Synthesis and structure of V(V) and Mn(III) NHC complexes supported by a tridentate bis-aryloxide-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

Vanadium (V) and manganese (III) metal complexes (2, [^tBu(OCO)]V(O)Cl; 3, [^tBu(OCO)]Mn(acac)), which are supported by a tridentate bis-aryloxide-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand ([^tBu(OCO)]²⁻[η³-O,C,O-{(3,5-di-tert-butyl-C₆H₂O)₂N₂C₃H₄}]²⁻) have been prepared and structurally characterized. Both complexes were efficiently synthesized in a straightforward and smooth manner involving the direct reaction of the imidazolinium proligand 1,3-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazolinium chloride 1, easily accessible in a two-step synthesis with an overall good yield, with (ⁱPrO)₃VO and Mn(acac)₃, respectively.     

Mixed-ligand iminopyrrolato-salicylaldiminato group 4 metal complexes: Optimising catalyst structure for ethylene/propylene copolymerisations

Treatment of MCl₃(OC₆H₃-2-^tBu-6-CHNC₆F₅)(THF) (M = Ti, Zr) with a variety of different potassium iminopyrrolate salts (K⁺[RNCHC₄H₃N]⁻), (R = phenyl, cyclo-hexyl, ethyl) afforded the corresponding titanium and zirconium mixed-ligand complexes MCl₂(N-O)(N-N). The molecular structures of TiCl₂(OC₆H₃-2-^tBu-6-CHNC₆F₅)(C₂H₅NCHC₄H₃N) (1c), TiCl₂(OC₆H₃-2-^tBu-6-CHNC₆F₅)(C₆H₁₁NCHC₄H₃N) (1b) and ZrCl₂(OC₆H₃-2-^tBu-6-CHNC₆F₅)(C₆H₁₁NCHC₄H₃N) (2b) show distorted octahedral geometries with trans-O⁻,N⁻/cis-Cl₂ arrangements. On activation with MAO the titanium (iminopyrrolato)(salicylaldiminato) complexes show excellent activities in ethylene polymerisation and are significantly more effective ethylene/propylene copolymerisation catalysts, both in terms of activity and propene incorporation, than either of the parent complexes. The ethylene-propylene copolymers show ca. 80% 1,2 regioselectivity and at high propylene incorporation tend towards an alternating structure.     

Synthetic and X-ray diffraction studies of borosiloxane cages [R′Si(ORBO)3SiR′] and the adducts of [BuSi{O(PhB)O}3SiBu] with pyridine or N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine

Eleven borosiloxane [R′Si(ORBO)₃SiR′] compounds where R′ = Bu^t and R = Ph (1), 4-PhC₆H₄ (2), 4-Bu^tC₆H₄ (3), 3-NO₂C₆H₄ (4), 4-CH(O)C₆H₄ (5), CpFeC₅H₄ (6), 4-C(O)CH₃C₆H₄ (7), 4-ClC₆H₄ (8), 2,4-F₂C₆H₃ (9), and R′ = cyclo-C₆H₁₁ and R = Ph (10), and 4-BrC₆H₄ (11) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, NMR), mass spectrometric and, for compounds where R′ = Bu^t and R = 4-PhC₆H₄ (2), 4-Bu^tC₆H₄ (3), 3-NO₂C₆H₄ (4), CpFeC₅H₄ (6) and 2,4-F₂C₆H₃ (9), X-ray diffraction studies. These compounds contain trigonal planar RBO₂ and tetrahedral R′SiO₃ units located around 11-atom “spherical” Si₂O₆B₃ cores. The dimensions of the Si₂O₆B₃ cores in compounds 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 are remarkably similar. The reaction between [Bu^tSi{O(PhB)O}₃SiBu^t] (1), and excess pyridine yields the 1:1 adduct [Bu^tSi{O(PhB)O}SiBu^t]. NC₅H₅ (12) while the reaction between 1 and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine in equimolar amounts affords a 2:1 borosiloxane:amine adduct [Bu^tSi{O(PhB)O}₃SiBu^t]₂ · Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂ (13). Compounds 12 and 13 were characterised with IR and (¹H, ¹³C and¹¹B) NMR spectroscopies and the structure of the pyridine complex 12 was determined with X-ray techniques.     

Effect of ketimide ligand for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization catalyzed by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes-MAO catalyst systems: Structural analysis for CpTiCl2(NCPh2)

Ligand effects on the catalytic activity [and norbornene (NBE) incorporation] for both ethylene polymerization and ethylene/NBE copolymerization using half-titanocenes (titanium half-sandwich complexes) containing ketimide ligand of type Cp′TiCl₂[NC(R¹)R²] [Cp′ = Cp (1), C⁵Me⁵ (Cp^∗, 2); R¹,R² = ^tBu,^tBu (a), ^tBu,Ph (b), Ph,Ph (c)]-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems have been investigated. CpTiCl₂[NC(^tBu)Ph] (1b) CpTiCl₂(NCPh₂) (1c), and Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) were prepared and identified; the structure of Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization increased in the order: 1a > 1b > 1c, suggesting that an electronic nature of the ketimide ligand affects the activity. However, molecular weight distributions for resultant (co)polymers prepared by 1b,c and by 2c-MAO catalyst systems were bi- or multi-modal, suggesting that the ketimide substituent plays a key role in order for these (co)polymerizations to proceed with single catalytically-active species. CpTiCl₂(NC^tBu₂) (1a) exhibited both remarkable catalytic activity and efficient NBE incorporation for ethylene/NBE copolymerization.     

Synthesis, reactivity and structural characterization of ytterbium complexes bearing a tridentate [O,N,N] Schiff base ligand

The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of ytterbium monochloride supported by tridentate Schiff base ligands are described. The metathesis reaction of anhydrous YbCl₃ with 1 equivalent of the sodium salt of a Schiff base, [{LNa(THF)}₂] (1) [LH = 3,5-Bu^t₂-2-(OH)-C₆H₂CHN-8-C₉H₆N], gave the ytterbium Schiff base monochloride complex L₂YbCl (2). Complex 2 reacted with NaOAr (OAr = OC₆H₃Bu^t-2-Me-4) in a 1:1 molar ratio to form the desired aryloxo derivative L₂Yb(OAr) (3). Complex 3 can also be prepared by the one-pot reaction of the Schiff base HL, n-BuLi, YbCl₃ and NaOAr in a 2:2:1:1 molar ratio. However, an unprecedented ytterbium aryloxide LL′Yb(OAr) (4) (L′ = 3,5-Bu^t₂-2-(O)C₆H₂CH(C₄H₉)-NH-8-C₉H₆N) can be isolated in low yield as a byproduct in the later case. Reaction of complex 2 with 1 equivalent of (CH₂CH-CH₂)MgBr in THF afforded the unexpected complex [Mg(H₂N-8-C₉H₆N)Cl(THF)₃]Br (5). Complexes 2-5 were fully characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction.     

Palladium complexes of multidentate pyrazolylmethyl pyridine ligands: Synthesis,structures and phenylacetylene polymerization

The compounds, 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (_MeNˆNˆN) (L1) and 2,6-bis(3,5-ditertbutylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (_tBuNˆNˆN) (L2), react with either [Pd(NCMe)₂Cl₂] or [Pd(COD)ClMe] to form the mononuclear palladium complexes [Pd(_MeNˆNˆN)Cl₂] (1), [Pd(_MeNˆNˆN)ClMe] (2), [Pd(_tBuNˆNˆN)Cl₂] (3) and [Pd(_tBuNˆNˆN)ClMe] (4). Reactions of 1, 2 and 4 with the halide abstractor, NaBAr₄ (Ar = 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃), led to the formation of stable tridentate cationic species [Pd(_MeNˆNˆN)Cl]⁺(5), [Pd(_MeNˆNˆN)Me]⁺ (6) and [Pd(_tBuNˆNˆN)Cl]⁺ (7) respectively. The analogous carbonyl linker cationic species [Pd{(3,5-Me₂pz-CO)₂-py}Cl]⁺ (9) and [Pd{(3,5-^tBu₂pz-CO)₂-py}Cl]⁺ (10), prepared by halide abstraction of the neutral complexes [Pd{(3,5-Me₂pz-CO)₂-py}Cl₂] and [Pd{(3,5-^tBu₂pz-CO)₂-py}Cl₂] by NaBAr₄, were however less stable with t_1/2 of 14 and 2 days respectively. Attempts to crystallize 1 and 3 from the mother liquor resulted in the isolation of the salts [Pd(_MeNˆNˆN)Cl]₂[Pd₂Cl₆] (11) and [Pd(_tBuNˆNˆN)Cl]₂[Pd₂Cl₆] (12). Although when complexes 1–4 were reacted with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) or NaBAr₄, no active catalysts for ethylene oligomerization or polymerization were formed, activation with silver triflate (AgOTf) produced active catalysts that oligomerized and polymerized phenylacetylene to a mixture of cis-transoidal and trans-cisoidal polyphenylacetylene.     

The effect that 6-tert-butoxyhexyl functionalization has on ethylene polymerization in ansa-zirconocene dichlorides

Ethylene polymerization studies have been carried out with novel precatalysts of the type: [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-X(t-BuOC₆H₁₂)Me-(η⁵-C₅H₄)]ZrCl₂ [X=C [1a], Si [2a]], [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-XMe₂-(η⁵-(t-BuOC₆H₁₂C₅H₃))] ZrCl₂ [X=C [3a], Si [4a]] in the presence of excess methylalumoxane (MAO) to compare their catalytic activity and to delineate the effect of the 6-t-butoxyhexyl functionality on ethylene polymerization. The precatalysts [1a] and [2a] with the bridge functionality showed higher activity in ethylene polymerization than the corresponding complexes [3a] and [4a] which have it on the Cp ring moiety. On the other hand the silyl bridged complexes [2a] and [4a] produced a higher molecular weight polyethylene than the carbon-bridged one, regardless of the location of functional group.     

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with Bu3M (M = Ga, In). Structures of intermediate products

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃M (M = Ga, In) have been studied. Trinuclear compounds [^tBu₅M₃(OC₆H₄O)₂] [M = Ga (1), M = In (2)] were synthesised in the reaction of 2 equiv. of C₆H₄(OH)₂ with 3 equiv. of ^tBu₃M in refluxing solvents. At room temperature the reaction of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃In in Et₂O leads to the formation of a binuclear complex [^tBu₄In₂(OC₆H₄OH)₂ · 2Et₂O] (3) possessing a four-membered In₂O₂ core and two unreacted hydroxyl groups. The same reaction carried out in a non-coordinating solvent (CH₂Cl₂) results in formation a compound [^tBu₃In₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] (4), which undergoes a reaction with ^tBu₃In to yield the product 2. Moreover two intermediate isomeric products 5 and 6 of formula [^tBu₃Ga₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] were isolated from the post-reaction mixture of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃Ga. The compound 6 possessing a different coordination of gallium atoms than 5 is a result of the intramolecular rearrangement of the compound 5 to decrease the steric repultion between ligands. Compounds 3 and 6 were structurally characterised. According to the structure of intermediate products 3-6 a reaction pathway of 1,2-catechols with group 13 metal trialkyls was proposed.     

Exploring organic reactions using simple cyclodiphosphazanes

Phosphine-activated reactions of alkynes/alkenes/allenes as well as the Mitsunobu reaction involve a rich phosphorus chemistry. With the aid of simple cyclodiphosphazanes, characterization of many compounds analogous to the proposed intermediates in such reactions has been accomplished. Use of a cyclodiphosphazane in Pd-catalyzed N-arylation reactions is highlighted. Results on molecular non-stoichiometry in phosphorus compounds and on the use of chiral phosphorus systems are discussed. Synthesis of allenylphosphoramides involving a cyclodiphosphazane is also described. X-ray structures of the new compounds [(t-BuNH)(PhCH₂CH(CN)CH₂-)P(μ-N-t-Bu)₂P(NH-t-Bu)]⁺[HCO₃]⁻ (13), [(t-BuNH)P(μ-N-t-Bu)₂P(N-t-Bu)-C(CH₂)CH(C₆H₄-4-Me)-P(O)(OCH₂CMe₂CH₂O)] (18), [(i-PrNH)P(μ-N-t-Bu)₂P(N-i-Pr)-N(CO₂-i-Pr)-NH(CO₂-i-Pr)] (24), [(S)-(2-OH-1-C₁₀H₆-1′-C₁₀H₆-2′-O-P(O)(NH-t-Bu)₂] (36) and [(t-BuNH)(O)P(μ-N-t-Bu)₂P(O)(CHCCMe₂)] (40) are also reported.     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviour of ansa-zirconocene complexes containing tetraphenylcyclopentadienyl rings: X-ray crystal structures of [Zr{Me2Si(η-C5Ph4)(η-C5H3R)}Cl2] (R = H, Bu)

The ansa-bis(cyclopentadiene) compounds, Me₂Si(C₅HPh₄)(C₅H₄R) (R = H (2); Bu^t (3)), have been prepared by the reaction of C₅HPh₄(SiMe₂Cl) (1) with Na(C₅H₅) or Li(C₅H₄Bu^t), respectively, and transformed to the di-lithium derivatives, Li₂{Me₂Si(C₅Ph₄)(C₅H₃R)} (R = H (4); Bu^t (5)), by the action of n-butyllithium. The ansa-zirconocene complexes, [Zr{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₃R)}Cl₂] (R = H (6); Bu^t (7)), were synthesized from the reaction of ZrCl₄ with 4 or 5, respectively. Compounds 6 and 7 have been tested in the polymerization of ethylene and compared with their methyl-substituted analogues, [Zr{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η⁵-C₅H₃R)}Cl₂] (R = H (8); Bu^t (9)). Whilst 8 and 9 are catalytically active, the tetraphenyl-substituted complexes 6 and 7 proved to be inactive in the polymerization of ethylene. This phenomenon has been explained by DFT calculations based on the reaction intermediates in the polymerization processes involving 6 and 7, which showed that the extraction of a methyl group from the zirconocene complex to form the cationic active specie is endothermic and therefore unfavourable.     

From lithium ketazides to isomeric silylketazine-rings - imine-enamine tautomerism

Di(tert-butylmethyl)ketazine (I) reacts with n-BuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio to give a monolithium salt (II). The reaction of II with ^tBu₂SiF₂ in n-hexane leads, even in a 1:1 molar ratio, to the formation of the isomeric five- and four-membered ring compounds 1 and 2. Compound 1 has an endocyclic imine and an exocyclic enamine unit. The opposite is found for 2. The acyclic monosubstitution product, ^tBu₂SiFCH₂-C^tBuN-NC^tBuCH₃ (III) could not be isolated. It reacts with the lithium ketazide to give 1 or 2. I is reformed. The reaction in THF yields only the four-membered ring 2. In a comparable reaction of the lithium ketazide and (H₃C)₂SiF₂, the substitution product 3 could be isolated. A possible formation mechanism for 2 includes an intermediate silene IV. Both compounds 1 and 2 react with H₃C-OH under cleavage of the endocyclic Si-N-bond to give the addition product 5. The reaction mechanism includes a hydrogen shift from a nitrogen atom to a carbon atom via an imine-enamine tautomerism. In a 2:1 molar ratio, n-BuLi and the di(tert-butylmethyl)-ketazine (I) form the dilithium salt, 6. Compound 6 crystallizes from THF as trimer with four imine and two enamine units. A seven-membered ring (7) isomeric to 1 and 2 is the result of the reaction of 6 with ^tBu₂SiF₂. Compound 7 contains one imine and one enamine unit in the ring skeleton.The comparable reaction of the (CH₃)₃Si-substituted dilithium-di(tert-butylmethyl)ketazide and ^tBu₂SiF₂ yields the five-membered ring compound 8 with one endocyclic imine and one exocyclic enamine unit.Quantum chemical calculations of 1, 2, 7 and the intermediate silene IV have been carried out and show a low energy difference between the cyclic silyl-ketazine isomers.     

2D and 3D supramolecular assemblies of double cyclopalladated azobenzenes realized by C-H?Cl-Pd, π?π and C-H?π interactions

The double cyclopalladated complex with azobenzene, μ-[(E)-1,2-diphenyldiazene-C^2,8, N^1,2]-di-[chloro(dimethylsulfoxide)palladium(II)]; (DMSO)PdCl(μ-C₆H₄NNC₆H₄)(DMSO)PdCl (1) and its analogous complex with DMF as ancillary ligand, (DMF)PdCl(μ-C₆H₄NNC₆H₄)(DMF)PdCl; μ-[(E)-1,2-diphenyldiazene-C^2,8,N^1,2]-di-[chloro(dimethylformamide)palladium(II)] (2a) were synthesized and the function of cyclopalladated moiety in molecular assembling in the solid state is illustrated by their crystal packings. The polymorphism of 2a and 2b is discussed. The crystal structures reveal assemblies with molecular components self-organized by C-H?Cl-Pd hydrogen bonds, π?π, and C-H?π interactions. The double cyclopalladated complexes of azobenzene, with two Pd-Cl moieties participating in the hydrogen bond formation and π-conjugated system involved in the π?π or C-H?π interactions, represent a new class of building blocks for construction of solid state supramolecular assemblies.     

Reactions of bis(tetrazole)phenylenes. Surprising formation of vinyl compounds from alkyl halides

The reactions of 1,2-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (1), 1,3-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (2), 1,4-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (3), 1,2-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (4), 1,3-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (5) and 1,4-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (6) with 1,2-dibromoethane were carried out by two different methods in order to synthesise pendant alkyl halide derivatives of the parent bis-tetrazoles. This lead to the formation of several alkyl halide derivatives, substituted at either N1 or N2 on the tetrazole ring, as well as the surprising formation of several vinyl derivatives. The crystal structures of both 1,2-[(2-vinyl)tetrazol-5-yl)]benzene (1-N,2-N′) (1b) and 1,3-bis[(2-bromoethyl)tetrazol-5-yl]benzene (2-N,2-N′) (5d) are discussed.     

Cyclometallated platinum(II) compounds with imine ligands derived from amino acids: Synthesis and oxidative addition reactions

The reactions of [PtMe₂(μ-SMe₂)]₂ with imines 4-ClC₆H₄CHNCHRCO₂Me (R = H (1a), Me (1b), ⁱPr (1c), CH₂C₆H₄(4’-OH) (1d), C₆H₅ (1e), CH₂C₆H₅(1f)) derived from natural amino acids produced under mild conditions cyclometallated platinum(II) compounds [PtMe{κ²-(C,N)-4-ClC₆H₃CHNCHRCO₂Me}(SMe₂)] (2a-2f). These compounds gave the corresponding phosphine derivatives [PtMe{κ²-(C,N)-4-ClC₆H₃CHNCHRCO₂Me}(PPh₃)] (3a-3f). The corresponding cyclometallated platinum(IV) compounds [PtMe₂I{κ²-(C,N)-4-ClC₆H₃CHNCHRCO₂Me}(PPh₃)] (4) arising from intermolecular oxidative addition of methyl iodide were obtained with a high degree of stereo selectivity. Analogous results were obtained for imine 2,6-Cl₂C₆H₃CHNCH(CH₂C₆H₅)CO₂Me (1g) in a process involving intramolecular oxidative addition of a C-Cl bond. The obtained compounds were fully characterized including structure determinations for compounds 3f, 4d and 4f.     

Some ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon ligands: syntheses, structures and extent of electronic communication in binuclear systems

The preparation of several ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon anions is reported. Deprotonation (KOBu^t) of [Ru(NCCH₂CN)(PPh₃)₂Cp]PF₆ (1) gives Ru{NCCH(CN)}(PPh₃)₂Cp (2), which adds a second [Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp]⁺ unit to give [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂(μ-NCCHCN)]⁺ (3). Attempted deprotonation of the latter to give the μ-NCCCN complex was unsuccessful. Similar chemistry with tricyanomethanide anion gives Ru{NCC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (4) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)CN}]PF₆ (5), and with pentacyanopropenide, Ru{NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (6) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)CN}]PF₆ (7). The Ru(dppe)Cp* analogues of 6 and 7 (8 and 9) were also prepared. Thermolysis of 6 (refluxing toluene, 12 h) results in loss of PPh₃ and formation of the binuclear cyclic complex {Ru(PPh₃)Cp[μ-NC{C(CN)C(CN)₂}CN]}₂ (10). The solid-state structures of 2-4 and 8-10 have been determined and the nature of the isomers shown to be present in solutions of the binuclear cations 7 and 9 by NMR studies has been probed using Hartree-Fock and density functional theory.     

Synthesis and evaluation of substituted pyrazoles palladium(II) complexes as ethylene polymerization catalysts

The substituted pyrazole palladium complexes, (3,5-^tBu₂pz)₂PdCl₂ (1) (3,5-Me₂pz)₂PdCl₂ (2), (3-Mepz)₂PdCl₂ (3) and (pz)₂PdCl₂ (4) (pzH=pyrazole), can be prepared from the reaction of (COD)PdCl₂ with the appropriate pyrazole. The chloromethyl derivative, (3,5-^tBu₂pz)₂PdCl(Me) (5), was prepared from (COD)PdClMe and ^tBu₂pzH. X-ray crystal structure determination of 1 and 5 established their structures in the solid state to be the trans-isomer. After activation of 1-4 and 5 with methylaluminoxane (MAO) the resulting palladium complexes were used as catalysts in ethylene polymerization, yielding linear high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The highest activity was observed for (3,5-^tBu₂pz)PdClMe.