Mechanochemical Formation,Solution Rearrangements,and Catalytic Behavior of a Polymorphic Ca/K Allyl Complex

Without solvents present, the often far-from-equilibrium environment in a mechanochemically driven synthesis can generate high-energy, non-stoichiometric products not observed from the same ratio of reagents used in solution. Ball milling 2 equiv. K[A’] (A’=[1,3-(SiMe₃)₂C₃H₃]⁻) with CaI₂ yields a non-stoichiometric calciate, K[CaA’₃], which initially forms a structure ( 1 ) likely containing a mixture of pi- and sigma-bound allyl ligands. Dissolved in arenes, the compound rearranges over the course of several days to a structure ( 2 ) with only η³-bound allyl ligands, and that can be crystallized as a coordination polymer. If dissolved in alkanes, however, the rearrangement of 1 to 2 occurs within minutes. The structures of 1 and 2 have been modeled with DFT calculations, and 2 initiates the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate and isoprene; for the latter, under the mildest conditions yet reported for a heavy Group 2 species (one-atm pressure and room temperature).