Amino acid-bearing ROMP polymers with a stereoregular backbone

The ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROMP) of 1-cyclobutenecarbonyl glycine methyl ester provides translationally invariant, head-to-tail ordered polymers. This polybutadiene backbone contains (within the limits of detection) only E-trisubstituted olefins, and it has no stereocenters that would serve as a source of structural ambiguities. Characterization of the polymer products indicates that they have polydispersities ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 and suggests that they are the products of a "living" polymerization. 1-Cyclobutenecarboxamide-derived ROMP polymers are excellent prospects for applications that require stereoregular chains functionalized with polar ligands.     

Molybdenum and tungsten imido alkylidene complexes as efficient olefin-metathesis catalysts

Catalytic olefin metathesis has quickly emerged as one of the most often-used transformations in modern chemical synthesis. One class of catalysts that has led the way to this significant development are the high-oxidation-state alkylidene complexes of molybdenum. In this review key observations that resulted in the discovery and development of molybdenum- and tungsten-based metathesis catalysts are outlined. An account of the utility of molybdenum catalysts in the synthesis of biologically significant molecules is provided as well. Another focus of the review is the use of chiral molybdenum complexes for enantioselective synthesis. These highly efficient catalysts provide unique access to materials of exceptional enantiomeric purity and often without generating solvent waste.     

Lanthanide alkylidene and imido complexes

In stark contrast to the transition metals, examples of imido or alkylidene complexes of the lanthanides remain scarce. A recent literature survey reveals that only nine examples of lanthanide imido complexes have been reported, and the majority of these have arisen serendipitously. Concrete examples of species containing lanthanide-carbon multiple bonds are even more sparse. Recently, some rational approaches to the synthesis of lanthanide complexes containing Ln=X functionalities have been detailed (X = C, N). Additionally, a DFT (Density Functional Theory) study of a samarium imido complex has provided insight into the electronic and steric factors that may be necessary to support these unusual reactive groups. This Perspective reviews the work in this field and offers some suggestions to expand this potentially useful class of compounds.     

Synthesis and ROMP activity of aminophenol-substituted tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes

Tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes [MO(L¹)Cl₂] and [M(X)(L²)Cl₃] (X = O, NPh) with tridentate aminobis(phenolate) ligand L¹ = methylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenolate) and bidentate aminophenolate ligand L² = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenolate) were prepared and characterised. These complexes are principally stable in open atmosphere under ambient conditions. When activated with Et₂AlCl, they exhibited high activity in ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of 2-norbornene (NBE) and its derivatives. Especially complexes [M(NPh)(L²)Cl₃], which are easily available from corresponding metal oxides MO₃ by a simple three-step synthesis, were found very efficient ROMP catalysts for NBE (M = Mo, W) and 2-norbornen-5-yl acetate (M = Mo).     

Tailored molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as latent catalysts for the polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

Three novel molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) pre-catalysts, that is, Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I1 , OTf = CF₃SO₃), Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)(t-BuO) ( I2 ) and Mo(N-2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃)(1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I3 ) are presented. Compared to complexes based on imidazol-2-ylidenes or imidazolin-2-ylidenes, (1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene) used in precatalysts I1 and I2 exerts a comparably strong trans effect to the triflate groups trans to the NHC, while (1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene) used in I3 has a weaker trans effect on the triflate. In combination with a suitable second anionic ligand at molybdenum, that is, OTf, t-BuO, compounds I1 – I3 require higher temperatures to become active and can thus be used as truly room temperature latent pre-catalysts, even for a highly reactive monomer such as dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). When used as latent precatalysts, I1 – I3 offer access to poly-DCPD with different degrees of cross-linking and glass-transition temperatures (T_g). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3028–3033     

Structure/property relationship of Schrock-type alkylidene complexes based on tungsten and molybdenum

The structure/property relationship of Schrock-type alkylidene complexes with tungsten and molybdenum as central atoms was investigated. Terminal and, E and Z internal olefins as well as double bond substituted and unsubstituted unsaturated polymers served as metathesis substrates. According to the results obtained, it is possible to choose the optimal catalyst depending on the metathesis substrate and temperature, the central atom plays a decisive role. Examples concerning equilibrium polymerization demonstrate the practical utilization.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of tungsten imido amidinate and guanidinate complexes

The tungsten imido guanidinate and amidinate complexes W(NR)Cl(3)[R'NC(NMe(2))NR'] and W(NR)Cl(3)[R'NC(Me)NR'] (R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy; R' = (i)Pr, (t)Bu, TMS) were synthesized by reacting the corresponding imido complex W(NR)Cl(4)(OEt(2)) with the appropriate lithium amidinate or guanidinate. Crystallographic structure determination of W(N(i)Pr)Cl(3)[(i)PrNC(NMe(2))N(i)Pr] and W(N(i)()Pr)Cl(3)[(i)PrNC(Me)N(i)Pr] allows comparison of structural features between the guanidinate and amidinate ligand in the presence of an identical ancillary ligand set.     

Synthesis of optically active polymers using P-chiral bisphosphines as anionic initiators

Anionic polymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate was performed by using P-chiral bisphosphine initiators. According to the optical rotation analysis and circular dichroism measurements, the polymer obtained by using the initiator (S,S)-1,2-bis(boranato(tert-butyl)methylphosphino) ethane exhibited one-handed helical conformation induced by the chirality of phosphorus atoms in the polymer terminal. The enantiomer (R,R)-1,2-bis(boranato(tert-butyl)methylphosphino) ethane gave the opposite one-handed helical polymer. Optically active bisphosphine (S,S)-1,2-bis(boranatomethylphenylphosphino) ethane was employed for the helix-sense-selective polymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate in order to obtain the polymer with the same helix sense as the polymer obtained from the initiator (S,S)-1,2-ethane bis(t-butylm-ethylphosphineborane). Further, removal of the coordinated boranes and complexation with platinum(II) on the chiral phosphorus atoms were carried out in order to yield the corresponding polymer-platinum(II) complex without loss of its chiral higher-ordered structure.     

Synthesis of fluorinated polymers via ROMP: a review

This review is concerned with the work conducted in the Durham group during the last twenty years. It is specifically concerned with ROMP of fluorinated monomers with classical and well-defined initiators, with the synthesis of stereoregular polymers, block and stereoblock copolymers.     

Oligomers of stereoregular polymers

The embryonic state of the ionic methyl methacrylate (MMA) and of trihaloacetaldehyde polymerization was studied. The composition of the oligomer mixtures, the end groups and the stereochemistry of individual compounds of the oligomers was investigated. Depending upon the initiating systems the oligomerization of methyl methacrylate can give either isotactic or syndiotactic oligomers. Trihaloacetaldehye oligomerization is highly dependent on the ceiling temperature of polymerization. The oligomerization of fluoral and chloral is compared with a more detailed study of the bromal polymerization and even more interestingly with the cooligomerization of chloral and bromal.     

Synthesis of molybdenum alkylidene complexes that contain the 2,6-dimesitylphenylimido ligand

Compounds that have the formula M(NR)(CHR')(OR″)(Pyrrolide), where OR″ is "large" relative to NR and M = Mo or W, have been shown to be Z-selective olefin metathesis catalysts. In this communication we report a new route to Mo complexes in which the relationship between NR and OR″ has been reversed; i.e., the imido ligand is the sterically demanding 2,6-dimesitylphenylimido ligand (NAr*).     

Synthesis of cis,syndiotactic ROMP polymers containing alternating enantiomers

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of rac-endo,exo-5,6-dicarbomethoxynorbornene (inter alia) yields a cis,syndio,alt-polymer, one in which the sequential units in the cis,syndiotactic polymer consist of alternating enantiomers. Cis selectivity arises through addition of the monomer to produce an all-cis-metallacyclobutane intermediate, while syndioselectivity and alternating enantiomer structures arise as a consequence of inversion of configuration at the metal center with each metathesis step.     

Synthesis and structure of a novel molybdenum imido calix[6]arene

Treatment of p-tert-butylcalix[6]areneH₆ (H₆L) with [Mo(OBu^t)₂{[2,2′-(N)-C₆H₄]₂(CH₂CH₂)}] in refluxing toluene affords, after work-up, the complex [Mo(2-NC₆H₄CH₂CH₂C₆H₄NHC(Me)NH-2^/)LH₂]·4MeCN (1), which contains an 11-membered metallocyclic ring as characterised by Synchrotron X-radiation.     

Narrowly distributed homotelechelic polymers in 30 minutes: Using fast in situ pre‐functionalized ROMP initiators

Today's olefin metathesis catalysts show high reactivity, selectivity, and functional group tolerance, and allow the design of new syntheses of precisely functionalized polymers. Here we describe a general “one‐pot” synthesis for narrow polydispersity bis‐end‐functional (=homotelechelic) ROMP polymers exploiting the propagating ruthenium complex inherent selectivity for strained norbornenes over acyclic internal olefins. This approach represents a straightforward general method of homotelechelic polymers carrying almost any functional end group (within the limitations of the catalyst's functionality tolerance). Complete pre‐functionalization of the initiator is realized in situ within minutes and without the need of further purification steps. The excess acyclic olefin re‐enters the catalytic cycle after monomer consumption is complete giving a homotelechelic polymer. ¹H NMR spectroscopic and MALDI‐ToF‐MS analysis show highly efficient end group functionalization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4183–4190     

Novel synthesis of photochromic polymers via ROMP

[reaction: see text] Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a photochromic 1, 2-bis(3-thienyl)cyclopentene monomer generated a series of novel polymers. All polymers exhibit reversible light-activated interconversion between their colorless-open and their colored-closed forms.     

Induced circular dichroism of stereoregular vinyl polymers

Stereoregular vinyl polymers, poly(2-vinyl pyridine)s (P2VPs), were synthesized to examine the tacticity effect on the induced circular dichroism (ICD) via association with chiral acids. The ICD was found to be strongly dependent on the isotacticity of the P2VPs and the acidity of chiral acid in addition to its bulkiness.