Balancing high thermal stability with high activity in diaryliminoacenaphthene‐nickel(II) catalysts for ethylene polymerization

The N,N‐diaryliminoacenaphthenes, 1,2‐[2,4‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂‐6‐MeC₆H₄N]₂‐C₂C₁₀H₆ ( L1 ) and 1‐[2,4‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂‐6‐MeC₆H₄N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆ (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L4 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L5 , 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ L6 ), incorporating at least one N ?2,4‐bis(difluoro benzhydryl)‐6‐methylphenyl group, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Interaction of L1 – L6 with (DME)NiBr₂ (DME = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane) generates the corresponding nickel(II) bromide N,N‐chelates, L NiBr₂ ( 1 – 6 ), in high yield. The molecular structures of 3 and 6 reveal distorted tetrahedral geometries at nickel with the ortho‐substituted difluorobenzhydryl group providing enhanced steric protection to only one side of the metal center. On activation with various aluminum alkyl co‐catalysts, such as methylaluminoxane (MAO) or Et₂AlCl, 1 – 6 displayed outstanding activity toward ethylene polymerization (up to 1.02 × 10⁷ g of PE (mol of Ni)^?1 h^?1). Notably 1 , bearing equivalent fluorobenzhydryl‐substituted N‐aryl groups, was able in the presence of Et₂AlCl to couple high activity with exceptional thermal stability generating high molecular weight branched polyethylenes at temperatures as high as 100 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1971–1983     

Moderately branched ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene by using N,N′‐nickel catalysts adorned with sterically hindered dibenzocycloheptyl groups

Five examples of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis (arylimino) acenaphthene ( L1 – L5 ), each containing one N‐2,4‐bis (dibenzocycloheptyl)‐6‐methylphenyl group and one sterically and electronically variable N‐aryl group, have been used to prepare the N,N′‐nickel (II) halide complexes, [1‐[2,4‐{(C₁₅H₁₃}₂–6‐MeC₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]NiX₂ (X = Br: Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Ni1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Ni2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Ni3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Ni4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ Ni5 ) and (X = Cl: Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Ni6 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Ni7 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Ni8 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Ni9 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ Ni10 ), in high yield. The molecular structures Ni3 and Ni7 highlight the extensive steric protection imparted by the ortho‐dibenzocycloheptyl group and the distorted tetrahedral geometry conferred to the nickel center. On activation with either Et₂AlCl or MAO, Ni1 – Ni10 exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with the least bulky Ni1 the most active (up to 1.06  ×  10⁷ g PE mol^?1(Ni) h^?1 with MAO). Notably, these sterically bulky catalysts have a propensity towards generating very high molecular weight polyethylene with moderate levels of branching and narrow dispersities with the most hindered Ni3 and Ni8 affording ultra‐high molecular weight material (up to 1.5  ×  10⁶ g mol^?1). Indeed, both the activity and molecular weights of the resulting polyethylene are among the highest to be reported for this class of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis (imino)acenaphthene‐nickel catalyst.     

Alkylaluminum activator effects on polyethylene branching using a N,N′‐nickel precatalyst appended with bulky 4,4′‐dimethoxybenzhydryl groups

Ten unsymmetrical N,N'‐bis (imino) acenaphthene‐nickel (II) halide complexes, [1‐[2,6‐{(4‐MeOC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐MeC₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]NiX₂, each appended with one N‐2,6‐bis(4,4'‐dimethoxybenzhydryl)‐4‐methylphenyl group, have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of Ni1 , Ni3 , Ni5 and Ni6 highlight the variation in steric protection afforded by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; a distorted tetrahedral geometry is conferred about each nickel center. On activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl) or methylaluminoxane (MAO), all complexes showed high activity at 30°C for the polymerization of ethylene with the least bulky bromide precatalysts ( Ni1 and Ni4 ), generally the most productive, forming polyethylenes with narrow dispersities [M_w/M_n: < 3.4 (Et₂AlCl), < 4.1 (MAO)] and various levels of branching. Significantly, this level of branching can be influenced by the type of co‐catalyst employed, with Et₂AlCl having a predilection towards polymers displaying significantly higher branching contents than with MAO [T_m: 33.0–82.5°C (Et₂AlCl) vs. 117.9–119.4°C (MAO)]. On the other hand, the molecular weights of the materials obtained with each co‐catalyst were high and, in some cases, entering the ultra‐high molecular weight range [M_w range: 6.8–12.2 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (Et₂AlCl), 7.2–10.9 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (MAO)]. Furthermore, good tensile strength (ε_b up to 553.5%) and elastic recovery (up to 84%) have been displayed by selected more branched polymers highlighting their elastomeric properties.     

Vinyl/Vinylene functionalized highly branched polyethylene waxes obtained using electronically controlled cyclohexyl‐fused pyridinylimine‐nickel precatalysts

A series of 8‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐R‐phenylimino)‐5,6,7‐trihydroquinoline ligands have been prepared in which the nature of 4‐R substitutions vary from electron withdrawing to electron donating. The treatment with NiCl₂.6H₂O or (DME)NiBr₂ afforded the corresponding complexes of nickel chloride (4‐R = Me Ni1 , Et Ni2 , ^tBu Ni3 , CHPh₂ Ni4 , Cl Ni5 , and F Ni6 ) and nickel bromide (4‐R = Me Ni7 , Et Ni8 , ^tBu Ni9 , CHPh₂ Ni10 , Cl Ni11 , and F Ni12 ). X‐ray diffraction study of complexes Ni3 , Ni6 , and Ni10 , revealed that Ni3.1/2H₂O and Ni6.H₂O adopted unsymmetrical and symmetrical chloride‐bridged dinuclear structures respectively, while Ni10.H₂O is found as mononuclear specie forming distorted‐square planer geometry. In the presence of either diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all the nickel complexes ( Ni1–Ni12 ) displayed high activities (up to 1.91 × 10⁶ g(PE) mol (Ni)⁻¹h⁻¹. Highly branched polyethylene waxes with low molecular weights (M_w ≤ 2.6 kg/mol) and narrow molecular weights distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.96) incorporated with vinylene and vinyl groups were obtained. The effects of 4‐R substitutions to the nickel chloride and bromide pre‐catalysts and reaction conditions on the catalytic performance and the properties of the resulting polyethylene were the subject of a detail investigation. The positive influences of using electron‐withdrawing 4‐R substitutions and bromides were observed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1269–1281     

Synthesis of ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight ethylene‐propylene copolymer via quasi‐living copolymerization with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligated vanadium complexes

The quasi‐living copolymerization of ethylene with propylene was achieved by using N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligated vanadium complex ( V3 , VOCl₃[1,3‐(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂(NCH?)₂C:]) due to the stabilization of active center by the introduction of bulky and electron rich NHC ligand with bulky isopropyl substituents at the ortho positions of the phenyl rings. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) of the resulting copolymer increases linearly with its weight in 20 min. The ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight (UHMW) ethylene‐propylene copolymer (M_w = 1612 kg mol^?1) can be synthesized with V3 /Et₃Al₂Cl₃ catalytic system. The novel complex V4′ (VCl₃[1,3‐(2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂)₂(NCH?)₂C:]·2THF) was constructed by the introduction of two coordinated tetrahydrofuran molecules and decrease in steric hindrance at the ortho positions of phenyl rings. The UHMW ethylene‐propylene copolymer (M_w = 1167 kg mol^?1) can also be synthesized by using V4′ /Et₃Al₂Cl₃ catalytic system. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 553–561     

Producing highly linear polyethylenes by using t‐butyl‐functionalized 2,6‐bis(imino)pyridylchromium(III) chlorides

A new family of t‐butyl substituted chromium(III) chloride complexes ( Cr1 – Cr6 ), bearing 2‐(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)‐6‐(1‐(arylimino)ethyl)pyridine (aryl = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Cr1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Cr2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Cr3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Cr4 and 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ Cr5 ) or 2,6‐bis(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)pyridine ( Cr6 ), has been synthesized by the reaction of CrCl₃·6H₂O in good yield with the corresponding ligands ( L1 – L6 ), respectively. The molecular structures of Cr2 and Cr6 were characterized by X‐ray diffraction highlighted a distorted octahedral geometry with the coordinated N,N,N ligand and three bonded chlorides around the metal center. On activation with modified methylaluminoxane or triisobutyl aluminum, most of the chromium precatalysts exhibit good activities toward ethylene polymerization and produce linear polyethylenes with high‐molecular weight. In addition, an in‐depth catalytic evaluation of Cr2 was conducted to investigate how cocatalyst type and amount, reaction temperature, and run time affect the catalytic activities and polymer properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1049–1058     

Exceptionally high molecular weight linear polyethylene by using N,N,N′‐Co catalysts appended with a N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group

The bis(arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐NO₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group, have been synthesized by two successive condensation reactions from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine. Their subsequent treatment with anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride gave the corresponding N,N,N′‐CoCl₂ chelates, Co1 – Co5 , in excellent yield. All five complexes have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of Co1 and Co3 have been determined and help to emphasize the differences in steric properties imposed by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; distorted square pyramidal geometries are adopted by each complex. Upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), precatalyts Co1 – Co5 collectively exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with 2,6‐dimethyl‐substituted Co1 the most active (up to 1.1 × 10⁷ g (PE) mol^?1 (Co) h^?1); the MAO systems were generally more productive. Linear polyethylenes of exceptionally high molecular weight (M_w up to 1.3 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) were obtained in all cases with the range in dispersities exhibited using MAO as co‐catalyst noticeably narrower than with MMAO [M_w/M_n: 3.55–4.77 ( Co1 – Co5 /MAO) vs. 2.85–12.85 ( Co1 – Co5 /MMAO)]. Significantly, the molecular weights of the polymers generated using this class of cobalt catalyst are higher than any literature values reported to date using related N,N,N‐bis (arylimino)pyridine‐cobalt catalysts.     

Co‐catalyst effects on the thermal stability/activity of N,N,N‐Co ethylene polymerization Catalysts Bearing Fluoro‐Substituted N‐2,6‐dibenzhydrylphenyl groups

The unsymmetrical bis (arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐t‐BuC₆H₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N‐aryl group bedecked with ortho‐substituted fluorobenzhydryl groups, have been employed in the preparation of the corresponding five‐coordinate cobalt (II) chelates, LCoCl₂ ( Co1 – Co5 ); the symmetrical comparator [2,6‐{CMeN(2,6‐(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH)₂–4‐t‐BuC₆H₂}₂C₅H₃N]CoCl₂ (Co6) is also reported. All cobaltous complexes are paramagnetic and have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of Co3 and Co6 highlight the different degrees of steric protection given to the metal center by the particular N‐aryl group combination. Depending on the aluminoxane co‐catalyst employed to activate the cobalt precatalyst, distinct variations in thermal stability and activity of the catalyst towards ethylene polymerization were exhibited. In particular with MAO, the resultant catalysts reached their optimal performance at 70 °C delivering high activities of up to 10.1 × 10⁶ g PE (mol of Co)^?1 h^?1 with Co1  >  Co4  >  Co2  >  Co5  >  Co3 >>  Co6 . On the other hand, using MMAO, the catalysts operate most effectively at 30 °C but are by comparison less productive. In general, the polyethylenes were highly linear, narrowly disperse and displayed a wide range of molecular weights [M_w range: 18.5–58.7 kg mol^?1 (MAO); 206.1–352.5 kg mol^?1 (MMAO)].     

Synthesis of 2‐(N‐arylimino)pyrrolide nickel complexes and polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The synthesis, characterization and methyl methacrylate polymerization behaviors of 2‐(N‐arylimino)pyrrolide nickel complexes are described. The nickel complex [NN]₂Ni ( 1 , [NN] = [2‐C(H)NAr‐5‐tBu‐C₄H₂N]^?, Ar = 2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) was prepared in good yield by the reaction of [NN]Li with trans‐[Ni(Cl)(Ph)(PPh₃)₂] in THF. Reaction of [NN]Li with NiBr₂(DME) yielded the nickel bromide [NN]Ni(Br)[NNH] ( 2 ). Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and by X‐ray single crystal analysis. Both complexes, upon activation with methylaluminoxane, are highly active for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate to give high molecular weight polymethylmethacrylate with narrow molecular distributions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vinyl homo/copolymerization of norbornene and ethylene using sterically enhanced 1,2‐bis(arylimino)acenaphthene–palladium precatalysts

A family of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis(imino)acenaphthene‐palladium methyl chloride complexes [1‐[2,6‐{(C₆H₅)₂CH}₂‐ 4‐{C(CH₃)₃}‐C₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]PdMeCl (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂Ph Pd1 , 2,6‐Et₂Ph Pd2 , 2,6‐ⁱPr₂Ph Pd3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃Ph Pd4 , 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MePh Pd5 ) have been prepared and fully characterized by ¹H/¹³C NMR, FTIR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. X‐ray diffraction analysis of Pd2 complex revealed a square planar geometry. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, all the palladium complexes displayed high activities for norbornene (NBE) homo‐polymerization producing insoluble polymer. For the copolymerization of NBE with ethylene, Pd4 complex exhibited good activities with high incorporation of ethylene (up to 59.2–77.4%) and the resultant copolymer showed high molecular weights as maximum as 150.5 kg mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 922–930     

Novel nickel (II) complexes chelating β‐diketiminate ligands: synthesis and simultaneous polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene

Two novel nickel (II) complexes, CH{C(CF₃)NAr}₂NiBr ( 1 , Ar = 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ and 2 , 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃), were synthesized by the reaction of the lithium salt of fluorinated β‐diketiminate backbone ligands with (1,2‐dimethoxyethane) nickel (II) bromide [(DME)NiBr₂]. The solid‐state structure of nickel (II) complex 2 as a dimer reveals four‐coordination and a tetrahedral geometry with bromide bridged by single crystal X‐ray measurement. Both complexes catalyze simultaneous polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene when activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). It was found that the reaction temperature has a pronounced effect on the activity of ethylene polymerization and the molecular weight of obtained polyethylene. In addition, the nickel catalytic systems predominantly produce linear polyethylene with unsaturated end groups. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

α‐Diamine Nickel Catalysts with Nonplanar Chelate Rings for Ethylene Polymerization

A series of novel α‐diamine nickel complexes, (ArNH‐C(Me)‐(Me)C‐NHAr)NiBr₂, 1 : Ar=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl, 2 : Ar=2,6‐dimethylphenyl, 3 : Ar=phenyl), have been synthesized and characterized. X‐ray crystallographic analysis showed that the coordination geometry of the α‐diamine nickel complexes is markedly different from conventional α‐diimine nickel complexes, and that the chelate ring (N‐C‐C‐N‐Ni) of the α‐diamine nickel complex is significantly distorted. The α‐diamine nickel catalysts also display different steric effects on ethylene polymerization in comparison to the α‐diimine nickel catalyst. Increasing the steric hindrance of the α‐diamine ligand by substitution of the o‐methyl groups with o‐isopropyl groups leads to decreased polymerization activity and molecular weight; however, catalyst thermal stability is significantly enhanced. Living polymerizations of ethylene can be successfully achieved using 1 /Et₂AlCl at 35 °C or 2 /Et₂AlCl at 0 °C. The bulky α‐diamine nickel catalyst 1 with isopropyl substituents can additionally be used to control the branching topology of the obtained polyethylene at the same level of branching density by tuning the reaction temperature and ethylene pressure.     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by 2‐Py‐amidine Ni(II) complex/methylaluminoxane systems

Two 2‐Py‐amidine ligands (2‐Py―NH―C(Ph)═N―Ar, Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ and 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) and the corresponding Ni(II) complexes ( 1 and 2 ) were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and FT‐IR, UV–visible, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. X‐ray crystal structures indicate that the chelate ring conformation of the less bulky complex 1 is relatively planar compared with that of the bulky complex 2 . Paramagnetic ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR studies show that, in solution, the time‐average structures of complexes 1 and 2 have mirror symmetry. Both complexes 1 and 2 were used as catalyst precursors for norbornene polymerization with methylaluminoxane as a co‐catalyst. The effects of Al/Ni ratio, temperature and structure of precursors on the catalytic performance were investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micron‐granula polyolefin with self‐immobilized nickel and iron diimine catalysts bearing one or two allyl groups

Self‐immobilized nickel and iron diimine catalysts bearing one or two allyl groups of [ArN?C]₂(C₁₀H₆)NiBr₂ [Ar = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₂] ( 1 ), [ArN?C(Me)][Ar′N? C(Me)]C₅H₃NFeCl₂ [Ar = Ar′ = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃, Ar = 2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃, and Ar′ = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃] were synthesized and characterized. All three catalysts were investigated for olefin polymerization. As a result, these catalysts not only showed high activities as the catalyst free from the allyl group, such as [ArN?C]₂C₁₀H₆NiBr₂ (Ar = 2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₂)], but also greatly improved the morphology of polymer particles to afford micron‐granula polyolefin. The self‐immobilization of catalysts, the formation mechanism of microspherical polymer, and the influence on the size of the particles are discussed. The molecular structure of self‐immobilized nickel catalyst 1 was also characterized by crystallographic analysis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1018–1024, 2004     

Bis(β‐diketiminato) lanthanide amides: synthesis,structure and catalysis for the polymerization of l‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone

Treatment of the chlorides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnCl (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph = [(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)CHC(Me)N(C₆H₅)]^?) with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) afforded the monoamides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Y ( 1 ), Yb ( 2 )) in good yields. Anhydrous LnCl₃ reacted with 2 equiv. of NaL^2,6‐iPr2_Ph in THF, followed by treatment with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃), giving the analogues (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Sm ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )). Two monoamido complexes stabilized by two L^2‐Me ligands, (L^2‐Me)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (L^2‐Me = [N(2‐MeC₆H₄)C(Me)]₂CH)^?; Ln = Y ( 5 ), Yb ( 6 )), were also synthesized by the latter route. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 were fully characterized, including X‐ray crystal structure analyses. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 are isostructural. The central metal in each complex is ligated by two β‐diketiminato ligands and one amido group in a distorted trigonal bipyramid. All the complexes were found to be highly active in the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide (L‐LA) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) to give polymers with relatively narrow molar mass distributions. The activity depends on both the central metal and the ligand (Yb < Y < Sm ≈ Nd and L^2‐Me < L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph). Remarkably, the binary 3/benzyl alcohol (BnOH) system exhibited a striking ‘immortal’ nature and proved able to quantitatively convert 5000 equiv. of L‐LA with up to 100 equiv. of BnOH per metal initiator. All the resulting PLAs showed monomodal, narrow distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.06 ? 1.08), with molar mass (M_n) decreasing proportionally with an increasing amount of BnOH. The binary 4/BnOH system also exhibited an ‘immortal’ nature in the polymerization of ε‐CL in toluene. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Characterization of β‐Diketiminate Zinc Complexes

The monomeric β‐diketiminate zinc complex (Mes)NacNacZnMe 1 (MesNacNac = {[2,6‐(2,4,6‐Me₃‐C₆H₂)N(Me)C)]₂CH}) was obtained in almost quantitative yield from the reaction of ZnMe₂ with (Mes)NacNacH. Reaction of 1 with either Me₃NHCl or a solution of HCl in Et₂O yielded (Mes)NacNacZnCl 2 , whereas (Mes)NacNacZnI 3 was obtained from the reaction of 1 with I₂. 1 – 3 were characterized by elemental analyses, mass and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) NMR spectroscopy, 3·THF also by single crystal X‐ray analysis.     

Factors affecting product distributions in ethylene/styrene copolymerization by (aryloxo)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium complexes‐MAO catalyst systems

Ethylene/styrene copolymerizations using Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) [Cp′ = Cp* (C₅Me₅, 1 ), 1,2,4‐Me₃C₅H₂ ( 2 ), tert‐BuC₅H₄ ( 3 )]‐MAO catalyst systems were explored under various conditions. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibited both high catalytic activities (activity: 504–6810 kg‐polymer/mol‐Ti h) and efficient styrene incorporations at 25, 40°C (ethylene 6 atm), affording relatively high molecular weight poly (ethylene‐co‐styrene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions as well as with uniform styrene distributions (M_w = 6.12–13.6 × 10⁴, M_w/M_n = 1.50–1.71, styrene 31.7–51.9 mol %). By‐productions of syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) were observed, when the copolymerizations by 1 – 3 ‐MAO catalyst systems were performed at 55, 70 °C (ethylene 6 atm, SPS 9.0–68.9 wt %); the ratios of the copolymer/SPS were affected by the polymerization temperature, the [styrene]/[ethylene] feed molar ratios in the reaction mixture, and by both the cyclopentadienyl fragment (Cp′) and anionic ancillary donor ligand (L) in Cp′TiCl₂(L) (L = Cl, O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ or N=C^tBu₂) employed. Co‐presence of the catalytically‐active species for both the copolymerization and the homopolymerization was thus suggested even in the presence of ethylene; the ratios were influenced by various factors (catalyst precursors, temperature, styrene/ethylene feed molar ratio, etc.). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4162–4174, 2008     

Synthesis and Characterization of m‐Terphenyl (1,3‐Diphenylbenzene) Compounds Containing Trifluoromethyl Groups

The bis(silyl)triazene compound 2,6‐(Me₃Si)₂‐4‐Me‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ ( 4 ) was synthesized by double lithiation/silylation of 2,6‐Br₂‐4‐Me‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ ( 1 ). Furthermore, 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂‐C₆H₃]‐4‐Me‐C₆H₂‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ derivative 6 can be easily synthesized by a C,C‐bond formation reaction of 1 with the corresponding aryl‐Grignard reagent, i.e., 3,5‐bis[(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]magnesium bromide. Reactions of compound 4 with KI and 6 with I₂ afforded in good yields novel phenyl derivatives, 2,6‐(Me₃Si)₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂? I and 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂? C₆H₃]‐4‐MeC₆H₂? I ( 5 and 7 , resp.). On the other hand, the analogous m‐terphenyl 1,3‐diphenylbenzene compound 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂? C₆H₃]C₆H₃? I ( 8 ) could be obtained in moderate yield from the reaction of (2,6‐dichlorophenyl)lithium and 2 equiv. of aryl‐Grignard reagent, followed by the reaction with I₂. Different attempts to introduce the ^tBu (Me₃C) or neophyl (PhC(Me)₂CH₂) substituents in the central ring were unsuccessful. All the compounds were fully characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of compound 6 was corroborated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements.     

Tunable Fluorophores Based on 2‐(N‐Arylimino)pyrrolyl Chelates of Diphenylboron: Synthesis,Structure, Photophysical Characterization,and Application in OLEDs

Reactions of 2‐(N‐arylimino)pyrroles (HNC₄H₃C(H)?N‐Ar) with triphenylboron (BPh₃) in boiling toluene afford the respective highly emissive N,N′‐boron chelate complexes, [BPh₂{κ²N,N′‐NC₄H₃C(H)?N‐Ar}] (Ar=C₆H₅ ( 12 ), 2,6‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 13 ), 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃ ( 14 ), 4‐OMe‐C₆H₄ ( 15 ), 3,4‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 16 ), 4‐F‐C₆H₄ ( 17 ), 4‐NO₂‐C₆H₄ ( 18 ), 4‐CN‐C₆H₄ ( 19 ), 3,4,5‐F₃‐C₆H₂ ( 20 ), and C₆F₅ ( 21 )) in moderate to high yields. The photophysical properties of these new boron complexes largely depend on the substituents present on the aryl rings of their N‐arylimino moieties. The complexes bearing electron‐withdrawing aniline substituents 17 – 20 show more intense (e.g., ?_f=0.71 for Ar=4‐CN‐C₆H₄ ( 19 ) in THF), higher‐energy (blue) fluorescent emission compared to those bearing electron‐donating substituents, for which the emission is redshifted at the expense of lower quantum yields (?_f=0.13 and 0.14 for Ar=4‐OMe‐C₆H₄ ( 15 ) and 3,4‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 16 ), respectively, in THF). The presence of substituents bulkier than a hydrogen atom at the 2,6‐positions of the aryl groups strongly restricts rotation of this moiety towards coplanarity with the iminopyrrolyl ligand framework, inducing a shift in the emission to the violet region (λ_max=410–465 nm) and a significant decrease in quantum yield (?_f=0.005, 0.023, and 0.20 for Ar=2,6‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 13 ), 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃ ( 14 ), and C₆F₅ ( 21 ), respectively, in THF), even when electron‐withdrawing groups are also present. Density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations have indicated that the excited singlet state has a planar aryliminopyrrolyl ligand, except when prevented by steric hindrance (ortho substituents). Calculated absorption maxima reproduce the experimental values, but the error is higher for the emission wavelengths. Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been fabricated with the new boron complexes, with luminances of the order of 3000 cd m^?2 being achieved for a green‐emitting device.     

2,2‐Difluor‐1,3‐diaza‐2‐sila‐cyclopenten – Synthese und Reaktionen

2,2‐Difluor‐1,3‐diaza‐2‐sila‐cyclopentene – Synthesis and Reactions N,N′‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐1,4‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene reacts with elemental lithium under reduction to give a dilithium salt, which forms with fluorosilanes the diazasilacyclopentenes 1 – 4 ; (HCNCMe₃)₂SiFR, R = F ( 1 ), Me ( 2 ), Me₃C ( 3 ), N(CMe₃)SiMe₃ ( 4 ). As by‐product in the synthesis of 1 , the tert‐butyl‐amino‐methylene‐tert‐butyliminomethine substituted compound 5 was isolated, R = N(CMe₃)‐CH₂‐CH = NCMe₃. 5 is formed in the reaction of 1 with the monolithium salt of the 1,4‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene in an enamine‐imine‐tautomerism. 1 reacts with lithium amides to give (HCNCMe₃)₂SiFNHR, 6 – 12 , R = H ( 6 ), Me ( 7 ), Me₂CH ( 8 ), Me₃C ( 9 ), H₅C₆ ( 10 ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 11 ), 2,6‐(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃ ( 12 ). The reaction of 12 with LiNH‐2.6‐(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃ leads to the formation of (HCNCMe₃)₂Si(NHR)₂, ( 13 ). In the presence of n‐BuLi, 12 forms a lithium salt which looses LiF in boiling toluene. Lithiated 12 adds this LiF and generates a spirocyclic tetramer with a central eight‐membered LiF‐ring ( 14 ), [(HCNCMe₃)₂Si(FLiFLiNR)]₄, R = 2,6‐(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃. ClSiMe₃ reacts with lithiated 12 to yield the substitution product (HCNCMe₃)₂SiFN(SiMe₃) R, ( 15 ). The crystal structures of 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14 are reported.