Heteroscorpionate rare-earth metal zwitterionic complexes: syntheses, characterization, and heteroselective catalysis on the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide

Novel neutral phosphine-modified heteroscorpionate ligand (3,5-Me(2)Pz)(2)CHPPh(2) (1) and its derivatives oxophosphine (2) and iminophosphine (3) heteroscorpionates were synthesized for the first time. These neutral heteroscorpionate ligands displayed unique chemistry towards rare-earth metal tris(alkyl)s [Ln(CH(2)SiMe(3))(3)(thf)(2)] (Ln=Y, Lu, Sc). The reaction between compound 1 and [Ln(CH(2)SiMe(3))(3)(thf)(2)] afforded heteroscorpionate rare-earth metal trialkyl adduct complexes 4a-c. Compounds 2 and 3 were treated with [Ln(CH(2)SiMe(3))(3)(thf)(2)] to give the unprecedented zwitterionic heteroscorpionate rare-earth metal dialkyls 5 and 6, respectively. In the process, the heteroscorpionates transferred to the carbanions by means of methine C-H bond cleavage that was attributed to the presence of the electron-withdrawing groups. In addition the ligand and central metal showed a concerted effect on both the catalytic activity and specific selectivity of complexes 4-6 for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA). All the adduct complexes 4 were nonselective and gave atactic polylactide (PLA), probably due to the dissociation of ligand 1 from the active metal center during the polymerization. Strikingly, zwitterionic complexes 5 catalyzed rapid ROP of rac-LA to produce PLAs with heterotacticity up to 0.87. However, the zwitterionic complexes 6 were less active and less selective than 5, which might be on account of the stronger coordination of the tetradentate ligand. Complexes 5 represent rare examples of the selective ROP of rac-LA mediated by rare-earth metal complexes supported by non-bisphenolate ligands.     

Comparative dimerization of 1-butene with a variety of metal catalysts, and the investigation of a new catalyst for C=H bond activation

Catalytic dimerization of 1-butene by a variety of catalysts is carried out, and the products are analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Catalysts based on cobalt and iron can produce highly linear dimers, with the cobalt-based dimers exceeding 97 % linearity. Catalysts based on vanadium and aluminum prefer to make branched dimers, which are most often methyl-heptenes in the case of vanadium and almost exclusively 2-ethyl-1-butene in the case of aluminum. The vanadium catalyst also produces substantial amounts of dienes and alkanes, suggesting a competing hydrogenation/dehydrogenation pathway that appears to involve vinyl Cbond;H bond activation. Nickel catalysts are generally less selective than those based on iron or cobalt for making linear dimers, but they can make dimers with 60 % linearity. The major by-products for the nickel systems are trisubstituted internal olefins. An important side reaction that must be considered for dimerization reactions is 1-butene isomerization to 2-butene, which makes recycling the butene difficult for a linear dimerization process. Aluminum, iron, and vanadium systems promote very little isomerization, but nickel and cobalt systems tend to isomerize the undimerized substrate heavily.     

C-H activation and C=C double bond formation reactions in iridium ortho-methyl arylphosphane complexes

The Vaska-type iridium(I) complex [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2-MeC(6)H(4))}(2)] (1), characterized by an X-ray diffraction study, was obtained from iridium(III) chloride hydrate and PPh(2)(2,6-MeRC(6)H(3)) with R=H in DMF, whereas for R=Me, activation of two ortho-methyl groups resulted in the biscyclometalated iridium(III) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)] (2). Conversely, for R=Me the iridium(I) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)] (3) can be obtained by treatment of [IrCl(COE)(2)](2) (COE=cyclooctene) with carbon monoxide and the phosphane in acetonitrile. Compound 3 in CH(2)Cl(2) undergoes intramolecular C-H oxidative addition, affording the cyclometalated hydride iridium(III) species [IrHCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}] (4). Treatment of 2 with Na[BAr(f) (4)] (Ar(f)=3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)) gives the fluxional cationic 16-electron complex [Ir(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)][BAr(f) (4)] (5), which reversibly reacts with dihydrogen to afford the delta-agostic complex [IrH(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}][BAr(f)(4)] (6), through cleavage of an Ir-C bond. This species can also be formed by treatment of 4 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] or of 2 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] through C-H oxidative addition of one ortho-methyl group, via a transient 14-electron iridium(I) complex. Heating of the coordinatively unsaturated biscyclometalated species 5 in toluene gives the trans-dihydride iridium(III) complex [IrH(2)(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-MeC(6)H(3)CH=CHC(6)H(3)Me-2,6)PPh(2)}][BAr(f) (4)] (7), containing a trans-stilbene-type terdentate ligand, as result of a dehydrogenative carbon-carbon double bond coupling reaction, possibly through an iridium carbene species.     

Osmium-mediated C--H and C--C bond cleavage of a phenolic substrate: p-quinone methide and methylene arenium pincer complexes

The diphosphine 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)OH (1) reacts with [OsCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] in presence of an excess of triethylamine to yield the isomeric para-quinone methide derivatives [Os{4-(CH(2))-1-(O)-2,6-(CH(3))(2)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(H)(PPh(3))] (2 and 3), which differ in the positions of the mutually trans hydride and chloride ligands. Complex 2 reacts with CO to afford the dicarbonyl species [Os{1-(O)-2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(CO)(2)] (4), which results from hydride insertion into the quinonic double bond. Protonation of 2 and 3 leads to the formation of the methylene arenium derivative [Os{4-(CH(2))-1-(OH)-2,6-(CH(3))(2)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(H)(PPh(3))][OSO(2)CF(3)] (5 a). The diphosphine 1 reacts with [OsCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] at 100 degrees C under H(2) to afford [Os{1-(OH)-2,6-(CH(3))(2)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(H(2))(PPh(3))] (6), a PCP pincer complex resulting formally from C(sp(2))--C(sp(3)) cleavage of the C--CH(3) group in 1. C--C hydrogenolysis resulting in the same complex is achieved by heating 2 under H(2) pressure. Reaction of the diphosphine substrate with [OsCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] under H(2) at lower temperature allows the observation of a methylene arenium derivative resulting from C--H activation, [Os{4-(CH(2))-1-(OH)-2,6-(CH(3))(2)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(2)(H)] (7). This compound reacts with PPh(3) in toluene to afford the ionic derivative [Os{4-(CH(2))-1-(OH)-2,6-(CH(3))(2)-3,5-(iPr(2)PCH(2))(2)C(6)}(Cl)(H)(PPh(3))]Cl (5 b). X-ray diffraction studies have been carried out on compounds 2, 3, 4, 5 b, 6, and 7, which allows the study of the structural variations when going from methylene arenium to quinone methide derivatives.