Studies on the Coordination Patterns of Diamine-Bridged Tetraphenoxy Ligands with Group 3 and 4 Metals.

Alkane elimination reactions between the diamino- and dianilino-bridged tetrakis(phenolate) proligands 1a,b-H4 and precursors M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2, M(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)3 (M = Sc and Y), and Hf(CH2Ph)4 were investigated. The diamino-bridged 1a-H4 afforded nonsymmetric complex 2a-Y2 incorporating two metal centers in different coordination environments. This one and other dinuclear compounds 2b-Sc2, 2a-Hf2, and 2b-Hf2 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction study (for 2a-Y2 and 2b-Sc2) and turned out to be symmetric in solution. Compound 2a-Y2, upon treatment with 2 equiv of 2-phenylpyridine, afforded symmetric bis(aryl) product 3a-Y2, which was authenticated by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The mechanism of its formation was studied by DFT computations and presumably involves a cooperative reorganization process within the nonsymmetric parent 2a-Y2 to afford a symmetric isomer prior to its reaction with 2-phenylpyridine.

Rare-Earth Metal Complexes Supported by Polydentate Phenoxy-Type Ligand Platforms: C-H Activation Reactivity and CO2/Epoxide Copolymerization Catalysis.

Mono- and dinuclear group 3 metal complexes incorporating polydentate bis(imino)phenoxy {N2O}- and bis(amido)phenoxy {N2O}3- ligands were synthesized by alkane elimination reactions from the tris(alkyl) M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 and M(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)3 (M = Sc, Y) precursors. Complex 1a-Y was used for the selective C-H activation of 2-phenylpyridine at the 2'-phenyl position affording the corresponding bis(aryl) product 3a-Y, which was found to be reacted reluctantly with weak electrophiles (styrene, imines, hydrosilanes). The mechanism of formation of 3a-Y was established by DFT calculations, which also corroborated high stability of the complex toward insertion of styrene, apparently stemming from the inability to form the corresponding adduct. Copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2 promoted by 1a-Y (0.1-0.5 mol %) was demonstrated to proceed under mild conditions (toluene, 70 °C, PCO2 = 12 bar) giving polycarbonates with high efficiency (maximal TON of 460) and selectivity (97-99% of carbonate units).

Neutral and Cationic Zirconium Complexes Bearing Multidentate Aminophenolato Ligands for Hydrophosphination Reactions of Alkenes and Heterocumulenes.

Zirconium complexes supported by multidentate aminophenolato ligands were synthesized and characterized. The catalytic activities of neutral zirconium complexes and their cationic derivatives in the hydrophosphination of alkenes as well as heterocumulenes have been investigated and compared. Neutral complex 1 bearing a multidentate amino mono(phenolato) ligand exhibited high activity in hydrophosphination of simple alkenes, and anti-Markovnikov products were obtained in 37-94% yields at room temperature. Cationic species generated in situ from complex 3 stabilized by a bis(phenolato) ligand were found to be more active for hydrophosphination of heterocumulenes, i.e., carbodiimides and isocyanates, and gave phosphaguanidines and phosphaureas in 67-93% yields. The Lewis acidity and coordination space of metal centers are modified through changes in the ligand structure, which is found to significantly influence catalytic activity. These complexes are among the most active group 4 metal-based catalysts for hydrophosphination reactions.

Heterobimetallic rare earth metal-zinc catalysts for reactions of epoxides and CO2 under ambient conditions.

Four homodinuclear rare earth metal (RE) complexes 1-4 bearing a multidentate diglycolamine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand were synthesized. In addition, seven heterobimetallic RE-Zn complexes 5-11 were prepared through a one-pot strategy. In these heterobimetallic complexes, two RE centers are bridged by either Zn(OAc)2 or Zn(OBn)2 moieties. All complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (in the case of diamagnetic complexes 1, 4, 7 and 11). Moreover, the multi-nuclear structures of complexes 4 and 11 in solution were also studied by 1H DOSY spectroscopy. These complexes were applied in catalyzing the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with epoxides. Zn(OAc)2- and Zn(OBn)2-bridged heterobimetallic complexes showed comparable catalytic activities under ambient conditions and were more active than monometallic RE complexes. Significant synergistic effect in heterobimetallic complexes is observed. Mono-substituted epoxides were converted into cyclic carbonates under 1 atm CO2 at 25 °C in 88-96% yields, whereas di-substituted epoxides reacted under 1 atm CO2 at higher temperatures in 40-80% yields.