Structural and spectral studies of N-2-(pyridyl)-, N-2-(3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-picolyl)- and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthioureas

Structures of the following compounds have been obtained: N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, PyTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.905(3), b=4.7660(8), c=23,532(6) Å, β=95.993(8)°, V=1327.9(5) ų and Z=4; N-2-(3-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 3PicTu2SeMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=22.870(5), b=7.564(1), c=16.941(4) Å, β=98.300(6)°, V=2899.9(9) ų and Z=8; N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 4PicTu2SMe, monoclinic P2₁/a, a=9.44(5), b=18.18(7), c=8.376(12) Å, β=91.62(5)°, V=1437(1) ų and Z=4; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 5PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=21.807(2), b=7.5940(9), c=17.500(2) Å, β=93.267(6)°, V=2893.3(5) ų and Z=8; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 6PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.499(4), b=7.819(2), c=22.291(8) Å, β=90.73(3)°, V=1481.2(9) ų and Z=4 and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 4,6LutTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.621(1), b=9.324(1), c=14.604(1) Å, β=96.378(4)°, V=1572.4(2) ų and Z=4. Comparisons with other N-2-pyridyl-N′-arylthioureas having substituents in the 2-position of the aryl ring are included.     

Rhenium(I) methoxo carbonyl complexes containing tetraphosphine or triphosphine ligands; facile separation and X-ray crystallographic studies of d/l- and meso-[{Re2(μ-OMe)2(CO)6}2(μ,μ′-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetra-phosphadecane)]

Reaction of the activated mixture of Re₂(CO)_10, Me₃NO and MeOH with a 1:1 mixture of rac (d/l)- and meso-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphadecane (hptpd) yields a mixture of (d/l)- and meso-[{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}₂(μ,μ′-hptpd)] 1. The diastereomers can be easily separated by selective dissolution of d/l-1 in benzene, and give clearly distinguishable ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectra. The fluxional behavior of d/l-1 in solution has been studied by variable-temperature ¹H- and ³¹P-{¹H}-NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of both d/l- and meso-1 have been determined. Both molecules consist of two {Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆} moieties which are bridged by the two P---CH₂---CH₂---P moieties of the hptpd ligand. Whilst the molecules of meso-1 possess crystallographic i-symmetry, those of d/l-1 do not have any crystallographic symmetry. These diastereomers therefore give clearly distinguishable Raman spectra in the solid state. Reaction of tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine (tdppep) with the activated mixture affords the complex [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,η²-tdppep)] 2, and the analogous reaction involving bis[2-diphenylphospinoethyl)phenylphosphine (triphos) gives [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,μ′,η³-triphos){Re₂(CO)₉}] 3 and [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,η²-triphos)] 4.     

Synthesis and characterization of planarly chiral nonbridged bis(1-R-indenyl) zirconium dichloride complexes and X-ray structure of rac-[(η-C9H6-1-C(CH3)2---o-C6H4---OCH3)2ZrCl2]·THF

Reactions of the lithium salts of 3-substituted indenes 1, 2 with ZrCl₄(THF)₂ gave two series of nonbridged bis(1-substituted)indenyl zirconocene dichloride complexes. Fractional recrystallization from THF–petroleum ether furnished the pure racemic and mesomeric isomers of [(η⁵-C₉H₆-1-C(R¹)(R²)---o-C₆H₄---OCH₃)₂ZrCl₂]·nTHF (R¹=R²=CH₃, n=1, rac-1a and meso-1b; R¹=CH₃, R²=C₂H₅; n=0.5 or 0, rac-2a and meso-2b), respectively. Complex 1a was further characterized by X-ray diffraction to have a C₂ symmetrically racemic structure, where the six-member rings of the indenyl parts are oriented laterally and two o-CH₃O---C₆H₄---C(CH₃)₂--- substituents are oriented to the open side of the metallocene (Ind: bis-lateral, anti; Substituent: bis-central, syn). The four zirconocene complexes are highly symmetrical in solution as characterized by room temperature ¹H-NMR, however ¹H–¹H NOESY of meso-1b shows that some of the NOE interactions arise from the two separated indenyl parts of the same molecule, which can only be well explained by taking into account the torsion isomers in solution.     

Sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl chemistry: synthesis of iron and zirconium complexes of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl

Reaction of phenyl magnesium bromide with the ,β-unsaturated ketone 3-methyl-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydroind-8(9)-en-1-one, followed by an aqueous work-up, generates the pro-chiral tetra-substituted cyclopentadiene, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindene, Cp^‡H, a precursor to the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl ligand in (Cp^‡)₂Fe and [(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)]₂(μ-CO)₂. Both complexes were generated as mixtures of rac-(RR and SS)- and meso-(RS)-isomers, and in either case pure meso-isomer was isolated by crystallisation and characterised by single crystal X-ray structure, both molecules having crystallographic C_i symmetry. Reduction with Na/Hg cleaves meso-(RS)-[(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)]₂(μ-CO)₂ and the resulting mixture of (R)- and (S)-[(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)₂]⁻ anions reacts with MeI to give racemic (Cp^‡)Fe(CO)₂Me, which was characterised by the X-ray crystal structure. The Cp^‡ ligand is more electron donating than (η-C₅H₅) as revealed by the reduction potential of the (Cp^‡)₂Fe⁺/(Cp^‡)₂Fe couple, E°=−0.127 V (vs. Ag  AgCl). Reaction of LiCp^‡ with ZrCl₄ yields the zirconocene dichloride [Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] as mixture of rac- and meso-isomers, from which pure rac-isomer is obtained as a mixture of RR and SS crystals by recrystallisation. The reaction of rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] with LiMe gives rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Me₂]. The structures of RR-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] and rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Me₂] have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structural studies reveal the influence of the bulky substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand on the metal---Cp^‡ distances and other metric parameters.     

Structural, spectral and thermal studies of N-2-(4-picolyl)- and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(2-chlorophenyl)thioureas and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(2-bromophenyl)thiourea

N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-chlorophenylthiourea, 4PicTu2Cl, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=10.068(5), b=11.715(2), β=96.88(4)°, and Z=4; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-chlorophenylthiourea, 6PicTu2Cl, triclinic, P-1, a=7.4250(8), b=7.5690(16), c=12.664(3) Å, =105.706(17), β=103.181(13), γ=90.063(13)°, V=665.6(2) ų and Z=2 and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-bromophenylthiourea, 6PicTu2Br, triclinic, P-1, a=7.512(4), b=7.535(6), c=12.575(4) Å, a=103.14(3), β=105.67(3), γ=90.28(4)°, V=665.7(2) ų and Z=2. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding between N′H and the pyridine nitrogen and intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the thione sulfur and the NH hydrogen, as well as the planarity of the molecules, are affected by the position of the methyl substituent on the pyridine ring. The enthalpies of fusion and melting points of these thioureas are also affected. ¹H NMR studies in CDCl₃ show the NH′ hydrogen resonance considerably downfield from other resonances in their spectra.     

C CP MAS NMR, FTIR, X-ray diffraction and PM3 studies of some N-(ω-carboxyalkyl)morpholine hydrohalides

N-(ω-carboxyalkyl)morpholine hydrochlorides, OC₄H₈N(CH₂)_nCOOH·HCl, n=1–5, were obtained and analyzed by ¹³C cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, FTIR and PM3 calculations. The structure of N-(3-carboxypropyl)morpholine hydrochloride (n=3) has been solved by X-ray diffraction method at 100 K and refined to the R=0.031. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a=14.307(3), b=9.879(2), c=7.166(1) Å, β=93.20(3)°, V=1011.3(3) ų, Z=4. In this compound the nitrogen atom is protonated and two molecules form a centrosymmetric dimer, connected by two N⁺–HCl⁻ (3.095(1) Å) and two O–HCl⁻ (3.003(1) Å) hydrogen bonds. ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectra, contrary to the solution, showed non-equivalence of the ring carbon atoms. The PM3 calculations predict a molecular dimer without proton transfer for an HCl complex, while for an HBr complex an ion pairs with proton transfer, and reproduces correctly the conformation of both dimers but overestimates H-bond distances. Shielding constants calculated from the PM3 geometry of ion pairs gave a linear correlation with the ¹³C chemical shifts in solids.     

N,N′-bis(substituted-phenyl)oxamides and their dinuclear pentacoordinate nickel(II) complexes

The preparation, spectroscopic characterization and magnetic study of N,N′-bis(substituted-phenyl)oxamidate-bridged nickel(II) dinuclear complexes of formula {[Ni(N₃-mc)]₂(μ-CONC₆H₄-X)}(PF₆)₂ (N₃-mc = 2,4,4-trimethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclo-dodec-1-ene (Me₃-N₃-mc) or 2,4,4,9-tetramethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododec-1-ene (Me₄-N₃-mc), X = 2-Cl, 4-Cl, 2-OCH₃, 4-OCH₃) are reported. These paramagnetic nickel(II) complexes have been characterized by both one- and two-dimensional (COSY) ¹H NMR techniques. The COSY spectrum of 5 has allowed to achieve the assignment of the phenyl protons of the N,N′-diphenyloxamidate. The crystal structures of [Ni(Me₃-N₃-mc)(μ-CONC₆H₄-4-Cl)]₂(PF₆)₂ (6), [Ni(Me₃-N₃-mc)(μ-CONC₆H₄-4-OMe)]₂(PF₆)₂ (8) and [Ni(Me₄-N₃-mc)(μ-CONC₆H₄-2-Cl)]₂(PF₆)₂ (9) have been determined and their magnetic properties have been studied. The value of magnetic coupling between the two nickel(II) ions across the oxamidate bridge [J = − 37.6 (6), −39.9 (8) and −39.7 cm⁻¹ (9)] is sensitive to the distortion of the coordination sphere of the metal ions and the topology of the molecular bridge.     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity in Heck-type reactions of orthometallated Pd and Pt complexes derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

The chiral bis-imine (1R,2R)-C₆H₁₀-[E---N=CH---C₆H₃---3,4-(OMe)₂]₂ 1 (LH) reacts with [Pd(OAc)₂] (1:1 molar ratio; OAc=acetate) giving the orthometallated [Pd(OAc)(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)-C₆H₁₀---N=CH---C₆H₃-3′,4′-(OMe)₂-κ-C,N,N)] 2 (abbreviated as [Pd(OAc)(L-κ-C,N,N)]), through C---H bond activation on only one of the aryl rings and N,N-coordination of the two iminic N atoms. 2 reacts with an excess of LiCl to give [Pd(Cl)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 3. The reaction of 3 with AgClO₄ and neutral or anionic ligands L′ (1:1:1 molar ratio) affords [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(L′)](ClO₄) (L′=PPh₃ 4a, NCMe 5, pyridine 6, p-nitroaniline 7) or [Pd(I)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 8. Complex 4a reacts with wet CDCl₃ giving [Pd(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)---C₆H₁₀---NH₂-κ-C,N,N)(PPh₃)](ClO₄) 4b as a result of the hydrolysis of the C=N bond not involved in the orthometallated ring. The molecular structure of 4b·CH₂Cl₂ has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Cleavage of the Pd---N bond trans to the C_aryl atom can be accomplished by coordination of strongly chelating ligands, such as acetylacetonate (acac) or bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), forming [Pd(acac-O,O′)(L-κ-C,N)] 9 and [Pd(L-κ-C,N)(dppe-P,P′)](ClO₄) 12, while classical N,N′-chelating ligands such as 1,10-phenantroline (phen) or 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy) behave as monodentate N-donor ligands yielding [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(κ¹-N-phen)](ClO₄) 10 and [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(κ¹-N-bipy)](ClO₄) 11. Treatment of 1 with PtCl₂(DMSO)₂ (1:1 molar ratio) in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol gives Cl₂Pt[(NH₂)₂C₆H₁₀---N,N′] 13a and [Pt(Cl)(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)---C₆H₁₀---NH₂-κ-C,N,N)] 13b, while [Pt(Cl)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 14 can be obtained by reaction of [Pt(μ-Cl)(η³-2-Me---C₃H₄)]₂ with 1 in refluxing CHCl₃. Complexes 2 and 3 catalyzed the arylation of methyl acrylate giving good yields of the corresponding methyl cinnamates and TON up to 847 000. Complex 3 also catalyzes the hydroarylation of 2-norbornene, but with lower yields and without enantioselectivity.     

Group 4 metallacarboranes of constrained geometries derived from B(cage)- and C(cage)-silylamido-substituted carborane ligands: a synthetic and structural investigation

The reactions of RNHSi(Me)₂Cl (1, R=t-Bu; 2, R=2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃) with the carborane ligands, nido-1-Na(C₄H₈O)-2,3-(SiMe₃)₂-2,3-C₂B₄H₅ (3) and Li[closo-1-R′-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀] (4), produced two kinds of neutral ligand precursors, nido-5-[Si(Me)₂N(H)R]-2,3-(SiMe₃)₂-2,3-C₂B₄H₅, (5, R=t-Bu) and closo-1-R′-2-[Si(Me)₂N(H)R]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (6, R=t-Bu, R′=Ph; 7, R=2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃, R′=H), in 85, 92, and 95% yields, respectively. Treatment of closo-2-[Si(Me)₂NH(2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃)]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₁ (7) with three equivalents of freshly cut sodium metal in the presence of naphthalene produced the corresponding cage-opened sodium salt of the “carbons apart” carborane trianion, [nido-3-{Si(Me)₂N(2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃)}-1,3-C₂B₁₀H₁₁]³⁻ (8) in almost quantitative yield. The reaction of the trianion, 8, with anhydrous MCl₄ (M=Ti and Zr) in 1:1 molar ratio in dry tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −78 °C, resulted in the formation of the corresponding half-sandwich neutral d⁰-metallacarborane, closo-1-M[(Cl)(THF)_n]-2-[1′-η¹σ-N(2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃)(Me)₂Si]-2,4-η⁶-C₂B₁₀H₁₁ (M=Ti (9), n=0; M=Zr (10), n=1) in 47 and 36% yields, respectively. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H-, ¹¹B-, and ¹³C-NMR spectra and IR spectra. The carborane ligand, 7, was also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 7 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=8.2357(19) Å, b=28.686(7) Å, c=9.921(2) Å; β=93.482(4)°; V=2339.5(9) ų, and Z=4. The final refinements of 7 converged at R=0.0736; wR=0.1494; GOF=1.372 for observed reflections.     

The synthesis and x-ray structure of (N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato)(n-butyl)diphenyltin(IV)

(N,N-Dimethyldithiocarbamato)(n-butyl)diphenyltin(IV), n-BuPh₂SnS₂NMe₂, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a 9.772(5), b 9.895(4), c 21.418(9) Å, β 95.81(3)⁰, V 2060 ų Z = 4, μ 14.4 cm⁻¹ The structure was determined by the heavy-atom technique from 3103 independent reflections measured at room temperature on an Enraf-Nonius four-circle CAD-4 diffractometer using monochromatized Mo-K radiation and refined to a final R value of 5.8%. The tin atom is essentially four-coordinated with a weak fifth tin-sulphur bond (Sn---S(2) 3.079(1) Å) considerably longer than the other (Sn---S(1) 2.466(1) Å). A comparison with the complex n-BuPhSn(C1)S₂CNEt₂ (Sn---S(1) 2.454(1) Å; Sn---S(2) 2.764(1) Å) suggests that enhanced steric factors are responsible for the preferential monodentate behaviour of the dithiocarbamate ligand in the title complex.     

Phenylbis(2- pyridyl)phosphine: P- vs. N,N′-coordination in carbonylmolybdenum-(O) and -(II) complexes

The first carbonyl molybdenum-(O) and -(II) complexes with phenylbis(2-pyridyl)phosphine (PPhpy₂) have been synthesized. PPhpy₂ reacts with [Mo(CO)₅(NCMe)] to give [Mo(CO)₅(PPhpy₂-P)]. With [Mo(CO)₄(NBD)] (NBD = norbornadiene) it gives [Mo(CO)₄(PPhpy₂-P)₂] when a 2 : 1 ratio is used, or [MO(CO)₄(py₂PhP---N,N′)] for a 1 : 1 ratio. Decarbonylation of any of these pyridylphosphine complexes leads to an oligomer of formula {MO(CO)₃(μ-PPhpy₂)}_n, which is also obtained after heating [MO(CO)₆] in solution with an equimolar amount of PPhpy₂. The oligomer undergoes oxidative addition by iodine or allylbromide to give [MoI₂(CO)₃(py₂PhP---N,N′)], or [MoBr(η³-CH₂CHCH₂)(CO)₂(py₂PhP---N,N′)], respectively. These complexes are also obtained by addition of equimolar amounts of PPhpy₂ to solutions of [MoI₂(CO)₃(NCMe)₂] and MoBr(η³-CH₂CH CH₂)(CO)₂(NCMe)₂, respectively. The ligand tends to act as a P-donor towards molybdenum(O) substrates, and as a chelating N,N′-donor in molybdenum (II) complexes.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on

N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on (C₁₁H₁₃NO₂) has been studied by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=8.834(1), b=10.508(2), c=11.212(2) Å, V=1040.8(3) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.22 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.084 mm⁻¹. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.038 for 1373 reflections (I>2σ(I)). The title compound is photochromic and the molecule is not planar. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds occur between the pairs of atoms N(1) and O(1) [2.631(2) Å], and N(1) and O(2) [2.641(2) Å], the H atom essentially being bonded to the N atom. There is also a strong intermolecular O–HO hydrogen bonding [2.647(2) Å] between neighbouring molecules. Tautomeric properties and conformations of the title compound were investigated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical AM1 calculations and the results are compared with the X-ray results.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine

The crystal structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine (C₁₃H₁₀NO₂Cl) was determined by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=12.967(2) Å, b=14.438(3) Å, c=6.231(3) Å, V=1166.5(6) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.41 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.315 mm⁻¹. The title compound is thermochromic and the molecule is nearly planar. Both tautomeric forms (keto and enol forms in 68(3) and 32(3)%, respectively) are present in the solid state. The molecules contain strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds, N1–H1O1/O2 (2.515(1) and 2.581(2) Å) for the keto form and O1–H01N1 for the enol one. There is also strong intermolecular O2–HO1 hydrogen bonding (2.599(2) Å) between neighbouring molecules. Minimum energy conformations AM1 were calculated as a function of the three torsion angles, θ₁(N1–C7–C6–C5), θ₂(C8–N1–C7–C6) and θ₃(C9–C8–N1–C7), varied every 10°. Although the molecule is nearly planar, the AM1 optimized geometry of the title compound is not planar. The non-planar conformation of the title compound corresponding to the optimized X-ray structure is the most stable conformation in all calculations.     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl) zirconium dichlorides

An improved synthesis of 2,2′-bis(1-indenyl)propane and the corresponding ansa-complexes of zirconium are reported. Synthesis of a mixture of rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichlorides involves a treatment of ZrCl₄ with bis[3-(trialkyltin)inden-1-yl]propane, where alkyl = ethyl, butyl, in toluene. This reaction gives the products in 92% yield and might be a convenient synthetic pathway to a number of straightforward ansa-metallocenes. Both rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichlorides were separated and isolated using simple work-up processes, and characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis (rac:C2/c; a = 15.903(3) Å, b = 11.105(2) Å and c = 11.520(2) Å; β = 121.61(3)°; Z = 4; V = 1732.6(5) ų; R = 0.0350; meso-: P1¯; a = 9.739(2) Å, b = 12.798(4) Å and c = 15.322(4) Å; = 101.18(2)°; β = 121.61(2)°; γ = 90.54(2)°, Z = 4; V = 1795.4(8) ų; R = 0.0417).     

Polymerization of MMA by oscillating zirconocene catalysts, diastereomeric zirconocene mixtures, and diastereospecific metallocene pairs

Characteristics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization using oscillating zirconocene catalysts, (2-Ph-Ind)₂ZrX₂ (X = Cl, 1; X = Me, 2), mixtures of rac- and meso-zirconocene diastereomers, (SBI)ZrMe₂ [3, SBI = Me₂Si(Ind)₂] and (EBI)ZrMe₂ [4, EBI = C₂H₄(Ind)₂], as well as diastereospecific metallocene pairs, rac-4/Cp₂ZrMe₂ (5) and rac-4/CGCTiMe₂ [6, CGC = Me₂Si(Me₄C₅)(t-BuN)], are reported. MMA polymerization using the chloride catalyst precursor 1 activated with a large excess of the modified methyl aluminoxane is sluggish, uncontrolled, and produces atactic PMMA. On the other hand, the polymerization by a 2/1 ratio of 2/B(C₆F₅)₃ or 2/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ is controlled and produces syndiotactic PMMA. Mixtures of diastereomeric ansa-zirconocenes 3 or 4 containing various rac/meso ratios, when activated with B(C₆F₅)₃, yield bimodal PMMA; this behavior is attributed to the meso-diastereomer that, in its pure form, affords bimodal, syndio-rich atactic PMMA. For MMA polymerization using diastereospecific metallocene pairs, rac-4/5 and rac-4/6, the isospecific catalyst site dominates the polymerization events under the conditions employed in this study, and the aspecific and syndiospecific sites are largely nonproductive, thereby forming only highly isotactic PMMA.     

Binuclear methyplatinum and phenylplatinum complexes with bis(dimethylphosphino)methane ligands

Reaction of cis-[Ptph₂(SMe₂)₂] with Me₂PCH₂PMe₂ (dmpm) gave cis-[PtPh₂(dmpm-P)₂] (1) or cis,cis-[Pt₂Ph₄(μ-dmpm)₂] (2) and reaction of 1 with [Pt₂Me₄(μ-SMe₂)₂] gave cis,cis-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtMe₂] (3). Reaction of 1 with trans-[PtClR(SMe₂)₂] gave cis,trans-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtClR], R = Me (5) or Ph (6), and in polar solvents, these isomerized to give [Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtR]⁺Cl⁻. When R = Me, further isomerization via the phenyl group transfer gave [PhMePt(μ-dmpm)₂PtPh]⁺Cl⁻. Oxidative addition of methyl iodide occurred reversibly at the cis-[PtMe₂P₂ unit of 3 to give cis,fac-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtIMe₃] but complex 2 failed to react with MeI. A comparison with similar known complexes of Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ (dppm) is made and differences are attributed primarily to the lower steric hindrance of dmpm.     

Syntheses, X-ray structures, and reactions of ruthenium carbonyl complexes containing 1,1-dithiolates

Treatment of [Ru₂(CO)₄(MeCN)₆][BF₄]₂ or [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-O₂CMe)₂(MeCN)₂] with uni-negative 1,1-dithiolate anions via potassium dimethyldithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, potassium tert-butylthioxanthate, and ammonium O,O′-diethylthiophosphate gives both monomeric and dimeric products of cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] ((SS)⁻=Me₂NCS₂⁻ (1), Et₂NCS₂⁻ (2), ^tBuSCS₂⁻ (3), (EtO)₂PS₂⁻ (4)) and [Ru(CO)(η²-(Me₂NCS₂))(μ,η²-Me₂NCS₂)]₂ (5). The lightly stabilized MeCN ligands of [Ru₂(CO)₄(MeCN)₆][BF₄]₂ are replaced more readily than the bound acetate ligands of [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-O₂CMe)₂(MeCN)₂] by thiolates to produce cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] with less selectivity. Structures 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Although the two chelating dithiolates are cis to each other in 1, the dithiolates are trans to each other in each of the {Ru(CO)(η²-Me₂NCS₂)₂} fragment of 5. The dimeric product 5 can be prepared alternatively from the decarbonylation reaction of 1 with a suitable amount of Me₃NO in MeCN. However, the dimer [Ru(CO)(η²-Et₂NCS₂)(μ,η²-Et₂NCS₂)]₂ (6), prepared from the reaction of 2 with Me₃NO, has a structure different from 5. The spectral data of 6 probably indicate that the two chelating dithiolates are cis to each other in one {Ru(CO)(η²-Et₂NCS₂)₂}fragment but trans in the other. Both 5 and 6 react readily at ambient temperature with benzyl isocyanide to yield cis-[Ru(CO)(CNCH₂Ph)(η²-(SS))₂] ((SS)=Me₂NCS₂⁻ (7) and Et₂NCS₂⁻ (8)). A dimerization pathway for cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] via decabonylation and isomerization is proposed.     

Mercury(II) halide adducts of an olefinic double betaine: [{Hg2L2X4·6HgX2}n] [X = Cl, Br; L = cis-(p-Me2NC5H4N)2C2(COO)2]

Two polymeric mercury(II) halide adducts of an olefinic double betaine, cis-(p-Me₂NC₅H₄N⁺)₂C₂(COO⁻)₂ (L), have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. [{Hg₂L₂Cl₄·6HgCl₂}_n] (1) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with Z = 4, and [{Hg₂L₂Br₄·HgBr₂}_n] (2) in the triclinic space group P with Z = 1. Complexes 1 and 2 are structurally similar, being composed of centrosymmetric fourteen-membered rings and nearly linear HgX₂ (X = Cl, Br) moieties that are further inter-linked by weak HgX [HgCl = 2.930–3.136(9) Å, HgBr = 3.057–3.310(6) Å] and HgO [2.64, 2.75(3) Å] bonds to generate a two-dimensional polymeric network.     

A ring-fission/C–C bond cleavage reaction with an N-alkyl-N-methyl-N-[(5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)methyl]amine

The reaction of N-(3,4-dichlorophenethyl)-N-methylamine (1) with 3-chloromethyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (2) was investigated. Employment of an equimolar amount of 1 and 2 in the presence of potassium carbonate led to the expected tertiary amine 3 (N-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-N-[(5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)methyl]amine), whereas an excess of 1 and prolonged reaction time resulted in ring fission of the oxadiazole system in 3 and finally in the formation of N′-benzoyl-N-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylguanidine (4) and N,N′-bis[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N,N′-dimethylmethanediamine (5). The structures of products 3–5 were determined by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR-spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and IR-spectroscopy, for 3 (as picrate) and 4 also X-ray structure analysis was employed. A possible mechanism of the reaction pathway leading to compounds 4 and 5 is proposed.     

Structural and spectral studies on N-(4-chloro)benzoyl-N′-(4-tolyl)thiourea

The crystal and molecular structure of the N-(4-chloro)benzoyl-N′-(4-tolyl)thiourea (C₁₅H₁₃N₂OSCl, M_r=304.79) is determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure is monoclinic, space group: P2₁/n, a=16.097(6), b=4.5989(2), c=19.388(7) Å and β=89.299(6)° V=1434.7(9)ų, Z=4. FTIR and NMR spectra have been characterized. The interactions of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds have been discussed. Density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP) methods have been used to determine the structure and energies of stable conformers. Minimum energy conformations are calculated as a function of the torsion angle θ (C13–N1–C14–N2) varied every 30°. The optimized geometry corresponding to crystal structure is the most stable conformation. This has partly been attributed to intramolecular hydrogen bonds. With the basis sets of the 6-311G* quality, the DFT calculated bond parameters and harmonic vibrations are predicted in a very good agreement with experimental data.