Synthesis of double silylene‐bridged binuclear zirconium complexes and their use as catalysts for olefin polymerization

New double silylene‐bridged binuclear zirconium complexes [(η⁵‐RC₅H₄)ZrCl₂]₂[μ,μ‐(SiMe₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₃)₂] [R = H ( 1 ), Me ( 2 ), ⁿPr ( 3 ), ⁱPr ( 4 ), ⁿBu ( 5 ), allyl ( 6 ), 3‐butenyl ( 7 ), benzyl ( 8 ), PhCH₂CH₂ ( 9 ), MeOCH₂CH₂ ( 10 )] were synthesized by the reaction of (η⁵‐RC₅H₄)ZrCl₃·DME with [μ,μ‐(SiMe₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₃)₂]^2? ( L^2? ) in THF, and they were all well characterized by ¹H NMR, MS, IR, and EA. The binuclear structure of Complex 3 was further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, where the two zirconium centers are located trans relative to the bridging [μ,μ‐(SiMe₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₃)₂] moiety. When activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), this series of zirconium complexes are highly active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene even under very low molar ratio of Al/Zr (Complex 7 , 5.41 × 10⁵ g‐PE/mol‐Zr·h, Al/Zr = 50) and linear polyethylenes (PEs) with broad molecular weight distribution (MWD, M_w/M_n = 7.31–27.6) was obtained. The copolymerization experiments indicate that these complexes are also very efficient in the incorporation of 1‐hexene into the growing PE chain in the presence of MAO (Complex 6 , 3.59 × 10⁶ g‐PE/mol‐Zr·h; 1‐hexene content, 3.65%). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4901–4913, 2007     

Reaction of dimethylplatinum(II) complexes with PhCH2CH2Br: Comparative reactivity with CH3CH2Br and PhCH2Br and synthesis of Pt(IV) complexes

Oxidative addition of 2‐phenylethylbromide (PhCH₂CH₂Br) to dimethylplatinum(II) complexes [PtMe₂(NN)] ( 1a , NN = 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy); 1b , NN = 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen)) afforded the new organoplatinum(IV) complexes [PtMe₂(Br)(PhCH₂CH₂)(bpy)], as a mixture of trans ( 2a ) and cis ( 3a ) isomers, and [PtMe₂(Br)(PhCH₂CH₂)(phen)], as a mixture of trans ( 2b ) and cis ( 3b ) isomers, respectively. The new Pt(IV) complexes were readily characterized using multinuclear (¹H and ¹³C) NMR spectroscopy and elemental microanalysis. The crystal structure of 2a was further determined using X‐ray crystallography indicating an octahedral geometry around the platinum centre. A comparison of reactivity of RCH₂Br reagents (R = CH₃, Ph or PhCH₂) in their oxidative addition reactions with complex 1a , with an emphasis on the effects of the R groups of alkyl halides, was also conducted using density functional theory.     

UV–visible spectroscopy for zirconocene activation by MAO in olefin polymerization: activity versus wavenumber

Activation of ansa‐zirconocenes of the type Rac [Zr{1‐Me₂Si(3‐R‐(η⁵‐C₉H₅))(3‐R′‐(η⁵‐C₉H₅))}Cl₂] [R = Et, R′ = H ( 1 ); R = Pr, R′ = H ( 2 ); and R = Et, R′ = Pr ( 3 ), R, R′ = Me ( 4 ) and R, R′ = Bu ( 5 )] by MAO has been studied by UV–visible spectroscopy. Compounds 1–3 have been tested in the polymerization of ethylene at different Al:Zr ratios. UV–vis spectroscopy was used to determine a correlation between the electronic structures of ( 1–5 ) and their polymerization activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hindered Rotation in Some Organic Dithiocarbamates

Abstract

Hindered rotation in alkyldithiocarbamates of the type RR′NC(= S)SR″ [R, R′, R″ = Me, Me, Et (1); PhCH₂, Me, Et (2); PhCH₂, H, Et (3); PhCH₂, H, Me (4) and O(CH₂CH₂)₂, Et (5)′ has been investigated using variable-temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃, C₆D₆, and DMSO-d₆ solutions. Rotational parameters were calculated by the coalescence temperature method. Nitrogen substituent effects on the free energy of activation and on the equilibrium constant of unsymmetrical conformers at room temperature are discussed.     

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene with Cp*TiCl((OCH(R)CH2)2NAr)/MMAO

A series of titanium complexes Cp*TiCl((OCH(R)CH₂)₂NAr) (Cp* = C₅Me₅, R = H, Ar = Phenyl ( 2a) ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl ( 2b ); R = Me, Ar = Phenyl ( 2c )) was prepared by the reaction of corresponding N,N‐diethoxylaniline derivatives, with Cp*TiCl₃ in the presence of excessive triethylamine. All the titanium complexes display higher catalytic activities towards the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, and produce higher molecular weight polystyrenes with higher syndiotacticity and melting temperature than their mother complex Cp*TiCl₃. The catalyst activities and polymer yields as well as polymer properties are considerably affected by the steric and electronic effect of the tridentate ligands. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1562–1568, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of ethylene‐propylene‐1‐pentene terpolymers

Ethylene (E), propylene (P), and 1‐pentene (A) terpolymers differing in monomer composition ratio were produced, using the metallocenes rac‐ethylene bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO), isopropyl bis(cyclopentadienyl)fluorenyl zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂/MAO, and bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, supported on silica impregnated with MAO (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂/MAO) as catalytic systems. The catalytic activities at 25 °C and normal pressure were compared. The best result was obtained with the first catalyst. A detailed study of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, triad sequences distributions, monomer‐average sequence lengths, and reactivity ratios for the terpolymers is presented. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 947–957, 2008     

H-, C-NMR and ethylene polymerization studies of zirconocene/MAO catalysts: effect of the ligand structure on the formation of active intermediates and polymerization kinetics

Using ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies, cationic intermediates formed by activation of L₂ZrCl₂ with methylaluminoxane (MAO) in toluene were monitored at Al/Zr ratios from 50 to 1000 (L₂ are various cyclopentadienyl (Cp), indenyl (Ind) and fluorenyl (Flu) ligands). The following catalysts were studied: (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂ (R=Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, Me₅, n-Bu, t-Bu), rac-ethanediyl(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂Si(1-Ind-2-Me)₂ZrCl₂, rac-ethanediyl(1-Ind-4,5,6,7-H₄)₂ZrCl₂, (Ind-2-Me)₂ZrCl₂, Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂, Me₂C(Cp-3-Me)(Flu)ZrCl₂ and Me₂Si(Flu)₂ZrCl₂. Correlations between spectroscopic and ethene polymerization data for catalysts (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=H, Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, Me₅, n-Bu, t-Bu) and rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ were established. The catalysts (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/AlMe₃/CPh₃⁺B(C₆F₅)₄⁻ (R=Me, 1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄, n-Bu, t-Bu) were also studied for comparison of spectroscopic and polymerization data with MAO-based systems. Complexes of type (Cp-R)₂ZrMe⁺←Me⁻-Al≡MAO (IV) with different [Me-MAO]⁻ counteranions have been identified in the (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=n-Bu, t-Bu) systems at low Al/Zr ratios (50-200). At Al/Zr ratios of 500-1000, the complex [L₂Zr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂]⁺[Me-MAO]⁻ (III) dominates in all MAO-based reaction systems studied. Ethene polymerization activity strongly depends on the Al/Zr ratio (Al/Zr=200-1000) for the systems (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=H, Me, n-Bu, t-Bu), while it is virtually constant in the same range of Al/Zr ratios for the catalytic systems (Cp-R)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (R=1,2-Me₂, 1,2,3-Me₃, 1,2,4-Me₃, Me₄) and rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO. The data obtained are interpreted on assumption that complex III is the main precursor of the active centers of polymerization in MAO-based systems.     

大取代茂锆配合物合成及分子内消除反应研究

通过6,6-二烷基富烯与2-MeOArLi进行加成反应, 得到含芳氧取代的环戊二烯基锂盐, 再与取代茂三氯化锆反应, 合成了不对称大位阻取代茂锆配合物RCpCp^oZrCl₂ [Cp^o＝2-MeOArCR¹R²Cp, R¹, R²＝CH₃, C₂H₅, (CH₂)₅, etc.], 所得的配合物均通过¹H NMR, IR, MS和EA鉴定. 在此过程中发现该类配合物能进行分子内消除反应, 脱去苯甲醚得到烯基取代的二氯二茂锆配合物, 该反应为未见文献报道的新反应, 对该反应进行了研究.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Some Novel Trialkylsilyl‐substituted Lithium Benzyl Complexes [Li(tmeda)][CHRSiMe2R′] (R = Ph, 3,5‐Me2C6H3; R′ = Me,tBu, Ph)

The reactions of PhCH₂SiMe₃ ( 1 ), PhCH₂SiMe₂^tBu ( 2 ), PhCH₂SiMe₂Ph ( 3 ), 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃CH₂SiMe₃ ( 4 ), and 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃CH₂SiMe₂^tBu ( 5 ) with ⁿBuLi in tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) afford the corresponding lithium complexes [Li(tmeda)][CHRSiMe₂R′] (R, R′ = Ph, Me ( 6 ), Ph, ^tBu ( 7 ), Ph, Ph ( 8 ), 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃, Me ( 9 ), and 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃, ^tBu ( 10 )), respectively. The new compounds 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 and 10 have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, compounds 7 , 8 and 9 also by X‐ray structure analysis.     

Zur reaktion von metall-koordiniertem kohlenmonoxid mit yliden: XI. Einige neuartige η1-vinyl-komplexe des eisens durch deprotonierung kationischer carbenkomplexe mit trimethyl(methylen)phosphoran

Novel η¹-vinyl complexes of the type Cp(CO)(L)FeC(OMe)C(R)R′ (R = R′ = H, Me; R = H, R′ = Me; L = Me₃P, Ph₃P) are obtainied via methylation of the acyl complexes Cp(CO)(L)FeC(O)R (R = Me, Et, i-Pr) with MeOSO₂F and subsequent deprotonation of the resulting carbene complexes [Cp(CO)(L)FeC(OMe)R]SO₃F with the phosphorus ylide Me₃PCH₂. The same procedure can be applied for the synthesis of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl derivative C₅Me₅(CO)(Me₃P)FeC(OMe)CH₂, while treatment of the hydroxy or siloxy carbene complexes [Cp(CO)(L)FeC(OR)Me]X (R = H, Me₃Si; X = SO₃CF₃) with Me₃CH₂ results in the transfer of the oxygen bound electrophile to the ylidic carbon. Some remarkable spectroscopic properties of the new complexes are reported.     

Hydrogen‐Assisted Unique Incorporation of 1,4‐Divinylbenzene in Copolymerization with Propylene Using an Isospecific Zirconocene Catalyst

Summary: Propylene was copolymerized with 1,4‐divinylbenzene (1,4‐DVB) using rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and MAO in the presence of hydrogen. ¹H NMR spectra of the obtained copolymer confirmed the successful incorporation of 1,4‐DVB. ¹³C NMR analysis revealed a unique copolymer structure with the incorporated 1,4‐DVB units predominantly forming 1,4‐substituted phenyl repeating units in the polymer main chain. A plausible mechanism involving spontaneous insertion of terminal styryl into Zr‐H species was proposed to rationalize the unique incorporation of 1,4‐DVB.

Copolymerization of propylene with 1,4‐divinylbenzene in the presence of hydrogen.     

α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization catalysed by novel ansa‐group IV complexes/MAO system

The catalytic properties of a set of ansa‐complexes (R‐Ph)₂C(Cp)(Ind)MCl₂ [R = ^tBu, M = Ti ( 3 ), Zr ( 4 ) or Hf ( 5 ); R = MeO, M = Zr ( 6 ), Hf ( 7 )] in α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization were explored in the presence of MAO (methylaluminoxane). Complex 4 with steric bulk ^tBu group on phenyl exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. It was 1.6‐fold more active than complex 11 [Ph₂C(Cp)(Ind)ZrCl₂] at 11 atm ethylene pressure and was 4.8‐fold more active at 1 atm pressure. The introduction of bulk substituent ^tBu into phenyl groups not only increased the catalytic activity greatly but also enhanced the content of 1‐hexene in ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The highest 1‐hexene incorporation was 25.4%. In addition, 4 was also active for propylene and 1‐hexene homopolymerization, respectively, and low isotactic polypropylene (mmmm = 11.3%) and isotactic polyhexene (mmmm = 31.6%) were obtained. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Imino‐indolate half‐titanocene chlorides: Synthesis and their ethylene (co‐)polymerization

A series of imino‐indolate half‐titanocene chlorides, Cp′Ti(L)Cl₂ ( C1 – C7 : Cp′ = C₅H₅, MeC₅H₄, C₅Me₅, L = imino‐indolate ligand), were synthesized by the reaction of Cp′TiCl₃ with sodium imino‐indolates. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, the molecular structures of two representative complexes C4 and C6 were confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. On activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes showed good catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization (up to 7.68 × 10⁶ g/mol(Ti)·h) and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization (up to 8.32 × 10⁶ g/mol(Ti)·h), producing polyolefins with high molecular weights (for polyethylene up to 1808 kg/mol, and for poly(ethylen‐co‐1‐hexene) up to 3290 kg/mol). Half‐titanocenes containing ligands with alkyl substituents showed higher catalytic activities, whereas the half‐titanocenes bearing methyl substituents on the cyclopentadienyl groups showed lower productivities, but produced polymers with higher molecular weights. Moreover, the copolymerization of ethylene and methyl 10‐undecenoate was demonstrated using the C1 /MAO catalytic system. The functionalized polyolefins obtained contained about 1 mol % of methyl 10‐undecenoate units and were fully characterized by several techniques such as FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DSC, TGA and GPC analyses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 357–372, 2009     

Reactivity of Yttrium Carboxylates Toward Alkylaluminum Hydrides

Yttrocene‐carboxylate complex [Cp*₂Y(OOCAr^Me)] (Cp*=C₅Me₅, Ar^Me=C₆H₂Me₃‐2,4,6) was synthesized as a spectroscopically versatile model system for investigating the reactivity of alkylaluminum hydrides towards rare‐earth‐metal carboxylates. Equimolar reactions with bis‐neosilylaluminum hydride and dimethylaluminum hydride gave adduct complexes of the general formula [Cp*₂Y(μ‐OOCAr^Me)(μ‐H)AlR₂] (R=CH₂SiMe₃, Me). The use of an excess of the respective aluminum hydride led to the formation of product mixtures, from which the yttrium‐aluminum‐hydride complex [{Cp*₂Y(μ‐H)AlMe₂(μ‐H)AlMe₂(μ‐CH₃)}₂] could be isolated, which features a 12‐membered‐ring structure. The adduct complexes [Cp*₂Y(μ‐OOCAr^Me)(μ‐H)AlR₂] display identical ¹J(Y,H) coupling constants of 24.5 Hz for the bridging hydrido ligands and similar ⁸⁹Y NMR shifts of δ=?88.1 ppm (R=CH₂SiMe₃) and δ=?86.3 ppm (R=Me) in the ⁸⁹Y DEPT45 NMR experiments.     

1,2,3,4‐Tetrasubstituted Cyclopentadienes and Their Applications for Metallocenes: Efficient Synthesis through Zirconocene‐ and CuCl‐Mediated Intermolecular Coupling of Two Alkynes and One Diiodomethane

1,2,3,4‐Tetrasubstituted cyclopentadienes and indene derivatives with identical or different substituents were obtained in good to excellent isolated yields through a zirconocene‐ and CuCl‐mediated intermolecular coupling process. This synthetic procedure involved three organic partners, including one CH₂I₂, and two different or identical alkynes. Two alkynes or one diyne undergo Cp₂Zr^II‐mediated (Cp=η⁵‐C₅H₅) pair‐selective reductive coupling to afford the corresponding zirconacyclopentadiene derivatives, which react, in the presence of CuCl and 1,3‐dimethyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐2(1 H)‐pyrimidinone (DMPU), with CH₂I₂ through intermolecular followed by intramolecular coupling to afford the cyclopentadiene derivatives. An application of the prepared tetrasubstituted cyclopentadiene derivatives was demonstrated by the facile synthesis of the corresponding zirconocene complexes [(^4RCp)₂ZrCl₂] and [(^4RCp)₂ZrR′₂] (R′=Me, Et, or nBu). The unique 1,2,3,4‐tetrasubstituted cyclopentadiene ligands and the corresponding metallocenes are expected to have further applications in organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis.     

Water Soluble Gold(I)‐diacetyl‐1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane‐arylazoimidazole Complexes: Synthesis and Spectroscopic Study

Reaction of [Au(DAPTA)(Cl)] with RaaiR’ in CH2Cl2 medium following ligand addition leads to [Au(DAPTA)(RaaiR’)](Cl) [DAPTA＝diacetyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, RaaiR’＝p-R-C6H4-N＝N- C3H2-NN-1-R’, (1—3), abbreviated as N,N’-chelator, where N(imidazole) and N(azo) represent N and N’, respectively; R＝H (a), Me (b), Cl (c) and R’＝Me (1), CH2CH3 (2), CH2Ph (3)]. The 1H NMR spectral measurements in D2O suggest methylene, CH2, in RaaiEt gives a complex AB type multiplet while in RaaiCH2Ph it shows AB type quartets. 13C NMR spectrum in D2O suggest the molecular skeleton. The 1H-1H COSY spectrum in D2O as well as contour peaks in the 1H-13C HMQC spectrum in D2O assign the solution structure.     

Renewable chain transfer agents for metallocene polymerizations: The effects of chiral monoterpenes on the polyolefin molecular weight and isotacticity

Monoterpenes were used as renewable chain transfer agents and polymerization solvents for metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysis. The polymerization of 1‐hexene, ethylene, and propylene in d‐limonene, hydrogenated d‐limonene and α‐pinene is reported. As detected by ¹H NMR analysis of the alkene region, chain transfer to d‐limonene yielded a higher percentage of trisubstituted alkenes. Size exclusion chromatography detected a decrease in molecular weight values resulting from chain transfer to d‐limonene. The [mmmm] pentads for isotactic polypropylene were characterized by ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Propylene polymerizations with the Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO and Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst systems in d‐limonene gave [mmmm] pentad values as high as 0.97. For the Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system at 0 °C, the mol fraction of [mmmm] pentads increased from 0.86 to 0.94 upon switching the solvent from toluene to d‐limonene. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3150–3165, 2007     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene by mono‐ and trinuclear nickel complexes with indanimine ligands

A series of new indanimine ligands [ArN?CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)OH] (Ar = Ph, R = Me ( 1 ), R = H ( 2 ), and R = Cl ( 3 ); Ar = 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃, R = Me ( 4 ), R = H ( 5 ), and R = Cl ( 6 )) were synthesized and characterized. Reaction of indanimines with Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O results in the formation of the trinuclear hexa(indaniminato)tri (nickel(II)) complexes Ni₃[ArN = CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)O]₆ (Ar = Ph, R = Me ( 7 ), R = H ( 8 ), and R = Cl ( 9 )) and the mononuclear bis(indaniminato)nickel (II) complexes Ni[ArN?CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)O]₂ (Ar = 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃, R = Me ( 10 ), R = H ( 11 ), and R = Cl ( 12 )). All nickel complexes were characterized by their IR, NMR spectra, and elemental analyses. In addition, X‐ray structure analyses were performed for complexes 7 , 10 , 11 , and 12 . After being activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these nickel(II) complexes can polymerize norbornene to produce addition‐type polynorbornene (PNB) with high molecular weight M_v (10⁶ g mol^?1), highly catalytic activities up to 2.18 × 10⁷ gPNB mol^?1 Ni h^?1. Catalytic activities and the molecular weight of PNB have been investigated for various reaction conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 489–500, 2008     

Four‐Membered Heterometallacyclic d0 and d1 Complexes of Group 4 Metallocenes with Amidato Ligands

A study of the coordination chemistry of different amidato ligands [(R)N?C(Ph)O] (R=Ph, 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl (Dipp)) at Group 4 metallocenes is presented. The heterometallacyclic complexes [Cp₂M(Cl){κ²‐N,O‐(R)N?C(Ph)O}] M=Zr, R=Dipp ( 1 a ), Ph ( 1 b ); M=Hf, R=Ph ( 2 )) were synthesized by reaction of [Cp₂MCl₂] with the corresponding deprotonated amides. Complex 1 a was also prepared by direct deprotonation of the amide with Schwartz reagent [Cp₂Zr(H)Cl]. Salt metathesis reaction of [Cp₂Zr(H)Cl] with deprotonated amide [(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O] gave the zirconocene hydrido complex [Cp₂M(H){κ²‐N,O‐(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O}] ( 3 ). Reaction of 1 a with Mg did not result in the desired Zr(III) complex but in formation of Mg complex [(py)₃Mg(Cl) {κ²‐N,O‐(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O}] ( 4 ; py=pyridine). The paramagnetic complexes [Cp′₂Ti{κ²‐N,O‐(R)N?C(Ph)O}] (Cp′=Cp, R=Ph ( 7 a ); Cp′=Cp, R=Dipp ( 7 b ); Cp′=Cp*, R=Ph ( 8 )) were prepared by the reaction of the known titanocene alkyne complexes [Cp₂′Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] (Cp′=Cp ( 5 ), Cp′=Cp* ( 6 )) with the corresponding amides. Complexes 1 a , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 a , 7 b , and 8 were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The structure and bonding of complexes 7 a and 8 were also characterized by EPR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of novel zirconium complexes bearing mono‐Cp and tridentate Schiff base [ONO] ligands and their catalytic activities for olefin polymerization

A series of novel zirconium complexes {R²Cp[2‐R¹‐6‐(2‐CH₃OC₆H₄N?CH)C₆H₃O]ZrCl₂ ( 1 , R¹ = H, R² = H, 2 : R¹ = CH₃, R² = H; 3 , R¹ = ^tBu, R² = H; 4 , R¹ = H, R² = CH₃; 5 , R¹ = H, R² = n‐Bu)} bearing mono‐Cp and tridentate Schiff base [ONO] ligands are prepared by the reaction of corresponding lithium salt of Schiff base ligands with R²CpZrCl₃·DME. All complexes were well characterized by ¹H NMR, MS, IR and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of complex 1 was further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction study, where the bond angle of Cl? Zr? Cl is extremely wide [151.71(3)°]. A nine‐membered zirconoxacycle complex Cp(O? 2? C₆H₄N?CHC₆H₄‐2? O)ZrCl₂ ( 6 ) can be obtained by an intramolecular elimination of CH₃Cl from complex 1 or by the reaction of CpZrCl₃·DME with dilithium salt of ligand. When activated by excess methylaluminoxane (MAO), complexes 1–6 exhibit high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization. The influence of polymerization temperature on the activities of ethylene polymerization is investigated, and these complexes show high thermal stability. Complex 6 is also active for the copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐hexene with low 1‐hexene incorporation ability (1.10%). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.