High-resolution solid-state (13)C NMR studies of chemisorbed organometallics. Chemisorptive formation of cation-like and alkylidene organotantalum complexes on high surface area inorganic oxides

(13)C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the surface chemistry of the organotantalum hydrocarbyl/alkylidene complexes, Cp'Ta((13)CH(3))(4) (1*), Cp(2)Ta((13)CH(3))(3) (2*), Cp(2)Ta((13)CH(2))((13)CH(3)) (3*), and Ta((13)CH(t)Bu)((13)CH(2)(t)Bu)(3) (4*) [Cp' = eta(5)-(CH(3))(5)C(5), Cp = eta(5)-C(5)H(5)] supported on partially dehydroxylated silica (PDS), dehydroxylated silica (DS), or dehydroxylated gamma-alumina (DA). Mono-Cp tantalum hydrocarbyl 1* undergoes chemisorption to form Cp'Ta((13)CH(3))(3)O-Si mu-oxo species on silica, and "cation-like" Cp'Ta((13)CH(3))(3)(+) and Cp'Ta((13)CH(3))(3)O-Al mu-oxo species on DA, via pathways analogous to those established for organo-group 4 and actinide complexes. When supported on DA, bis-Cp tantalum hydrocarbyl 2* follows the same chemisorption mode as 1*. However, when 2* is chemisorbed on PDS and DS, a "cation-like" Cp(2)Ta((13)CH(3))(2)(+) species is the major adsorbate product. On PDS, bis-Cp tantalum alkylidene complex 3* is converted predominantly to a stable "cation-like" Cp(2)Ta((13)CH(3))(2)(+) species, presumably via electrophilic addition of a proton from the PDS surface. In contrast to 3*, Ta alkylidene complex 4* forms predominantly a Ta((13)CH(t)Bu)((13)CH(2)(t)Bu)(2)O-Si, mu-oxo-alkylidene species on PDS.     

Zirconium hydrocarbyl chemisorption on sulfated metal oxides: new supports, chemisorption pathways, and implications for catalysis

The sulfated metal oxides (SMOs) sulfated stannia (SnS), sulfated iron oxide (FeS), and sulfated titanium dioxide (TiS) have been synthesized and examined as support materials/cocatalysts/activators for molecule-based olefin polymerization and hydrogenation catalysis. (13)C CPMAS NMR spectroscopic analysis of Cp(2)Zr((13)CH(3))(2)/SMO chemisorption shows that cationic zirconocenium species are formed along with varying amounts of catalytically inactive micro-oxo (Cp(2)Zr(CH(3))O-surface) species, depending on the support material. Ethylene polymerization data with the supported catalysts show that polymerization activity is dependent on both precursor ligation [Zr(CH(2)Ph)(4) > (Me(5)Cp)ZrMe(3)] and the nature of the support (SnS > FeS > TiS). Poisoning studies were performed in conjunction with ethylene polymerization, mediated by (Me(5)Cp)ZrMe(3) supported on each SMO, and reveal that, for (Me(5)Cp)ZrMe(3)/SnS, 61 +/- 5% of the Zr sites are catalytically significant, while, for (Me(5)Cp)ZrMe(3)/FeS, this quantity is 22 +/- 2%, and for (Me(5)Cp)ZrMe(3)/TiS, 63 +/- 9%. These catalysts are also active for benzene hydrogenation and are separable from liquid-phase products using physical or, in the case of FeS, magnetic techniques.     

The synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of 2-phosphanylethylcyclopentadienyl complexes of cobalt, rhodium and iridium

2-Phosphanylethylcyclopentadienyl lithium compounds, Li[C(5)R'(4)(CH(2))(2)PR(2)] (R = Et, R' = H or Me, R = Ph, R' = Me), have been prepared from the reaction of spirohydrocarbons C(5)R'(4)(C(2)H(4)) with LiPR(2). C(5)Et(4)HSiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2), was prepared from reaction of Li[C(5)Et(4)] with Me(2)SiCl(2) followed by Me(2)PCH(2)Li. The lithium salts were reacted with [RhCl(CO)(2)](2), [IrCl(CO)(3)] or [Co(2)(CO)(8)] to give [M(C(5)R'(4)(CH(2))(2)PR(2))(CO)] (M = Rh, R = Et, R' = H or Me, R = Ph, R' = Me; M = Ir or Co, R = Et, R' = Me), which have been fully characterised, in many cases crystallographically as monomers with coordination of the phosphorus atom and the cyclopentadienyl ring. The values of nu(CO) for these complexes are usually lower than those for the analogous complexes without the bridge between the cyclopentadienyl ring and the phosphine, the exception being [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (Cp' = C(5)Me(4)), the most electron rich of the complexes. [Rh(C(5)Et(4)SiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2))(CO)] may be a dimer. [Co(2)(CO)(8)] reacts with C(5)H(5)(CH(2))(2)PEt(2) or C(5)Et(4)HSiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2) (L) to give binuclear complexes of the form [Co(2)(CO)(6)L(2)] with almost linear PCoCoP skeletons. [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] are active for methanol carbonylation at 150 degrees C and 27 bar CO, with the rate using [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] (0.81 mol dm(-3) h(-1)) being higher than that for [RhI(2)(CO)(2)](-) (0.64 mol dm(-3) h(-1)). The most electron rich complex, [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (0.38 mol dm(-3) h(-1)) gave a comparable rate to [Cp*Rh(PEt(3))(CO)] (0.30 mol dm(-3) h(-1)), which was unstable towards oxidation of the phosphine. [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))I(2)], which is inactive for methanol carbonylation, was isolated after the methanol carbonylation reaction using [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)]. Neither of [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (M = Co or Ir) was active for methanol carbonylation under these conditions, nor under many other conditions investigated, except that [Ir(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] showed some activity at higher temperature (190 degrees C), probably as a result of degradation to [IrI(2)(CO)(2)](-). [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] react with MeI to give [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(C(O)Me)I] (M = Co or Rh) or [Ir(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))Me(CO)]I. The rates of oxidative addition of MeI to [Rh(C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] are 62 and 1770 times faster than to [Cp*Rh(CO)(2)]. Methyl migration is slower, however. High pressure NMR studies show that [Co(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Cp*Rh(PEt(3))(CO)] are unstable towards phosphine oxidation and/or quaternisation under methanol carbonylation conditions, but that [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] does not exhibit phosphine degradation, eventually producing inactive [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))I(2)] at least under conditions of poor gas mixing. The observation of [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(C(O)Me)I] under methanol carbonylation conditions suggests that the rhodium centre has become so electron rich that reductive elimination of ethanoyl iodide has become rate determining for methanol carbonylation. In addition to the high electron density at rhodium.     

Cyclopentadienyl substituent effects on reductive elimination reactions in group 4 metallocenes: kinetics,mechanism, and application to dinitrogen activation

The rate of reductive elimination for a family of zirconocene isobutyl hydride complexes, Cp(CpR(n)())Zr(CH(2)CHMe(2))H (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5), CpR(n)() = substituted cyclopentadienyl), has been measured as a function of cyclopentadienyl substituent. In general, the rate of reductive elimination increases modestly with the incorporation of sterically demanding substituents such as [CMe(3)] or [SiMe(3)]. A series of isotopic labeling experiments was used to elucidate the mechanism and rate-determining step for the reductive elimination process. From these studies, a new zirconocene isobutyl hydride complex, Cp' '(2)Zr(CH(2)CHMe(2))(H) (Cp' ' = eta(5)-C(5)H(3)-1,3-(SiMe(3))(2)), was designed and synthesized such that facile reductive elimination of isobutane and activation of dinitrogen was observed. The resulting dinitrogen complex, [Cp' '(2)Zr](2)(mu(2), eta(2),eta(2)-N(2)), has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and displays a bond length of 1.47 A for the N(2) ligand, the longest observed in any metallocene dinitrogen complex. Solution magnetic susceptibility demonstrates that [Cp' '(2)Zr](2)(mu(2), eta(2), eta(2)-N(2)) is a ground-state triplet, consistent with two Zr(III), d(1) centers. Mechanistic studies reveal that the dinitrogen complex is derived from the reaction of N(2) with the resulting cyclometalated zirconocene hydride rather than directly from reductive elimination of alkane.     

Theoretical study of the Cp2Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene. Reaction mechanism including new sigma-bond activation

The Cp(2)Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene was theoretically investigated with DFT and MP2-MP4(SDQ) methods, to clarify the reaction mechanism and the characteristic features of this reaction. Although ethylene insertion into the Zr-SiH(3) bond of Cp(2)Zr(H)(SiH(3)) needs a very large activation barrier of 41.0 (42.3) kcal/mol, ethylene is easily inserted into the Zr-H bond with a very small activation barrier of 2.1 (2.8) kcal/mol, where the activation barrier and the energy of reaction calculated with the DFT(B3LYP) method are given and in parentheses are those values which have been corrected for the zero-point energy, hereafter. Not only this ethylene insertion reaction but also the coupling reaction between Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) and SiH(4) easily takes place to afford Cp(2)Zr(H)(CH(2)CH(2)SiH(3)) and Cp(2)Zr(CH(2)CH(3))(SiH(3)) with activation barriers of 0.3 (0.7) and 5.0 (5.4) kcal/mol, respectively. This coupling reaction involves a new type of Si-H sigma-bond activation which is similar to metathesis. The important interaction in the coupling reaction is the bonding overlap between the d(pi)-pi bonding orbital of Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) and the Si-H sigma orbital. The final step is neither direct C-H nor Si-C reductive elimination, because both reductive eliminations occur with a very large activation barrier and significantly large endothermicity. This is because the d orbital of Cp(2)Zr is at a high energy. On the other hand, ethylene-assisted C-H reductive elimination easily occurs with a small activation barrier, 5.0 (7.5) kcal/mol, and considerably large exothermicity, -10.6 (-7.1) kcal/mol. Also, ethylene-assisted Si-C reductive elimination and metatheses of Cp(2)Zr(H)(CH(2)CH(2)SiH(3)) and Cp(2)Zr(CH(2)CH(3))(SiH(3)) with SiH(4) take place with moderate activation barriers, 26.5 (30.7), 18.4 (20.5), and 28.3 (31.5) kcal/mol, respectively. From these results, it is clearly concluded that the most favorable catalytic cycle of the Cp(2)Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene consists of the coupling reaction of Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) with SiH(4) followed by the ethylene-assisted C-H reductive elimination.     

Trapping unstable terminal M-O multiple bonds of monocyclopentadienyl niobium and tantalum complexes with Lewis acids

Hydrolysis of [NbCp'Cl(4)] (Cp' = η(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3)) with the water adduct H(2)O·B(C(6)F(5))(3) afforded the oxo-borane compound [NbCp'Cl(2){O·B(C(6)F(5))(3)}] (2a). This compound reacted with [MgBz(2)(THF)(2)] giving [NbCp'Bz(2){O·B(C(6)F(5))(3)}] (2b), whereas [NbCp'Me(2){O·B(C(6)F(5))(3)}] (2c) was obtained from the reaction of [NbCp'Me(4)] with H(2)O·B(C(6)F(5))(3). Addition of Al(C(6)F(5))(3) to solutions containing the oxo-borane compounds [MCp(R)X(2){O·B(C(6)F(5))(3)}] (M = Ta, Cp(R) = η(5)-C(5)Me(5) (Cp*), X = Cl 1a, Bz 1b, Me 1c; M = Nb, Cp(R) = Cp', X = Cl 2a) afforded the oxo-alane complexes [MCp(R)X(2){O·Al(C(6)F(5))(3)}] (M = Ta, Cp(R) = Cp*, X = Cl 3a, Bz 3b, Me 3c; M = Nb, Cp(R) = Cp', X = Cl 4a), releasing B(C(6)F(5))(3). Compound 3a was also obtained by addition of Al(C(6)F(5))(3) to the dinuclear μ-oxo compound [TaCp*Cl(2)(μ-O)](2), meanwhile addition of the water adduct H(2)O·Al(C(6)F(5))(3) to [TaCp*Me(4)] gave complex 3c. The structure of 2a and 3a was obtained by X-ray diffraction studies. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to further understand these types of oxo compounds.     

Mechanistic studies on the addition of dihydrogen to tantalocene complexes

The mechanism of dihydrogen addition to Cp(2)Ta(CH(2))(H) was examined using parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP), (13)C labeling, and comparison to the related complex Cp(2)Ta(CH(2))(CH(3)). The reaction of para-enriched hydrogen with Cp(2)Ta(CH(2))(H) leads to polarized resonances for both Cp(2)Ta(CH(3))(H)(2) and Cp(2)TaH(3), even at the earliest reaction times. Use of the labeled compound Cp(2)Ta((13)CH(2))(H) shows that the polarized resonances of Cp(2)Ta(CH(3))(H)(2) correspond to the two hydride ligands. The results thus support a mechanistic pathway of H(2) addition to an unsaturated Ta(III) intermediate, [Cp(2)Ta(CH(3))], rather than addition directly across the Ta=C bond. In a same sample comparison, the rates of initial H(2) addition and subsequent C-H reductive elimination for both Cp(2)Ta(CH(2))(H) and Cp(2)Ta(C(6)H(4))(H) were examined. The methylene complex exhibits greater reactivity than the benzyne complex, with the major difference due to the C-H coupling step, in which formation of methane is more facile than that of benzene. The reactivity of the related ethylene hydride complex, Cp(2)Ta(C(2)H(4))(H), with hydrogen was also examined. The PHIP study of this system leads to unusual and unexpected polarization, which is found to be due to a minor impurity in the sample.     

The electronic structures of diruthenium complexes containing an oligo(phenylene ethynylene) bridging ligand, and some related molecular structures

The complexes [{Cp'(L(2))Ru}C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CC(6)H(2)(OMe)(2)C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡C{Ru(L(2))Cp'}](L(2) = (PPh(3))(2), Cp' = Cp; L(2) = dppe, Cp' = Cp*) in which the metal centres are bridged by an oligomeric phenylene ethynylene (OPE) ligand have been prepared and the electronic structure of these representative ruthenium-capped OPEs investigated using a combination of electrochemical, UV-vis-NIR and IR spectroelectrochemical methods, and DFT-based calculations. The diruthenium complexes are oxidised to the thermodynamically stable dications [Cp'Ru(L(2))C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CC(6)H(2)(OMe)(2)C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CRu(L(2))Cp'](2+), which on the basis of the spectroelectrochemical and computational results can be described in terms of two non-interacting Ru(C≡CAr)(L(2))Cp' moieties. X-ray structures of the oligophenyleneethynylene HC≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CC(6)H(2)(OMe)(2)C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CH, the bis(gold) complex Ph(3)PAuC≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CC(6)H(2)(OMe)(2)C≡CC(6)H(4)C≡CAuPPh(3) and the precursor 1-ethynyl-4-(trimethylsilylethynyl)benzene are also reported.     

Synthetic, reactivity, and structural studies on half-sandwich (eta5-C5Me5)Be and related compounds: halide, alkyl, and iminoacyl derivatives

The half-sandwich compounds [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))BeX] (X=Cl, 1 a; Br, 1 b), readily prepared from the reaction of the halides BeX(2) and M[C(5)Me(5)] (M=Na or K), are useful synthons for other (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Be organometallic compounds, including the alkyl derivatives [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))BeR] (R=Me, 2 a; CMe(3), 2 b; CH(2)CMe(3), 2 c; CH(2)Ph, 2 d). The latter compounds can be obtained by metathetical exchange of the halides 1 with the corresponding lithium reagent and exhibit NMR signals and other properties in accord with the proposed formulation. Attempts to make [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))BeH] have proved fruitless, probably due to instability of the hydride toward disproportionation into [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)] and BeH(2). The half-sandwich iminoacyl [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Be(C(NXyl)Cp')] and [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(4)H)Be(C(NXyl)Cp')]3, 6 where Xyl=C(6)H(3)-2,6-Me(2) and Cp'=C(5)Me(5) or C(5)Me(4)H, are formed when the beryllocenes [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)], [Be(C(5)Me(4)H)(2)], and [Be(C(5)Me(5))(C(5)Me(4)H)] are allowed to react with CNXyl. Isolation of three different iminoacyl isomers from the reaction of the mixed-ring beryllocene [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Be(eta(1)-C(5)Me(4)H)] and CNXyl, namely compounds 5 a, 5 b, and 6, provides compelling evidence for the existence in solution of different beryllocene isomers, generated in the course of two very facile processes that explain the solution dynamics of these metallocenes, that is the 1,5-sigmatropic shift of the Be(eta(5)-Cp') unit around the periphery of the eta(1)-Cp' ring, and the molecular inversion rearrangement that exchanges the roles of the two rings.     

Synthesis and structures of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts: effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes on the catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization

A series of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene complexes, [(CH(2))(n)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti, n = 4 (4), 5 (5), 6 (6); M = Zr, n = 4 (7), 5 (8), 6 (9); M = Hf, n = 4 (10), 5 (11), 6 (12)), have been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization after activation with methyl aluminoxane (MAO). The cycloalkylidene-bridged titanocene catalysts exhibit much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene and hafnocene analogues, and have the highest activities at higher temperatures. In comparison, the silacyclopentylidene-bridged metallocene complexes [(CH(2))(4)Si(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (13), Zr (14)) and isopropylene-bridged metallocene complexes [Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (15), Zr (16)) have also been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization. In both cases, the titanocene complexes show much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene analogues, especially at a lower temperature. The molecular structures of complexes 4-9 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure-activity relationships, especially the effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes, are discussed.     

Alkyne and alkene complexes of a d(0) zirconocene aryl cation

The generation and properties of nonchelated Zr-aryl-alkyne and Zr-aryl-alkene complexes that are stabilized by the presence of beta-Si-substituents in the alkyne and alkene ligands and fluorination of the aryl ligand are described. Reaction of [Cp'2Zr(OtBu)(ClCD2Cl)][B(C6F5)4] (1, Cp' = C5H4Me) with alkyne and alkene substrates (L) generates Cp'2Zr(OtBu)(L)+ adducts (L = HCCCH2SiMe3 (2); H2C=CHCH2SiMe3 (3); HCCMe (4); H2C=CHCH2CMe3 (5)). Equilibrium constants for substrate binding (Keq = [Zr-L][1]-1[L]-1; CD2Cl2, -89 degrees C) are much larger for the beta-Si-substituted compounds 2 (1.0(2) x 105 M-1) and 3 (1.7(4) x 103 M-1) than for hydrocarbon analogues 4 (3.6(7) x 102 M-1) and 5 (1.9(1) M-1), which is ascribed to beta-Si stabilization of the partial positive charge on Cint of the bound substrate. [Cp2Zr(C6F5)][B(C6F5)4] (7, Cp = C5H5) was generated by the reaction of Cp2Zr(C6F5)Me with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in C6D5Cl. Reaction of 7 with alkyne and alkene substrates (L) generates Cp2Zr(C6F5)(L)+ adducts (L = HCCCH2SiMe3 (8); H2C=CHCH2SiMe3 (10)). No insertion of the substrate into the Zr-C6F5 bond is observed in 8 (at -38 degrees C) or 10 (up to 22 degrees C). The allyltrimethylsilane ligand in 10 undergoes nondissociative alkene face exchange ("alkene flipping", i.e., exchange of the Cp2Zr(C6F5)+ unit between the two alkene enantiofaces without alkene dissociation), with a first-order rate constant kflip = 23(1) s-1 (C6D5Cl, -38 degrees C). 10 also undergoes slower reversible decomplexation of the alkene (kdissoc = 5.0(8) s-1; C6D5Cl, -38 degrees C).     

Supported metallocene catalysts by surface organometallic chemistry. Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity in ethylene polymerization of oxide-supported mono- and biscyclopentadienyl zirconium alkyl complexes: establishment of structure/reactivity relationships

The reactions of CpZr(CH(3))(3), 1, and Cp(2)Zr(CH(3))(2), 2, with partially dehydroxylated silica, silica-alumina, and alumina surfaces have been carried out with careful identification of the resulting surface organometallic complexes in order to probe the relationship between catalyst structure and polymerization activity. The characterization of the supported complexes has been achieved in most cases by in situ infrared spectroscopy, surface microanalysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis of evolved gases during surface reactions with labeled surface, solid state (1)H and (13)C NMR using (13)C-enriched compounds, and EXAFS. 1 and 2 react with silica(500) and silica-alumina(500) by simple protonolysis of one Zr-Me bond by surface silanols with formation of a single well-defined neutral compound. In the case of silica-alumina, a fraction of the supported complexes exhibits some interactions with electronically unsaturated surface aluminum sites. 1 and 2 also react with the hydroxyl groups of gamma-alumina(500), leading to several surface structures. Correlation between EXAFS and (13)C NMR data suggests, in short, two main surface structures having different environments for the methyl group: [Al](3)-OZrCp(CH(3))(2) and [Al](2)-OZrCp(CH(3))(mu-CH(3))-[Al] for the monoCp series and [Al](2)-OZrCp(2)(CH(3)) and [Al]-OZrCp(2)(mu-CH(3))-[Al] for the bisCp series. Ethylene polymerization has been carried out with all the supported complexes under various reaction conditions. Silica-supported catalysts in the absence of any cocatalyst exhibited no activity whatsoever for ethylene polymerization. When the oxide contained Lewis acidic sites, the resulting surface species were active. The activity, although improved by the presence of additional cocatalysts, remained very low by comparison with that of the homogeneous metallocene systems. This trend has been interpreted on the basis of various possible parameters, including the (p-pi)-(d-pi) back-donation of surface oxygen atoms to the zirconium center.     

Organolathanide-catalyzed regioselective intermolecular hydroamination of alkenes, alkynes, vinylarenes, di- and trivinylarenes, and methylenecyclopropanes. Scope and mechanistic comparison to intramolecular cyclohydroaminations

Organolanthanide complexes of the type Cp'(2)LnCH(SiMe(3))(2) (Cp' = eta(5)-Me(5)C(5); Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Lu) and Me(2)SiCp' '(2)LnCH(SiMe(3))(2) (Cp' ' = eta(5)-Me(4)C(5); Ln = Nd, Sm, Lu) serve as efficient precatalysts for the regioselective intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes R'Ctbd1;CMe (R' = SiMe(3), C(6)H(5), Me), alkenes RCH=CH(2) (R = SiMe(3), CH(3)CH(2)CH(2)), butadiene, vinylarenes ArCH=CH(2) (Ar = phenyl, 4-methylbenzene, naphthyl, 4-fluorobenzene, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene, 4-methoxybenzene, 4-(dimethylamino)benzene, 4-(methylthio)benzene), di- and trivinylarenes, and methylenecyclopropanes with primary amines R' 'NH(2) (R' ' = n-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl) to yield the corresponding amines and imines. For R = SiMe(3), R = CH(2)=CH lanthanide-mediated intermolecular hydroamination regioselectively generates the anti-Markovnikov addition products (Me(3)SiCH(2)CH(2)NHR' ', (E)-CH(3)CH=CHCH(2)NHR' '). However, for R = CH(3)CH(2)CH(2), the Markovnikov addition product is observed (CH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CHNHR' 'CH(3)). For internal alkynes, it appears that these regioselective transformations occur under significant stereoelectronic control, and for R' = SiMe(3), rearrangement of the product enamines occurs via tautomerization to imines, followed by a 1,3-trimethylsilyl group shift to stable N-SiMe(3)-bonded CH(2)=CMeN(SiMe(3))R' ' structures. For vinylarenes, intermolecular hydroamination with n-propylamine affords the anti-Markovnikov addition product beta-phenylethylamine. In addition, hydroamination of divinylarenes provides a concise synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline structures via coupled intermolecular hydroamination/subsequent intramolecular cyclohydroamination sequences. Intermolecular hydroamination of methylenecyclopropane proceeds via highly regioselective exo-methylene C=C insertion into Ln-N bonds, followed by regioselective cyclopropane ring opening to afford the corresponding imine. For the Me(2)SiCp' '(2)Nd-catalyzed reaction of Me(3)SiCtbd1;CMe and H(2)NCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(3), DeltaH() = 17.2 (1.1) kcal mol(-)(1) and DeltaS() = -25.9 (9.7) eu, while the reaction kinetics are zero-order in [amine] and first-order in both [catalyst] and [alkyne]. For the same substrate pair, catalytic turnover frequencies under identical conditions decrease in the order Me(2)SiCp' '(2)NdCH(SiMe(3))(2) > Me(2)SiCp' '(2)SmCH(SiMe(3))(2) > Me(2)SiCp' '(2)LuCH(SiMe(3))(2) > Cp'(2)SmCH(SiMe(3))(2), in accord with documented steric requirements for the insertion of olefinic functionalities into lanthanide-alkyl and -heteroatom sigma-bonds. Kinetic and mechanistic evidence argues that the turnover-limiting step is intermolecular C=C/Ctbd1;C bond insertion into the Ln-N bond followed by rapid protonolysis of the resulting Ln-C bond.     

Synthesis and structure of 1-zirconacyclopent-3-yne complexes without substituents adjacent to the triple bond

Five-membered metallacyclic alkynes that have no substituents adjacent to the triple bond have been synthesized, isolated, and structurally characterized. Zirconocene dichlorides, Cp'2ZrCl2 (Cp' = C5H5, C5H4-t-Bu), reacted with 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne in the presence of magnesium to give 1-zirconacyclopent-3-yne compounds (5 (a) Cp' = C5H5, (b) Cp' = C5H4-t-Bu) that have a -CH2CCCH2- moiety in good yields. They are stable enough to be isolated in a pure form, despite the absence of substituents. 5a reacted with an equimolar amount of Cp2Zr(but-1-ene)(PMe3) to produce a bimetallic complex in which the zirconacyclopentyne coordinates to the other zirconocene moiety as an alkyne.     

Ln4(CH2)4 cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complexes consisting of "(C5Me4SiMe3)LnCH2" units (Ln = Tm, Lu)

Tetranuclear cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complexes consisting of four "Cp'LnCH(2)" units, [Cp'Ln(μ(3)-CH(2))](4) (4-Ln; Ln = Tm, Lu; Cp' = C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3)), have been obtained for the first time through CH(4) elimination from the well-defined polymethyl complexes [Cp'Ln(μ(2)-CH(3))(2)](3) (2-Ln) or mixed methyl/methylidene precursors such as [Cp'(3)Ln(3)(μ(2)-Me)(3)(μ(3)-Me)(μ(3)-CH(2))] (3-Ln). The reaction of the methylidene complex 4-Lu with benzophenone leads to C═O bond cleavage and C═C bond formation to give the cubane-type oxo complex [Cp'Lu(μ(3)-O)](4) and CH(2)═CPh(2), while the methyl/methylidene complex 3-Tm undergoes sequential methylidene addition to the C═O group and ortho C-H activation of the two phenyl groups of benzophenone to afford the bis(benzo-1,2-diyl)ethoxy-chelated trinuclear complex [Cp'(3)Tm(3)(μ(2)-Me)(3){(C(6)H(4))(2)C(O)Me}] (6-Tm).     

Synthesis, structural characterization, catalytic properties, and theoretical study of compounds containing an Al-O-M (M = Ti, Hf) core

Two single oxygen-bridged heterobimetallic oxides of Al(III) with group 4 metals (Ti, Hf) have been prepared. The reaction of LAlMeOH (1) [L = CH(N(Ar)(CMe))2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3] with dimethylmetallocenes of Ti and Hf in toluene (80 degrees C) and ether (room temperature), respectively, resulted in the formation of LAl(Me)(mu-O)M(Me)Cp2 [M = Ti (2), Hf (3)] in moderate to good yield. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR (1H and 13C), EI-MS, and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. Furthermore, compound 2 showed good catalytic activity in ethylene and styrene homopolymerization, while compound 3 is less active in ethylene polymerization. The styrene polymerization yields atactic polystyrene.     

Silylenediamido [(CH3)2Si(NTs)2(2-); Ts = p-CH3C6H4SO2] complexes of iridium: synthesis, structures and facile Si-N bond cleavage

The N,N'-bis(sulfonyl)diaminosilane TsdmsinH(2) (TsdmsinH(2) = (CH(3))(2)Si(NHTs)(2), Ts = p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)SO(2)) reacted with [Cp*IrCl(2)](2) (Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)(CH(3))(5)) in the presence of a base to give the coordinatively unsaturated (silylenediamido)iridium complex [Cp*Ir(Tsdmsin)] (2), which was further converted to the 18e adducts [Cp*Ir(Tsdmsin)L] (L = P(C(6)H(5))(3) (3a), P(OC(2)H(5))(3), CO); the reactions of 2 and 3a with water led to the formation of the imido-bridged dinuclear complex [Cp*Ir(micro(2)-NTs)(2)IrCp*] and the bis(amido) complex [Cp*Ir(NHTs)(2){P(C(6)H(5))(3)}], respectively.     

Synthesis and structure of amido- and imido(pentafluorophenyl)borane zirconocene and hafnocene complexes: N-H and B-H activation

Treatment of Me(2)S·B(C(6)F(5))(n) H(3-n) (n=1 or 2) with ammonia yields the corresponding adducts. H(3)N·B(C(6)F(5))H(2) dimerises in the solid state through N-H···H-B dihydrogen interactions. The adducts can be deprotonated to give lithium amidoboranes Li[NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(n)H(3-n)]. Reaction of the n=2 reagent with [Cp(2)ZrCl(2)] leads to disubstitution, but [Cp(2)Zr{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}(2)] is in equilibrium with the product of β-hydride elimination [Cp(2)Zr(H){NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}], which proves to be the major isolated solid. The analogous reaction with [Cp(2)HfCl(2)] gives a mixture of [Cp(2)Hf{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}(2)] and the N-H activation product [Cp(2)Hf{NHB(C(6)F(5 )(2)H}]. [Cp(2)Zr{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}(2)]·PhMe and [Cp(2)Hf{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}(2)]·4(thf) exhibit β-B-agostic chelate bonding of one of the two amidoborane ligands in the solid state. The agostic hydride is invariably coordinated to the outside of the metallocene wedge. Exceptionally, [Cp(2)Hf{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}(2)]?PhMe has a structure in which the two amidoborane ligands adopt an intermediate coordination mode, in which neither is definitively agostic. [Cp(2)Hf{NHB(C(6)F(5))(2)H}] has a formally dianionic imidoborane ligand chelating through an agostic interaction, but the bond-length distribution suggests a contribution from a zwitterionic amidoborane resonance structure. Treatment of the zwitterions [Cp(2)MMe(μ-Me)B(C(6)F(5))(3)] (M=Zr, Hf) with Li[NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(n)H(3-n)] (n=2) results in [Cp(2) MMe{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2)H}] complexes, for which the spectroscopic data, particularly (1)J(B,H), again suggest β-B-agostic interactions. The reactions proceed similarly for the structurally encumbered [Cp'(2)ZrMe(μ-Me)B(C(6)F(5))(3)] precursor (Cp'=1,3-C(5)H(3)(SiMe(3))(2) , n=1 or 2) to give [Cp'(2)ZrMe{NH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(n)H(3-n)}], both of which have been structurally characterised and show chelating, agostic amidoborane coordination. In contrast, the analogous hafnium chemistry leads to the recovery of [Cp'(2)HfMe(2)] and the formation of Li[HB(C(6)F(5))(3)] through hydride abstraction.     

Hydrogen for fluorine exchange in CH4-xFx by monomeric [1,2,4-(Me3C)3C5H2]2CeH: experimental and computational studies

The monomeric metallocenecerium hydride, Cp'(2)CeH (Cp' = 1,2,4-tri-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl), reacts instantaneously with CH(3)F, but slower with CH(2)F(2), to give Cp'(2)CeF and CH(4) in each case, a net H for F exchange reaction. The hydride reacts very slowly with CHF(3), and not at all with CF(4), to give Cp'(2)CeF, H(2), and 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-tri-tert-butylbenzene. The substituted benzenes are postulated to result from trapping of a fluorocarbene fragment derived by alpha-fluoride abstraction from Cp'(2)CeCF(3). The fluoroalkyl, Cp'(2)CeCF(3), is generated by reaction of Cp'(2)CeH and Me(3)SiCF(3) or by reaction of the metallacycle, [(Cp')(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(2)C(Me(2))CH(2)]Ce, with CHF(3), and its existence is inferred from the products of decomposition, which are Cp'(2)CeF, the isomeric tri-tert-butylbenzenes and in the case of Me(3)SiCF(3), Me(3)SiH. The fluoroalkyls, Cp'(2)CeCH(2)F and Cp'(2)CeCHF(2), generated from the metallacycle and CH(3)F and CH(2)F(2), respectively, are also inferred by their decomposition products, which are Cp'(2)CeF, CH(2), and CHF, respectively, which are trapped. DFT(B3PW91) calculations have been carried out to examine several reaction paths that involve CH and CF bond activation. The calculations show that the CH activation by Cp(2)CeH proceeds with a low barrier. The carbene ejection and trapping by H(2) is the rate-determining step, and the barrier parallels that found for reaction of H(2) with CH(2), CHF, and CF(2). The barrier of the rate-determining step is raised as the number of fluorines increases, while that of the CH activation path is lowered as the number of fluorines increases, which parallels the acidity.     

Frustrated beta-chloride elimination. Selective arene alkylation by alpha-chloronorbornene catalyzed by electrophilic metallocenium ion pairs

Single-site polymerization catalysts generated in situ via activation of Cp*MMe(3) (Cp* = C(5)Me(5); M = Ti, Zr), (CGC)MMe(2) (CGC = C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)NBu(t)(); M = Ti, Zr), and Cp(2)ZrMe(2) with Ph(3)C(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) catalyze alkylation of aromatic molecules (benzene, toluene) with alpha-chloronorbornene at room temperature, to regioselectively afford the 1:1 addition products exo-1-chloro-2-arylnorbornane (aryl = C(6)H(5) (1a), C(6)H(4)CH(3) (1b)) in good yields. Analogous deuterium-labeled products exo-1-chloro-2-aryl-d(n)-norbornane-7-d(1) (aryl-d(n) = C(6)D(5) (1a-d(6)), C(6)D(4)CD(3) (1b-d(8))) are obtained via catalytic arylation of alpha-chloronorbornene in either benzene-d(6) or toluene-d(8). Isolated ion-pair complexes such as (CGC)ZrMe(toluene)(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) and Cp(2)ThMe(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) also catalyze the reaction of alpha-chloronorbornene in toluene-d(8) to give 1b-d(8) in good yields, respectively. Small quantities of the corresponding bis(1-chloronorbornyl)aromatics 2 are also obtained from preparative-scale reactions. These reactions exhibit turnover frequencies exceeding 120 h(-1) (for the Cp*TiMe(3)/Ph(3)C(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-)-catalyzed system), and chlorine-free products are not observed. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by (1)H, (2)H, (13)C, and 2D NMR, GC-MS, and elemental analysis. The aryl group exo-stereochemistry in 1a and 1b is established using (1)H-(1)H COSY, (1)H-(13)C HMBC, and (1)H-(1)H NOESY NMR, and is further corroborated by X-ray analysis of the product 1,4-bis(exo-1-chloro-2-norbornyl)benzene (2a). Control experiments and reactivity studies on each component step suggest a mechanism involving participitation of the metal electrophiles in the catalytic cycle.