Bis(amido)titanium complexes having chelating diaryloxo ligands bridged by sulfur or methylene and their catalytic behaviors for ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters

A series of bis(dialkylamido) titanium complexes coordinated by O-E-O (E=S, CH₂) chelating bis(aryloxo) ligands, Ti[E(4-Me-6-^tBuC₆H₂O)₂](NR₂)₂ (1: E=S, R=Me; 2: E=S, R=Et; 3: E=CH₂, R=Me; 4: E=CH₂, R=Et), were synthesized by the reaction of Ti(NR₂)₄ (R=Me, Et) with 2,2^′-E(4-Me-6-^tBuC₆H₂OH)₂ (E=S, CH₂). The crystal structures of complexes 2 and 4 were determined by X-ray diffraction study. Complex 2 has a trigonal bipyramidal structure with the sulfur and nitrogen atom in trans positions and complex 4 has a tetrahedral structure. The complex 2 was found to initiate the controlled polymerization of ε-caprolactone in toluene at 100 °C affording poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(l-lactide) with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. The complex 4 showed higher activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone to give a polymer with a broader molecular weight distribution in comparison with complex 2.     

Novel p-tolylimido rhenium(V) complexes of imidazole-derived ligand - Synthesis, X-ray studies, spectroscopic characterization and DFT calculations

Three novel imido rhenium complexes of biologically relevant ligand 2-hydroxymethylbenzimidazole: [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)Cl₂(hmbzim)(PPh₃)]·CHCl₃ (1), [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)Br₂(hmbzim)(PPh₃)] (2) and [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)(hmbzim)₂(PPh₃)]ReO₄·MeOH (3) have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and structurally (by single-crystal X-ray diffraction). The electronic spectra of 1 and 3 were investigated at the TDDFT level employing B3LYP functional in combination with LANL2DZ. Additional information about binding in the complexes 1 and 3 was obtained by NBO analysis, which confirms a linear coordination mode of the p-NC₆H₄CH₃ ligand and triple bond between the rhenium and imido ligand.     

Synthesis and characterization of ionic organotin compounds [R2SnCl2(2-quin)](HNEt3) and crystal structures of [(2,4-Cl2-C6H3CH2)2SnCl2(2-quin)](HNEt3)

Eight ionic organotin compounds [R₂SnCl₂(2-quin)]⁻(HNEt₃)⁺ have been synthesized by reactions of 2-quinH with R₂SnCl₂ (R = PhCH₂1, 2-Cl-C₆H₄CH₂2, 4-Cl-C₆H₄CH₂3, 2-F-C₆H₄CH₂4, 4-F-C₆H₄CH₂5, 4-CN-C₆H₄CH₂6, Ph 7, 2,4-Cl₂-C₆H₃CH₂8) in the presence of organic base NEt₃, and their structures have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopies. The structure of [(2,4-Cl₂-C₆H₃CH₂)₂SnCl₂(2-quin)]⁻(NEt₃)⁺ (8) has been determined by X-ray diffraction study. Studies show that compound 8 has a monomeric structure with the central tin atom six-coordinate in a distorted octahedral configuration and the nitrogen atoms of the 2-quin ligands are coordinating to the tin atom in all the eight compounds.     

Microwave synthesis of bis(tetrazolato)-Pd complexes with PPh3 and water-soluble 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA). The first example of C-CN bond cleavage of propionitrile by a Pd Centre

[2 + 3] Cycloaddition reactions of the di(azido)-Pd^II complex trans-[Pd(N₃)₂(PPh₃)₂] (1) with an organonitrile RCN (2), under heating for 12 h, give the bis(tetrazolato) complexes trans-[Pd(N₄CR)₂(PPh₃)₂] (3) [R = Me (3a), Ph (3b), 4-ClC₆H₄ (3c), 4-FC₆H₄ (3d), 2-NC₅H₄ (3e), 3-NC₅H₄ (3f), 4-NC₅H₄ (3g)]. The reaction of trans-[Pd(N₃)₂(PPh₃)₂] (1) with propionitrile (2h) also affords, apart from trans-[Pd(N₄CEt)₂(PPh₃)₂] (3h), the unexpected mixed cyano-tetrazolato complex trans-[Pd(CN)(N₄CEt)(PPh₃)₂] (3h′) which is derived from the reaction of the bis(tetrazolato) 3h with propionitrile, with concomitant formation of 5-ethyl-1H-tetrazole, via a suggested unusual oxidative addition of the nitrile to Pd^II. The [2 + 3] cycloadditions of [Pd(N₃)₂(PTA)₂] (4) (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) with RCN (2), under heating for 12 h, give the bis(tetrazolato) complexes trans-[Pd(N₄CR)₂(PTA)₂] (5) [R = Ph (5a), 2-NC₅H₄ (5b), 3-NC₅H₄ (5c), 4-NC₅H₄ (5d)]. All these reactions are greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation (1 h, 125 °C, 300 W). Taking advantage of the hydro-solubility of PTA, a simple liberation of 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazole from the coordination sphere of trans-[Pd(N₄CPh)₂(PTA)₂] (5a) was achieved. The complexes were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopies, ESI⁺-MS, elemental analyses and, for 3b, also by X-ray structure analysis. Weak agostic interactions between the CH groups of the triphenylphosphines and the palladium(II) centre were found.     

Isocyanide insertion reactivity of dinuclear niobium and tantalum imido complexes: X-ray crystal structure of [{Nb(η-C5H4SiMe3)(CH2Ph)2}2(μ-1,4-NC6H4N)]

The reactivity of dinuclear niobium and tantalum imido complexes with the isocyanide compound 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC has been studied. The trialkyl complexes [{NbR₃(CH₃CN)}₂(μ-1,3-NC₆H₄N)], [{NbR₃(CH₃CN)}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] and [{TaR₃(CH₃CN)}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (R=CH₂SiMe₃) gave [{Nb(η²-RCNAr)₂R}₂(μ-1,3-NC₆H₄N)] (1), [{Nb(η²-RCNAr)₂R}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (2) and [{Ta(η²-RCNAr)₂R}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (3) (R=CH₂SiMe₃; Ar=2,6-Me₂C₆H₃), from the isocyanide insertion in two of the metal alkyl carbon bonds. The reaction of the isocyanide reagent with the di-alkyl mono-cyclopentadienyl derivatives [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)R₂}₂(μ-1,3-NC₆H₄N)] (R=Me, CH₂Ph, CH₂SiMe₃), [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)R₂}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (R=Me, CH₂Ph (4), CH₂SiMe₃) and [{Ta(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(CH₂SiMe₃)₂}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] yielded [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η²-RCNAr)R}₂(μ-1,3-NC₆H₄N)] (R=Me (5), CH₂Ph (6), CH₂SiMe₃ (7)), [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η²-RCNAr)R}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (R=Me (8), CH₂Ph (9), CH₂SiMe₃ (10)) and [{Ta(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η²-Me₃SiCH₂CNAr)CH₂SiMe₃}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (11) (Ar=2,6-Me₂C₆H₃), respectively, from a single insertion process. The reaction with the mono-alkyl complex [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(Me)Cl}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] gave [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η²-MeCNAr)Cl}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (12), produced from the isocyanide insertion in the metal-alkyl carbon bond. The alkyl-amido complex [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(Me)NMe₂}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] gave, from the preferential isocyanide insertion in the metal-amide nitrogen bond, [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η²-Me₂NCNAr)Me}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (13). The molecular structure of one of the alkyl precursors, [{Nb(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(CH₂Ph)₂}₂(μ-1,4-NC₆H₄N)] (4), has been determined.     

Amidoamine-based dendrimers with end-grafted Pd-Fe units: Synthesis, characterization and their use in the Heck reaction

The synthesis and characterization of novel amidoamine-based metallodendrimers with heterobimetallic end-grafted amidoferrocenyl-palladium-allyl chloride units is described. Dendrimer (Fe((η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄))C(O)HNCH₂CH₂NHC(O)CH₂CH₂)N[CH₂CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NH-C(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₂]₂ (9-Fe) and the corresponding metal species (Fe((η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄))C(O)HNCH₂CH₂NHC(O)CH₂CH₂)N[CH₂CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₂]₂ (9-Fe-Pd) were prepared by a consecutive divergent synthesis methodology including addition-amidation cycles, standard peptide coupling, and coordination procedures. For comparative reasons also the monomeric and dimeric molecules (Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHⁿC₃H₇)) (5-Fe) and [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHCH₂)]₂ (6-Fe) as well as N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₃ (7-Fe) and [CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₂]₂ (8-Fe) were prepared from Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄CO₂H) (3). Using [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ (4) as palladium source heterobimetallic metallodendrimers (Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHⁿC₃H₇)) (5-Fe-Pd), [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHCH₂)]₂ (6-Fe-Pd), N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₃ (7-Fe-Pd) and [CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₂]₂ (8-Fe-Pd) were synthesized. Additionally, seleno-phosphines of 5-Fe-Se and 9-Fe-Se, respectively, were prepared by addition of elemental selenium to 5-Fe or 9-Fe to estimate their σ-donor properties.The palladium-containing amidoamine supports are catalytically active in the Heck-Mizoroki cross-coupling of iodobenzene with tert-butyl acrylate. The catalytic data are compared to those obtained for the appropriate mononuclear and dinuclear compounds 5-Fe-Pd and 6-Fe-Pd. This comparison confirms a positive cooperative effect. The mercury drop test showed that (nano)particles were formed during catalysis, following on heterogeneous carbon-carbon cross-coupling.     

Reactivity of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with thiazoles: Hydrido bridged dirhenium compounds bearing thiazoles in different coordination modes

Reactions of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in refluxing benzene afforded the new compounds [Re₂(CO)₇{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}(μ-H)] (1, R = H; 2, R = CH₃), [Re₂(CO)₆{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂(μ-H)] (3, R = H; 4, R = CH₃) and fac-[Re(CO)₃(Cl){η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂] (5, R = H; 6, R = CH₃). Compounds 1 and 2 contain two rhenium atoms, one bridging thiazolide ligand, coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and a η¹-thiazole ligand coordinated through the nitrogen atom to the same Re as the thiazolide nitrogen. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Re₂(CO)₆ group with one bridging thiazolide ligand coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands, each coordinated to one Re atom. A hydride ligand, formed by oxidative-addition of C(2)-H bond of the ligand, bridges Re-Re bond opposite the thiazolide ligand in compounds 1-4. Compound 5 contains a single rhenium atom with three carbonyl ligands, two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of both 1 and 2 with 5 equiv. of thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in the presence of Me₃NO in refluxing benzene afforded 3 and 4, respectively. Further activation of the coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands in 1-4 is, however, unsuccessful and results only nonspecific decomposition. The single-crystal XRD structures of 1-5 are reported.     

Reductive opening of 1H,3H-benzo[de]isochromene: synthesis of 1,8-difunctionalised naphthalenes

The lithiation of 1H,3H-benzo[de]isochromene (6) with lithium and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 5% molar) in THF at −50 °C gives dianionic intermediate 7, which by reaction with different electrophiles {H₂O, D₂O, ^tBuCHO, PhCHO, Me₂CO, (CH₃CH₂)₂CO, [CH₃(CH₂)₄]₂CO, (CH₂)₅CO, (CH₂)₇CO, (−)-menthone} at the same temperature followed by hydrolysis leads to functionalised alcohols 8. If after addition of a carbonyl compound as the first electrophile [^tBuCHO, (CH₂)₅CO, (−)-menthone], the resulting dialcoholate 9 is allowed to react at 0 °C, a second lithiation takes place to give intermediate 10 which by reaction with a second electrophile [H₂O, ^tBuCHO, (CH₂)₅CO, CO₂], yields, after hydrolysis, 1,8-difunctionalised naphthalenes 11. Cyclization under acidic conditions of diols 8e-i gives oxygen-containing eight-membered heterocycles, which are homologous to the starting material 6.     

Diazaallyls of group 4 metals based on trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

Amination of 1-bromo-2-methylpyridine with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane gives the corresponding bis(aminopyridine) H₂L¹. Conversion of the same diamine to the N,N′-bis(amino-4,4-dimethylthiazoline) H₂L² is also completed in three steps. The analogous aminooxazoline is however inaccessible, although the aminocyclohexane analogue is prepared readily. The proligand H₂L¹ forms bis(aminopyridinato) alkyl complexes of the type [ZrL¹R₂] (R = CH₂Ph, CH₂Bu^t). The molecular structure of the neopentyl complex shows that the chiral backbone leads to a puckering of the N₄Zr coordination sphere, which contrasts with the related cyclohexyl-bridged Schiff-base complexes which are essentially planar. [ZrL²(CH₂Bu^t)₂] - the first aminothiazolinato complex - is formed similarly. A comparison of the structures of [ZrL¹(CH₂Bu^t)₂] and [ZrL²(CH₂Bu^t)₂] indicates that the latter has a fully delocalised N-C-N system, rather similar to a bis(amidinate). Reaction of H₂L² with [Ti(NMe₂)₄] gives [TiL²(NMe₂)₂] which appears to be C₂-symmetric like the above complexes according to NMR spectra, but has one uncoordinated thiazoline unit in the solid state. This is a result of increased ring strain at the smaller titanium metal centre.     

Synthesis, characterization and structural studies of diorganotin(IV) complexes with Schiff base ligand salicylaldehyde isonicotinylhydrazone

Eight diorganotin(IV) complexes of salicylaldehyde isonicotinylhydrazone (H₂SalN) R₂Sn(SalN) R = t-Bu 1, Ph 2, PhCH₂3, o-ClC₆H₄CH₂4, p-ClC₆H₄CH₂5,m-ClC₆H₄CH₂6,o-FPhCH₂7, p-FC₆H₄CH₂8 were prepared. All complexes 1-8 have been characterized by elemental, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR analyses. The crystal structures of H₂SalN and complex 1 were determined by X-ray crystallography diffraction analyses. Studies show that H₂SalN is a tridentate planar ligand. For complex 1, the tin atom lies in this plane and forms a five- and six-membered chelate ring with the tridentate ligand. A comparison of the IR spectra of the ligand with those of the corresponding complexes, reveals that the disappearance of the bands assigned to carbonyl unambiguously confirms that the ligand coordinate with the tin in the enol form.     

From platina-β-diketones to diacetylplatinum(II) complexes - Synthesis, characterization and structural features

The reaction of the electronically unsaturated platina-β-diketone [Pt₂{(COMe)₂H}₂(μ-Cl)₂] (1a) with N^?N donors led to the formation of diacetyl(hydrido)platinum(IV) complexes [Pt(COMe)₂Cl(H)(N^?N)] (2). By the reaction of these complexes with NaOH in a two-phase system (H₂O/CH₂Cl₂) diacetylplatinum(II) complexes [Pt(COMe)₂(N^?N)] (N^?N = bpy, 4a; 4,4′-Me₂-bpy, 4b; 4,4′-t-Bu₂-bpy, 4c; 4,4′-Ph₂-bpy, 4d; 4,4′-t-Bu₂-6-n-Bu-bpy, 4e; bpym, 4f; bpyr, 4g; phen, 4h; 4-Me-phen, 4i; 5-Me-phen, 4j) were obtained. All complexes were characterized by microanalysis, IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, complexes 4a, 4c, 4d and 4e were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The observed variety of packing patterns resulting from π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding is discussed.     

1-Methylimidazolin-2-yl functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes of titanium and zirconium. Crystal structure of {[η:η-κN-C5H4CPh2CH2-(1-Me-C3H4N2)]ZrCl2}2(μ-Cl)2

The novel bidentate ligand, C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3), has been prepared and characterized as its lithium salt LiC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Li). Cyclopentadiene HC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-H) has been obtained from 6,6-diphenylfulvene and 1,2-dimethylimidazoline (1). In THF-d₈ solution in the presence of 1, (1-methylimidazoline-2-yl)methyllithium (2) has been proved to undergo gradual conversion into a dilithium derivative of N¹-methyl-N²-[(1E,2E)-1-methyl-2-(1-methylimidazolidine-2-idene)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (2a). In a solution, cyclopentadiene 3-H has been shown to undergo isomerization into 3-{N-[2-(N-methylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (4) and, further, into a mixture of 4 and two rotameric 3-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-methylamino]-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalenes (5a) and (5b). Treatment of the lithium salt 3-Li with Me₃SiCl has lead to 3-{N-[2-(N-trimethylsilylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (6) as the dominant component in the reaction mixture. In the latter case the expected Me₃Si-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Si) was not observed. Stannylation of 3-Li with 1 equiv. of Me₃SnCl has resulted in formation of a mixture of Me₃Sn-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn), (Me₃Sn)₂-C₅H₃CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn₂), and cyclopentadiene 3-H in a ca. 2:1:1 molar ratio. Monocyclopentadienyl complexes {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]MCl₃ (M = Ti (7), Zr (8)) have been prepared starting from the organotin and organolithium compounds 3-Sn and 3-Li, respectively. The dynamic behavior of complexes 7 and 8 has been investigated by means of variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy in solutions. The molecular structures of the dihydropentalene 4, binuclear complex {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]ZrCl₂}₂(μ-Cl)₂8, and a coordination dimer of the dilithium salt 2a have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the crystal structure of the 2a-dimer, the shortest known Li-Li contact has been found.     

Bimetallic complexes with ruthenium and tantalocene moieties: Synthesis and use in a catalytic cyclopropanation reaction

The reaction of the tantalocene dichloride monophosphines (1-2) with the binuclear complex [(p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ gives the heterobimetallic compounds (p-cymene)[(η⁵-C₅H₅)(μ-η⁵:η¹-C₅H₄(CH₂)₂PR₂)TaCl₂]RuCl₂ (3-4). The air oxidation of these bimetallic species 3-4, leads to the cationic hydroxo tantalum ruthenium derivatives 5-6. The last ones are easily deprotonated by a base to afford the oxo analogues 7-8. A preliminary assessment in catalytic cyclopropanation of styrene with tantalum ruthenium bimetallic complexes 3-8 as precatalysts revealed a cooperative effect with a subtle role of the early metal fragment.     

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with Bu3M (M = Ga, In). Structures of intermediate products

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃M (M = Ga, In) have been studied. Trinuclear compounds [^tBu₅M₃(OC₆H₄O)₂] [M = Ga (1), M = In (2)] were synthesised in the reaction of 2 equiv. of C₆H₄(OH)₂ with 3 equiv. of ^tBu₃M in refluxing solvents. At room temperature the reaction of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃In in Et₂O leads to the formation of a binuclear complex [^tBu₄In₂(OC₆H₄OH)₂ · 2Et₂O] (3) possessing a four-membered In₂O₂ core and two unreacted hydroxyl groups. The same reaction carried out in a non-coordinating solvent (CH₂Cl₂) results in formation a compound [^tBu₃In₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] (4), which undergoes a reaction with ^tBu₃In to yield the product 2. Moreover two intermediate isomeric products 5 and 6 of formula [^tBu₃Ga₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] were isolated from the post-reaction mixture of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃Ga. The compound 6 possessing a different coordination of gallium atoms than 5 is a result of the intramolecular rearrangement of the compound 5 to decrease the steric repultion between ligands. Compounds 3 and 6 were structurally characterised. According to the structure of intermediate products 3-6 a reaction pathway of 1,2-catechols with group 13 metal trialkyls was proposed.     

Highly active ferrocenylamine-derived palladacycles for carbon–carbon cross-coupling reactions

{[(N-Methyl-N-p-R-benzyl)amino]benzyl}ferrocenes 4a–c (R = H(a), OCH₃(b), CH₃(c)) were synthesized by N-methylation of the corresponding sec-amines 3a–cwith the reagent CH₃I-t-BuOK. Treatment of 4a–c with Na₂PdCl₄ in the presence of NaOAc produced a pair of palladacycles σ-Pd[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵- C₅H₃CH(C₆H₅)N(CH₃)CH₂-C₆H₄-R)]Cl(PPh₃) 5a–c (R = same as before) consisting of R_NR_P and S_NS_P configurations. The structure of 5a was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. High catalytic activities of 5a–c for the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid and the Heck reaction of bromobenzene with styrene were observed.     

Evaluation of two chelators for labelling a PNA monomer with the fac-[Tc(CO)3] moiety

A PNA monomer containing thymine as nucleobase (1) was synthesized, characterized and coupled to the pyrazolyl containing ligand 3,5-Me₂pz(CH₂)₂N((CH₂)₃COOH)(CH₂)₂NHBoc (2) and to a modified cysteine S-(carboxymethyl-pentafluorphenyl)-N-[(trifluor)carbonyl]-l-cysteine methyl ester (3) yielding the bifunctional chelators 6 and 7, respectively. Reactions of 6 and 7 with the Re(I) tricarbonyl starting material [Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]Br afforded the complexes fac-[Re(CO)₃(κ³-6)]⁺ (8) and fac-[Re(CO)₃(κ³-7)] (9), respectively. The identity of 8 and 9 has been established based on IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, ESI-MS spectrometry and HPLC. The multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, g-COSY, g-HSQC) has also been very informative in the case of complex 8, showing the presence of rotamers in solution. For 9 the NMR spectrum was too complex due to the presence of rotamers and diastereoisomers. The radioactive congeners of complexes 8 and 9, fac-[^99mTc(CO)₃(κ³-6)]⁺ (8a) and fac-[^99mTc(CO)³(κ³-7)] (9a), have been prepared by reacting the precursor fac-[^99mTc(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ with the corresponding ligands being their identity established by comparing their HPLC chromatograms with the HPLC of the rhenium surrogates.     

Synthesis, structure and α-olefin polymerization activity of group 4 metal complexes with [OSSO]-type bis(phenolate) ligands

The tetradentate [OSSO]-type bis(phenol) ligands, [{2,2′-(HOC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}] (R = ^tBu, 2; Br, 3) react with MBz₄ (M = Zr, Hf) to yield the corresponding dibenzyl complexes, [M{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}Bz₂] (R = Br, M = Zr, 4^Br; Hf, 5^Br; R = ^tBu, M = Hf, 5) in a good to very good yield. Zirconium diamido complexes, [Zr{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}(NMe₂)₂] (R = ^tBu, 6; Br, 6^Br) were prepared in a reaction of the corresponding disodium salt of 2 or 3 generated in situ with ZrCl₂(NMe₂)₂(THF)₂. Heating of 6 with TMSCl at 35 °C afforded zirconium dichloro complex, [Zr{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-^tBu₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}Cl₂] (7), whereas the titanium analog 8 was prepared in a direct reaction with TiCl₄. While for complexes 4^Br, 5, 5^Br, 6, 6^Br and 7 single C₂-symmetric isomers were observed in solution at room temperature, as revealed by the NMR spectroscopic data, titanium complex 8 formed as a mixture of cis-α (8a) and cis-β (8b) isomers in a ratio of approx. 20:80% (measured in CD₂Cl₂). The VT NMR studies revealed a reversible conversion of 8a into 8b above 60 °C. The X-ray crystal structure determination of complexes 4^Br, 5^Br and 7 confirmed their C₂-symmetrical configuration in the solid state with cis-arranged benzyl/chloro groups and the trans-coordination of two bulky phenolato moieties. The zirconium dibenzyl complexes exhibit good catalytic activities in homopolymerization of 1-hexene (atactic poly(1-hexene), PDI = 1.5-1.7) and vinylcyclohexane (isotactic poly(vinylcyclohexane), PDI = 1.2-1.8) upon activation with a co-catalyst. In both polymerizations no increase of activity was observed for the complex 4^Br with electron-withdrawing substituents on phenolate rings. Moreover, polymerization of liquid propylene catalyzed by the titanium dichloro isomeric mixture 8 afforded at 5 °C ultrahigh molecular weight atactic/isotactic polypropylene mixtures.     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of the molybdenum(VI) complex [MoCl(NAr)2(CH2CMe2Ph)] (Ar=2,6-Pr2C6H3)

The compounds [MoCl(NAr)₂R] (R=CH₂CMe₂Ph (1) or CH₂CMe₃(2); Ar=2,6-Prⁱ₂C₆H₃) have been prepared from [MoCl₂(NAr)₂(dme)] (dme=1,2-dimethoxyethane) and one equivalent of the respective Grignard reagent RMgCl in diethyl ether. Similarly, the mixed-imido complex [MoCl₂(NAr)(NBu^t)(dme)] affords [MoCl(NAr)(NBu^t)(CH₂CMe₂Ph)] (3). Chloride substitution reactions of 1 with the appropriate lithium reagents afford the compounds [MoCp(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe₂Ph)] (4) (Cp=cyclopentadienyl), [MoInd(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe₂Ph)] (5) (Ind=Indenyl), [Mo(OBu^t)(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe ₂Ph)] (6), [MoMe(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe₂Ph)] (7), [MoMe(PMe₃)(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe ₂Ph)] (8) (formed in the presence of PMe₃) and [Mo(NHAr)(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe₂P h)](9). In the latter case, a by-product {[Mo(NAr)₂(CH₂CMe₂Ph) ]₂(μ-O)}(10) has also been isolated. The crystal structures of 1, 4, 5 and 10 have been determined. All possess distorted tetrahedral metal centres with cis near-linear arylimido ligands; in each case (except 5, for which the evidence is unclear) there are α-agostic interactions present.     

Novel heterocyclic selenazadiphospholaminediselenides, zwitterionic carbamidoyl(phenyl)-phosphinodiselenoic acids and selenoureas derived from cyanamides

2,4-Bis(phenyl)-1,3-diselenadiphosphetane-2,4-diselenide (Woollins’ reagent, WR) reacts with cyanamides (1a-h) in refluxing toluene to afford a series of novel selenazadiphospholaminediselenides (RR′NCN(PhP(Se)SeP(Se)Ph, R=C₆H₅(CH₂)_1-3, 4-n-C₁₀H₂₁C₆H₄ and 4-BrC₆H₄CH₂; R′=H, CH₃, C₂H₅ and C(O)OC₂H₅2a-g). Post-treatment of the reaction mixture with water led to the formation of carbamidoyl(phenyl)phosphinodiselenoic acids (RR′NC(NH₂)P(SeH)₂Ph, R=C₆H₅(CH₂)_2-3, 4-n-C₁₀H₂₁C₆H₄ and 4-BrC₆H₄CH₂; R′=H and CH₃, 3b, 3c, 3e and 3f) and selenoureas (RR′NC(Se)NH₂, R=C₆H₅(CH)_1-2; R′=CH₃ and OC(O)C₂H₅, 4f and 4h) in moderate to excellent yields. All new compounds are characterised spectroscopically and five X-ray crystal structures are reported.     

Z-Selective intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction for the synthesis of macrocyclic alkenes

The Z-selective intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of the substrates 7-12 (RO)₂P(O)CHR′CO₂Et (R′ = (CH₂)_nCHO) (R = Ph or o-tBuC₆H₄) gives the 13-18-membered cyclic alkenes selectively (up to Z:E = 97:3) in good yields using NaH in THF under high dilution conditions.