coordination-insertion polymerization mechanism was supposed according to the end-group analysis.     

Synthesis of a new type of dibenzopyrromethene-boron complex with near-infrared absorption property

A new type of π-extended 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY dye), bis(isoindole)-derived benzo[1,3,2]oxazaborinine 1, has been synthesized by seven-step procedure from 2-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester. The benzannulation of the pyrrole ring and the formation of a structurally strained intramolecular B-O ring enable the dye to absorb near-infrared light at ca. 750 nm with a molecular extinction coefficient (ε) of ca 8.3 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in THF. The absorption properties are discussed on the basis of DFT calculations. Interestingly, a film of 5,5-dihexyloxy derivative 1b, which was fabricated by a spin-coating procedure on a glass plate, exhibited a dramatic bathochromic shift of absorbance as compared to the solution, with λ_max of 922 nm.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and properties of heavier alkaline earth complexes containing bis(pyrazolyl)borate or bis(3,5-diisopropylpyrazolyl)borate ligands

Treatment of a solid mixture of KBH₄ with six equivalents of 3,5-diisopropylpyrazole (iPr₂pzH) at 180 °C afforded KTp^iPr2(iPr₂PzH)₃ in 53% yield. KBp^iPr2 was synthesized in 56% yield by treatment of a 1:2 M ratio of KBH₄ and iPr₂PzH in refluxing dimethylacetamide. Treatment of MI₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) with two equivalents of KBp or KBp^iPr2 in tetrahydrofuran afforded MBp₂(THF)₂ (M = Ca, 64%, M = Sr, 81%), BaBp₂(THF)₄ (32%), and M(Bp^iPr2)₂(THF)₂ (M = Ca, 63%; M = Sr, 61%, M = Ba, 48%) as colorless crystalline solids upon workup. These complexes were characterized by spectral and analytical techniques and by X-ray crystal structure determinations of all complexes except KBp^iPr2. KTp^iPr2(iPr₂PzH)₃ contains one κ³-N,N,N-Tp^iPr2 ligand and three κ¹-iPr₂pzH ligands, with overall distorted octahedral geometry about the K ion. The iPr₂PzH nitrogen-hydrogen bonds are engaged in intramolecular hydrogen bonding to the 2-nitrogen atoms of the Tp^iPr2 ligand. The solid state structures of MBp₂(THF)₂, BaBp₂(THF)₄, and M(Bp^iPr2)₂(THF)₂ contain κ³-N,N,H Bp and Bp^iPr2 ligands, which form through metal-nitrogen bond formation to the 2-nitrogen atoms of the pyrazolyl fragments and metal-hydrogen bond formation to one boron-bound hydrogen atom per Bp ligand. SrBp₂(THF)₂has the shortest metal-hydrogen interactions among the series. A combination of preparative sublimations, solid state decomposition temperatures, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that MBp₂(THF)₂, BaBp₂(THF)₄, and M(Bp^iPr2)₂(THF)₂ undergo solid state decomposition at moderate temperatures.     

A convenient [2+2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion reaction for the synthesis of 1,1-dicyanobuta-1,3-diene-scaffolded peptides as new imaging chromophores

We report on the chemoselective coupling between colorless peptide fragments functionalized with a mutually reactive electron-rich N^α-(4-ethynylphenyl)-N^α-(methyl)-glycyl- and an electron-deficient [4-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)]benzoyl moiety. The resulting donor-substituted 1,1-dicyanobuta-1,3-dienes represent a new class of orange-red colored (λ_max = 450-500 nm, with molar extinction coefficients (ε) above 5,000 mol⁻¹ dm³ cm⁻¹) peptide-based imaging chromophores.     

Rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes bearing amino phosphine ligands: Synthesis and catalytic activity toward ethylene polymerization

Reactions of neutral amino phosphine compounds HL^1-3 with rare earth metal tris(alkyl)s, Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂, afforded a new family of organolanthanide complexes, the molecular structures of which are strongly dependent on the ligand framework. Alkane elimination reactions between 2-(CH₃NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL¹) and Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ at room temperature for 3 h generated mono(alkyl) complex (L¹)₂Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)(THF) (1). Similarly, treatment of 2-(C₆H₅CH₂NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL²) with Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ afforded (L²)₂Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)(THF) (2), selectively, which gradually deproportionated to a homoleptic complex (L²)₃Lu (3) at room temperature within a week. Strikingly, under the same condition, 2-(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL³) swiftly reacted with Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ at room temperature for 3 h to yield the corresponding lanthanide bis(alkyl) complexes L³Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n (4a: Ln = Y, n = 2; 4b: Ln = Sc, n = 1; 4c: Ln = Lu, n = 1; 4d: Ln = Yb, n = 1; 4e: Ln = Tm, n = 1) in high yields. All complexes have been well defined and the molecular structures of complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4b-e were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The scandium bis(alkyl) complex activated by AlEt₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄], was able to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene to afford linear polyethylene.     

High temperature synthesis of some strontium and barium 2,6-dibenzylphenolates

Direct treatment of HOdbp (= 2,6-dibenzylphenol) with strontium or barium metal in the absence of solvent at high temperature provides the corresponding phenolates Sr(Odbp)₂ and Ba(Odbp)₂. Recrystallisation of Ba(Odbp)₂ from THF gave a good yield of the crystalline dimer [Ba(Odbp)₂(THF)]₂ · 2THF. Attempted recrystallisation of Sr(Odbp)₂ from THF mostly yielded microcrystalline material characterized as [Sr(Odbp)₂]_n but on one occasion gave a small crop of crystalline [Sr₉(Odbp)₈(O₂SiMe₂)₄(OH)₂(THF)₆(OH₂)₂] · 6THF derived from the adventitious reaction of Sr(Odbp)₂ with dimethylsilicone grease ({OSiMe₂}_∞). In the solid-state [Ba(Odbp)₂(THF)]₂ · 2THF displays significant intramolecular Ba?π-arene interactions with the pendant benzyl substituents. [Sr₉(Odbp)₈(O₂SiMe₂)₄(OH)₂(THF)₆(OH₂)₂] · 6THF features a square prismatic [Sr(O₂SiMe₂)₄]⁶⁻ core capped by two inverse crown-like square [Sr₄(Odbp)₄(OH)(L)₄]³⁺ units, where L = OH₂ or THF, that are staggered with respect to the cuboidal core.     

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.     

Reduced sample recovery in liquid chromatography at critical adsorption point of high molar mass polystyrene

Low sample recovery may represent an important drawback in liquid chromatography at the critical adsorption point (LC-CAP) if the critical eluent is not carefully fitted to the system. So far, this problem was often overlooked and only few experimental examples can be found in literature. We showed that in the case of polystyrene (PS) in a tetrahydrofuran (THF)/n-hexane critical mixed eluent, PS with molar masses higher than 100 kg mol⁻¹ were not eluted from a tandem of two columns packed by bare silica gels with 30 nm and 100 nm pore size, respectively. The polymer trapped within the columns was well recovered after injection of a small volume of pure THF as demonstrated using 2D chromatography. We studied PS conformations by means of small angle neutron scattering and found that the THF/n-hexane critical eluent is in fact a theta solvent for PS. By replacing it by a CH₂Cl₂/n-hexane critical mixture, which is a good solvent for PS, the limits of reduced sample recovery was displaced towards far higher molar masses. Thus, thermodynamic quality of eluent - theta or good solvent - plays an important role on the phenomenon of sample recovery.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.     

Isolation, X-ray structure and properties of an unusual pentacarbonyl(2,2′-pyridyl-quinoxaline) tungsten complex

The first example of a monodentate complexation of 2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoxaline (pq) to a metal centre through N₄ is reported. Photochemical exchange of the THF ligand in W(CO)₅THF by pq yields W(CO)₅(N₄-pq) (1), where the potentially bidentate pq ligand coordinates in an unusual monodentate fashion. Complex 1 is isolated as orange crystals and fully characterized on the basis of NMR, IR, UV-Vis and emission spectroscopy. The structure of 1 was determined by X-ray analysis. W(CO)₅(N₄-pq) (1) crystallizes in space group P2_1/n, monoclinic crystal system with α = 7.0237(5) Å, b = 10.4618(8) Å, c = 23.7768(18) Å, Z = 4 and V = 1731.9(2) Å³. Complex 1 exhibits intramolecular CH?N and intermolecular CH?O hydrogen bonds between the CH groups and nitrogen atoms of quinoxaline and CH groups and oxygen atoms of carbonyls, respectively, resulting in a supramolecular architecture in solid state. The preference to N₄ as coordination site is discussed in terms of electronic interactions. Solutions of 1 emits dually at 77 K while they are moderately instable at room temperature, as 1 undergoes chelation via a first-order kinetic process to form W(CO)₄pq (2). The determined reaction rate of 1 in toluene is 2.3 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ (at 298 K) and is compared with literature values for other W(CO)₅L (L:diimine) complexes.     

Helices of ruthenium complexes involving pyridyl-azine ligands: synthesis, spectral and structural aspects

New cationic complexes [Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(EPh₃)(L)]BF₄ [L = pyridine-2-carbaldehyde azine (paa); E = P, 1; E = As, 2; E = Sb, 3] and κ¹ bonded dppm complexes [Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(κ¹-dppm)(L)]BF₄ [L = paa 4; L = p-phenylene-bis(picoline)aldimine (pbp) 5] containing both group V donor and pyridyl-azine ligand are reported. The complexes were fully characterized by analytical and spectral studies. ³¹P NMR spectral studies suggested coordination of dppm in the complexes 4 and 5 in κ¹-manner, which was further, confirmed by structural studies on the representative complex 4. Weak interaction studies revealed that inter- and intramolecular C-H?X (X = O, F, Cl, π) and π-π interactions in the complexes 1 and 4 lead to helical structures.     

Structural, spectral and thermal studies of substituted N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-phenylthioureas

N-2-(3-picolyl)-N′-phenylthiourea, 3PicTuPh, monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=7.617(2) b=7.197(5), c=22.889(5) Å, β=94.63(4)°, V=1250.7(1) Å³ and Z=4; N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-phenylthiourea, 4PicTuPh, triclinic, P-1, a=7.3960(5), b=7.9660(12), c=21.600(3) Å, α=86.401(4), β=84.899(8), γ=77.769(8)°, V=1237.5(3) Å³ and Z=4; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-phenylthiourea, 5PicTuPh, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=14.201(1), b=4.905(3), c=17.689(3) Å, β=91.38(1)°, V=1231.8(7) Å³ and Z=4; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-phenylthiourea, 6PicTuPh, monoclinic, C2/c2, a=14.713(1), b=9.367(1), c=18.227(1) Å, β=92.88(1)°, V=2515.5(1) Å³ and Z=8 and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-phenylthiourea, 4,6LutTuPh, monoclinic, C2/c, a=11.107(2), b=11.793(2), c=20.084(4) Å, β=96.10(3)°, V=2616(1) Å³ and Z=8. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding between N′H and the pyridyl nitrogen and intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the thione sulfur are affected by substitution of the pyridine ring, as is the planarity of the molecule. ¹H NMR studies in CDCl₃ show the NH′ hydrogen resonance considerably downfield from other resonances in the spectrum for each thiourea.     

Diphenyltin(IV) complexes of the 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]quinolin-8-olates: Synthesis and multinuclear NMR, Sn Mössbauer, electrospray ionization MS, X-ray characterization and assessment of in vitro cytotoxicity

A series of cis-bis{5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]quinolinolato}diphenyltin(IV) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, ESI-MS, IR and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques in combination with elemental analysis. The structures of a ligand L⁶H (i.e., 5-[(E)-2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-1-diazenyl]quinolin-8-ol) and three diphenyltin(IV) complexes, viz., Ph₂Sn(L¹)₂ · (CH₃)₂CO (1), Ph₂Sn(L⁴)₂ (4) and Ph₂Sn(L⁵)₂ (5) (L = 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]quinolin-8-ol: aryl = phenyl - (L¹H); 4′-methylphenyl - (L⁴H) and 4′-bromophenyl - (L⁵H)) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In general, the complexes were found to adopt a distorted cis-octahedral arrangement around the tin atom. These complexes retain their solid-state structure in non-coordinating solvent as evidenced by ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopic results. The in vitro cytotoxicity of 1 is reported and compared with Ph₂Sn(Ox)₂ (Ox = deprotonated quinolin-8-ol) against seven well characterized human tumor cell lines.     

Solvent and concentration effects on fluorescence emission in MEH-PPV solution

We systematically studied the excitation and the fluorescence steady-state spectroscopy of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexoxy)-p-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) in two solvents and several concentrations. Fluorescence spectra were recorded for solutions in several concentrations (10⁻⁵ mg/ml to 10⁻³ mg/ml), showing that tetrahydrofuran (THF) and toluene solvate the polymer chain differently. Dilute solution (10⁻⁵ mg/ml) in THF exhibit broader fluorescence spectra due to greater conformation disorder. The degree of the aggregation depends on both the solvent and the polymer concentration. Aggregation is promoted in toluene solution and hindered in THF solvent.     

Four distinctive 1-D lanthanide carboxylate coordination polymers: Synthesis,crystal structures and spectral properties

Four novel lanthanide coordination polymers [Pr(mal)(OH)(bipy) · 2H₂O]_n (1), {[Dy¹(SBA)₃(H₂O)₂][Dy²(SBA)₃(H₂O)₂] · 4H₂O}_n (2), {[Tb(OHnic)(Onic)(H₂O)₅ · (OHnicH)] · H₂O}_n (3) and {[Sm(OHnic)(Onic)(H₂O)₅ · (OHnicH)] · H₂O}_n (4) (Hmal = maleic acid, HSBA = 4-sulfobenzoic acid, OHnicH = 6-hydroxynicotinic acid and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a 1-D helical chain with seven-coordinated praseodymium centers. Complex 2 forms 1-D chain-like molecular structure containing two crystallographically unique dysprosium centers, the Dy¹ center is seven-coordinated while Dy² is eight-coordinated. The isomorphous complexes 3 and 4 exhibit an unprecedented 1-D chain-like polymeric structure through hydroxyl oxygen atoms of bridging Onic²⁻ anions linking up the neighboring central ions, and there exist three types of 6-OHnicH ligands in the structural unit which is rare for lanthanide carboxylate complexes. The photophysical properties of these complexes were studied using ultraviolet absorption spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra.     

Synthesis,reactivity and structural characterization of lanthanide hydroxides stabilized by a carbon-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand

The synthesis of lanthanide hydroxo complexes stabilized by a carbon-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand 2,2’-methylene-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxo) (MBMP²⁻) was described, and their reactivity toward phenyl isocyanate was explored. Reactions of (MBMP)Ln(C₅H₅)(THF)₂ with a molar equiv. of water in THF at −78 °C afforded the bis(phenolate) lanthanide hydroxides as dimers [{(MBMP)Ln(μ-OH)(THF)₂}₂] [Ln = Nd (1), Yb (2)] in high yields. Complexes 1 and 2 reacted with phenyl isocyanate in THF, after workup, to give the desired O−H addition products, [(MBMP)Ln(μ-η¹:η²-O₂CNHPh)(THF)₂]₂ [Ln = Nd (3), Yb (4)] in excellent isolated yields. These complexes were well characterized, and the molecular structures of complexes 2 to 4 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The ytterbium atom in complex 2 is coordinated to six oxygen atoms to form a distorted octahedral geometry, whereas each metal center in complexes 3 and 4 is seven-coordinated, and the coordination geometry can be best described as a distorted pentagonal bipyramid.     

Determination of bisphenol A, 4-n-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol by temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector

Present study described a simple, sensitive, and viable method for the determination of bisphenol A, 4-n-nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol in water samples using temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector. In this experiment, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈MIM][PF₆]) was used as the extraction solvent, and bisphenol A, 4-n-nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were selected as the model analytes. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as the volume of [C₈MIM][PF₆], dissolving temperature, extraction time, sample pH, centrifuging time and salting-out effect have been investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, good linear relationship was found in the concentration range of 1.0-100 μg L⁻¹ for BPA, 1.5-150 μg L⁻¹ for 4-NP, and 3-300 μg L⁻¹ for 4-OP, respectively. Limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) were in the range of 0.23-0.48 μg L⁻¹. Intra day and inter day precisions (RSDs, n = 6) were in the range of 4.6-5.5% and 8.5-13.3%, respectively. This method has been also successfully applied to analyze the real water samples at two different spiked concentrations and excellent results were obtained.     

Synthesis, structural characterisation of new oligomeric alkyl aluminium (2,2′-methylene-p-chloro-bisphenoxides) and application as catalysts in polymerisation reactions involving cyclohexene oxide

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterisation and X-ray structure determination of the first aluminium para-chloro-bisphenoxides [Al₂(mbpcp)₂(C₂H₅)₂(THF)₂] and [Al₃(mbpcp)₂(C₂H₅)₅] (mbpcp = 2,2′-methylenebis(4-chlorophenol) are reported. 2,2′-Methylenebis(4-chlorophenol) was reacted with triethyl aluminium to yield under liberation of ethane, aluminium para-chloro-2,2′-methylene-bisphenoxides with different molecular complexities: a dinuclear and a trinuclear specie, both displaying two bridging bisphenoxide ligands. The nature of the solvent (coordinating or not) influences the aggregation degree of the final product. The use of a coordinating solvent like THF yields a dimeric structure with a bisphenol:metal ratio of 1 to 1 which displays a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry around the aluminium atoms whereas using an apolar, weak-coordinating solvent like diethyl ether yields a trinuclear species with a bisphenol:metal ratio of 2 to 3, displaying aluminium atoms with both tetrahedral and trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometries. These compounds were tested in preliminary screening tests as catalysts of the homopolymerisation of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and copolymerisation of CHO with carbon dioxide. Both aluminium bisphenoxides are highly active in the ring opening polymerisation of CHO (RT, reaction time <5 min, M_n ranging from 31 000 to 40 700 g/mol, polydispersities from 1.2 to 1.4). Both compound are also active in the copolymerisation of CHO with CO₂ although the carbonate amount remains low (75 bar, 90 °C, reaction time 8 h, M_n ranging from 6800 to 15 200 g/mol, polydispersities from 1.9 to 2.5).     

Synthesis, reactivity and structural characterization of ytterbium complexes bearing a tridentate [O,N,N] Schiff base ligand

The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of ytterbium monochloride supported by tridentate Schiff base ligands are described. The metathesis reaction of anhydrous YbCl₃ with 1 equivalent of the sodium salt of a Schiff base, [{LNa(THF)}₂] (1) [LH = 3,5-Bu^t₂-2-(OH)-C₆H₂CHN-8-C₉H₆N], gave the ytterbium Schiff base monochloride complex L₂YbCl (2). Complex 2 reacted with NaOAr (OAr = OC₆H₃Bu^t-2-Me-4) in a 1:1 molar ratio to form the desired aryloxo derivative L₂Yb(OAr) (3). Complex 3 can also be prepared by the one-pot reaction of the Schiff base HL, n-BuLi, YbCl₃ and NaOAr in a 2:2:1:1 molar ratio. However, an unprecedented ytterbium aryloxide LL′Yb(OAr) (4) (L′ = 3,5-Bu^t₂-2-(O)C₆H₂CH(C₄H₉)-NH-8-C₉H₆N) can be isolated in low yield as a byproduct in the later case. Reaction of complex 2 with 1 equivalent of (CH₂CH-CH₂)MgBr in THF afforded the unexpected complex [Mg(H₂N-8-C₉H₆N)Cl(THF)₃]Br (5). Complexes 2-5 were fully characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction.