Monomer-isomerization oligomerization of 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene by acid catalysts

The cationic oligomerization of 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene (2EBD) by a superacid (CF₃SO₃H) and a superacid derivative (CH₃COClO₄) accompanied monomer isomerization to 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (3MPD) before propagation to yield oligomers of the isomerized monomer as main products in benzene at 50°C. Detection of 3MPD in the reaction mixture and ¹H-NMR structural analysis of the produced oligomers confirmed the occurrence of this “monomer-isomerization oligomerization.” On the other hand, in the presence of a metal halide catalyst (BF₃OEt₂) 2EBD reacted without isomerization and yielded oligomers that were different from those produced by the foregoing superacid catalysts. Monomer isomerization was suppressed in a polar solvent [(CH₂Cl)₂] or at lower temperatures. The mechanism of the oligomerization with monomer isomerization was discussed.     

Influence of monomer structure on chemo- and stereoselectivity of 1,3-diene polymerization

MAO/CpTiCl₃ is an active catalyst for the polymerization of various types of 1,3-dienes. Butadiene, (E) - and (Z) −1,3-pentadiene, (E) −2-methyl-1,3-pentadiene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene yield, at room temperature, polymers with a cis-1,4 or a mixed cis/1,2 structure. 4-Methyl-1,3-pentadiene and (E,E) −2,4-hexadiene give, respectively, a 1,2 syndiotactic and a trans-1,4/1,2 polymer. MAO/CpTiCl₂·2THF and MAO/(CpTiCl₂)_n are less active than the CpTiCl₃ catalyst, but give the same type of polymers. A change of stereospecificity with temperature was observed in the polymerization of (Z)-1,3-pentadiene: a cis-1,4 isotactic polymer was obtained at +20°C, and a crystalline 1,2 syndiotactic polymer at −20°C. This effect was attributed to a different mode of coordination of the monomer, which is cis-η⁴ at +20°C and may be trans-η² at −20°C. Results obtained with catalysts from CpTi(OBu)₃ and Ti(OBu)₄ are reported for comparison. An interpretation is given of the formation of cis-1,4 isotactic poly(2-methylpentadiene) and of 1,2 syndiotactic poly(4-methylpentadiene), as well as of syndiotactic polystyrene.     

Linear dimerization of trans-piperylene

Conclusions trans-Piperylene is selectively dimerized to 4-methyl-2,5,7-nonatriene on a catalytic system composed of chelated Co complexes and triethylaluminum.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1663–1664, July, 1973.     

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene and 2-methylpropene: Direct initiation is a general mechanism with AlCl3 in polar medium

Following previous results showing that direct initiation was operating in the cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene in the presence of AlCl₃ in non-polar medium, it is shown on the same system that direct initiation also occurs in polar medium. In the case of 2-methylpropene the use of a proton trap (DtBP) allowed to show that at −30 °C, direct initiation mechanism was operating either in 64/36 or in 36/64 (v/v) CH₂Cl₂/pentane mixtures. These results show that direct initiation is a general mechanism with AlCl₃. SEC studies showed that for 2-methylpropene transfer can be minimized.     

Silver and palladium nanoparticles-containing products of the low-temperature wave conversion of an energetic material: Catalytic activity in piperylene hydrogenation

The hydrogenation of 1,3-pentadiene into pentenes over the commercial 0.5% Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst and over a new catalyst containing 1.0% Pd and 3.7% Ag (μ-catalyst) has been investigated. The new catalyst has been prepared via the flameless wave conversion of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine in a porous composite. The catalytic properties of the new composite in the hydrogenation reaction depend on the hydrogen/1,3-pentadiene ratio and on the catalyst activation temperature. The reaction conditions for selective 1,3-pentadiene hydrogenation have been optimized. The pentenes yield as a function of temperature passes through a maximum at any H₂/C₅H₈ ratio between 1 and 2. The 2-pentene/1-pentene ratio in the reaction products increases as the temperature is raised.     

Chemoselectivity in 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene polymerization in the presence of homogeneous Ti-based catalysts

The homogeneous catalyst CpTiCl₃-MAO is able to produce a random copolymer of 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene with ethylene. ¹³C NMR analysis of the copolymers shows that after insertion of ethylene units, the next 4-ymethyl-1,3-pentadiene unit can be inserted in either 1,2 or 1,4 arrangement. The high chemoselectivity observed in the 1,2-syndiotactic homopolymerization of 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene with respect to the lower one observed in the copolymerization with ethylene is attributed to a back-biting coordination to the Ti of the active species of the penultimate monomer unit of the growing chain.     

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene in the presence of vanadium oxychloride

The cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene in the presence of vanadium oxytrichloride is studied. 1,3-Pentadiene is shown to polymerize at a high rate to high monomer conversions in the absence of proton-donor compounds in the catalytic system. The initial rate of 1,3-pentadiene polymerization is proportional to the concentration of VOCl₃ in the system and demonstrates an extremal dependence on the initial concentration of 1,3-pentadiene. The polymerization process is distinguished by an induction period whose duration increases with a decrease in the reaction temperature. Regardless of polymerization conditions, with an increase in the monomer conversion, the molecular-mass distribution of the polymer widens owing to formation of a high-molecular-mass fraction, which, depending on reaction conditions, can be consumed in formation of the gel fraction. It is shown that the degree of unsaturation and the microstructure of poly(1,3-pentadiene) are almost independent of the polymerization conditions.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-trans-pentadiene over Rh4(CO)12 supported on γ-Al2O3

Rh₄(CO)₁₂ anchored on γ-Al₂O₃ (Rh₄(CO)₁₂/Al₂O₃) has been studied as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of 1,3-trans-pentadiene. Under mild conditions (1 atm H₂ and temperatures between 60°C and 80°C) hydrogenation occurs at only one of the double bonds of the diene, and analysis of the products shows that the terminal double bond is preferentially hydrogenated. Hydrogenation of the second double bond of the conjugated diene occurring only after all the 1,3-trans-pentadiene has been consumed. In this respect Rh₄(CO)₁₂/Al₂O₃ behaves like toluene solutions of Rh₄(CO)₁₂. Anchoring of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ on the solid support gives a catalyst which is less active but more stable than toluene solutions of Rh₄(CO)₁₂. The effects of CO and of triphenylphosphine on catalytic activity and on specificity of Rh₄(CO)₁₂/Al₂O₃ have also been investigated and both shown to cause a reduction of the rate of hydrogenation of 1,3-trans-pentadiene.     

Isomer distinction by ion/molecule reactions in an ion trap: The case of C5H8

Isomeric C₅H₈ compounds are distinguished by monitoring the products of their reactions with mass-selected ions generated from the individual isomers. This procedure, done by selecting appropriate reaction times in a quadrupole ion trap, yields data for the compounds which are more structure-selective than those obtained by collision-induced dissociation or dissociative charge stripping, both procedures in which isomer distinction is based on the behavior of the molecular ions rather than the neutral molecules themselves. All isomers except cis and trans 1,3-pentadiene can be distinguished by their ion/molecule reactions. The conjugated dienes, 1,3-pentadiene and isoprene, form the deprotonated C₁₀H₁₅⁺ dimer which is not generated by 1,4-pentadiene, cyclopentene, or by the allenes, 2,3-pentadiene and 3-methyl-1,2-butadiene. This clear, qualitative difference enables the isomers 1,4- and 1,3-pentadiene to be distinguished, which is otherwise difficult.     

1-Boryl-3,4-dimethylphosphole trimer: Synthesis, crystal structure and quantum chemical calculations

A novel cycloadduct of 1-boryl-3,4-dimethylphosphole was prepared by reaction of 3,4-dimethylphospholyl anion with monobromoborane-methylsulfide complex (CH₃)₂S · BH₂Br at −60 °C. It was characterized as a six-membered trimer by spectroscopic means, and its structure confirmed by an X-ray crystal analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP) showed that the cyclic trimer is by far more stable than the monomer, dimers or open-chain forms. Various molecular and spectroscopic properties of the borylphosphole monomer and trimer were evaluated. In particular, the changes of the ³¹P NMR chemical shifts upon oligomerization were examined. The six-membered ring was demonstrated to exist preferentially in a chair-like conformation. Computed NMR chemical shifts (¹H, ¹³C and a lesser extent ³¹P) appear to be a highly sensitive analytical tool for distinguishing ring conformations having only small energy differences.     

The reaction of trichlorosilyltetracarbonyliron hydride (HFe(CO)4SiCl3) with conjugated dienes

Isoprene, 1,3-butadiene and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene react with HFe(CO)₄SiCl₃ by addition of the Fe---H function to the diene. Isoprene appears to add predominantly 1,4 and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene appears to add 1,2, while 1,3-butadiene may add both ways. In the case of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene loss of CO from the addition compound gives a stable π-allyl- Fe(Co)₃SiCl₃ product. Either cis- or trans-1,3-pentadiene is reduced to pentene by HFe(CO)₄SiCl₃.     

On the mechanism of formation of isotactic and syndiotactic polydiolefins

The mode of formation of isotactic and syndiotactic polymers from 1,3-dienes is examined in the light of the most recent results. An interpretation is given for the formation of trans-1,4 isotactic polymers from CH₂=CH-CH=CHR (R = Me, Et, Pr, etc.) type monomers with heterogeneous VCl₃-based catalysts. Evidence is reported showing that stereoregular 1,2 or cis-1,4 polymers derive from a growing polymer chain anti-η³-bonded to the transition metal and a cis-η⁴ coordinated monomer. The influence on stereoselectivity of the substituents at the central carbon atoms of the monomer is discussed. The peculiar behavior of (Z)-1,3-pentadiene and 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, which give 1,2 polymers with catalysts that give 1,4 polymers from other monomers, is attributable to the fact that they can coordinate trans-η², in addition to cis-η⁴.     

Synthesis of cyclobutane derivatives by codimerization of conjugated dienes with ethylene using catalysts based on titanium monocyclopentadienyl compounds

Conclusions The codimerization of either 1,3-butadiene or 1,3-pentadiene with ethylene in the presence of the catalyst system C₅H₅Ti[OSi(CH₃)₃]₃-CH₃MgI assures the selective synthesis of vinylcyclobutanes.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2781–2783, December, 1978.     

Photodissociation of gaseous [C5H8]+˙ ions

Photodissociation permits the distinction of four isomeric [C₅H₈]^+˙ ions (ionized 2-pentyne, 1,2-pentadiene, 1,3-pentadiene and cyclopentene) which cannot be identified via collisional activation spectrometry. Both the relative cross-section for photodissociation and the relative abundance of the photodissociated fragments can be used to characterize the ion structure. Furthermore, upper and lower limits for the barrier for interconversion between 1,3-pentadiene and the other isomers can be determined.     

Polymerization of 1,3-butadiene, 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene and styrene with catalyst systems based on biscyclopentadienyl derivatives of titanium

1,3-Butadiene, 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene and styrene were polymerized with dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (Cp₂TiCl₂/MAO) and dicyclopentadienyltitanium chloride/MAO (Cp₂TiCl/MAO). These systems are less active than cyclopentadienyltitanium trichloride/MAO (CpTiCl₃/MAO), but show the same stereospecificity as the latter; they give predominantly cis-1,4-polybutadiene, 1,2-syndiotactic poly(4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene) and syndiotactic polystyrene. Cp₂TiCl/MAO is much more active than Cp₂TiCl₂/MAO; this is probably due to the fact that in the reaction of Cp₂TiCl₂ with MAO, only a small amount of Ti(IV) is reduced to Ti(III), which is the active species in the polymerization of styrene and 1,3-dienes. An interpretation of the structure of the active species in Cp₂TiCl/MAO is reported.     

Synthesis of cationic poly-1,3-pentadiene under the action of Gustavson complex

Polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene was performed using the Gustavson complex (AlCl₂.xylene.0.5HCl) at a nearly full conversion of the monomer. The possibility of control over molecular characteristics of the polymer was demonstrated. Recommendations for application of the poly-1,3-pentadiene synthesized are given.     

Comparative reductive desymmetrization of 2,2-disubstituted-cycloalkane-1,3-diones

Reductive desymmetrization of 2-methyl-2-substituted-cycloalkane-1,3-diones can be effected using either NaBH₄ in DME or lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride (LTBA) in THF at −60 °C. The former is a new approach that offers slightly greater diastereoselectivity in the reduction of 2,2-disubstituted-cyclopentane-1,3-diones while LTBA is superior with 2,2-disubstituted-cyclohexane-1,3-diones. Both conditions minimize subsequent reduction to diols thereby furnishing high yields of 1,3-ketols. Particularly rapid monoreductions are observed with 2-methyl-2-nitroethylcyclopentane-1,3-dione and 2-cyanoethyl-2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione when treated with NaBH₄ in DME at −60 °C. As expected, diastereoselectivity varies considerably with the substitution at C-2.     

Anionic bulk oligomerization of ethylene and propylene carbonate initiated by bisphenol‐A/base systems

When the bulk oligomerization of 1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (ethylene carbonate, EC) and 4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (propylene carbonate, PC) with the 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol‐A, BPA)/base system (bases such as KHCO₃, K₂CO₃, KOH, Li₂CO₃, and t‐BuOK) was investigated at elevated temperature, significant differences were observed. Oligomerization of EC initiated by BPA/base readily takes place, but the oligomerization of PC is inhibited. The very first propylene carbonate/propylene oxide unit readily forms a phenolic ether bond with the functional groups of BPA phenolate, but the addition of the second monomer unit is rather slow. The oligomerization of EC yields symmetrical oligo(ethylene oxide) side chains. According to IR studies the oligomeric chains formed from PC with BPA contain not only ether but also carbonate bonds. The in situ step oligomerization of the BPA dipropoxylate was also identified by SEC, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 545–550, 1999     

Competitive hydrogenation in binary diene systems on a palladium catalyst

Summary Hydrogenations of individual C₅ dienic substrates (1,3-cyclopentadiene, isoprene, 1,4-pentadiene, cis-1,3-pentadiene, trans-1,3-pentadiene) and their binary mixtures on a heterogeneous palladium catalyst were studied in cyclohexane at 25°C and 2 MPa. Selectivities of the competitive hydrogenations were determined and the substrates relative adsorption coefficients calculated. Effects of the diene structure on their reactivity and the stability of the surface complex are discussed. It was found that differences in selectivity of the competitive hydrogenations of C₅ dienes are caused by the difference both in adsorptivity values and in reactivity of adsorbed molecules. The presence of a five-membered ring in the C₅ dienes leads, , in significant reduction of surface complex stability as compared with acyclic structures of C₅ dienes. On the other hand, it has a very positive effect on the rate of surface reaction.