Dinuclear group IV metal complexes based on a bis(indenyl)-(E/Z)-stilbene platform: a potential prototype of "photoswitchable" catalysts for olefin polymerization.

The preparation of dizirconium complexes based on a novel bis(indenyl)-(E/Z)-stilbene platform was explored. Negishi coupling between the in situ-generated diorganozincates obtained from the respective o/m/p-(E/Z)-dibromostilbenes and the bromo-functionalized zirconocene (η5-Cp*)(η5-2-methyl-4-bromoindenyl)ZrCl2, or, alternatively, the preparation of bis(indene)stilbene pro-ligands {o/m/p-(E/Z)-BisIndSB}H2 through Negishi coupling of the corresponding dibromostilbenes with 4-bromoindene and subsequent metallation/transmetallation with Cp*ZrCl3 or Zr(NMe2)4, allowed the preparation of a series of dinuclear complexes. These were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy and some of them by iASAP-mass spectrometry and by X-ray diffraction studies. Experimental results were compared with DFT modelling of the targeted dinuclear complexes evidencing that the (E)-complexes are more stable by 7-11 kcal mol-1 than their (Z)-analogues. Thermal, uncontrolled isomerization of (Z)- to (E)-stilbene platform was observed experimentally for some systems, in the course of their synthesis, either from the (Z)-dibromostilbene reagent or on the dinuclear complexes resulting from the Negishi coupling. Photoisomerization of the (E)- and (Z)-{BisIndSB}H2 proligands and of complexes {o-(E)-BisIndSB}(Zr(NMe2)3)2 and {m-(E)-BisIndSB}(ZrCl2Cp*)2 was investigated under a variety of conditions. It proved effective for the proligands but induced decomposition of the dizirconium complexes. Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) computations were performed to identify unambiguously the nature of the observed absorption bands and account for decomposition of the complexes. Preliminary ethylene/1-hexene homo- and copolymerization investigations did not evidence putative cooperativity phenomena within these dinuclear systems nor significantly differentiated behavior between the (Z)- and (E)-isomers of a given type of complex under the reaction conditions investigated.

Hydrogenation of CO2 by a Bifunctional PC(sp3 )P Iridium(III) Pincer Complex Equipped with Tertiary Amine as a Functional Group.

Reversible hydrogen storage in the form of stable and mostly harmless chemical substances such as formic acid (FA) is a cornerstone of a fossil fuels-free economy. In the past, we have reported a primary amine-functionalized bifunctional iridium(III)-PC(sp3 )P pincer complex as a mild and chemoselective catalyst for the additive-free decomposition of neat formic acid. In this manuscript, we report on the successful application of a redesigned complex bearing tertiary amine functionality as a catalyst for mild hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid. The catalyst demonstrates TON up to 6×104 and TOF up to 1.7×104  h-1 . In addition to the practical value of the catalyst, experimental and computational mechanistic studies provide the rationale for the design of improved next-generation catalysts.

C 1-Symmetric {cyclopentadienyl/indenyl}-metallocene catalysts: synthesis, structure, isospecific polymerization of propylene and stereocontrol mechanism.

A series of new Me2Si-bridged cyclopentadiene/indene proligands {Me2Si(R2',5'2-R3',4'2-Cp)(R2,R4,R5,R6-Ind)H2} (1a-j) with various substitutions both on the indene and cyclopentadiene moieties was prepared. The corresponding C1-symmetric group 4 ansa-metallocene complexes (M = Zr, Hf), namely, {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(Ind)}ZrCl2 (2a-Zr), {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-Me,4-Ph-Ind)}MCl2 (2b-M), {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-Me,4-Ph,6-tBu-Ind)}ZrCl2 (2c-Zr), {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-Me,4-Ph,5-OMe,6-tBu-Ind)}MCl2 (2d-M), {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-R',4-(3',5'-tBu2,4'-OMe-C6H2),5-OMe,6-tBu-Ind)}ZrCl2, R' = Me (2e-Zr), R' = Et (2f-Zr), {Me2Si(2,5-Ph2-3,4-Me2-Cp)(2-Me,4-(3',5'-tBu2,4'-OMe-C6H2),5-OMe,6-tBu-Ind)}ZrCl2 (2g-Zr), {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-Me,4-(3',6'-tBu2-carbazol-4'-yl)-Ind)}ZrCl2 (2h-Zr), {Me2Si(2,5-Me2,3,4-iPr2-Cp)(2-Me,4-Ph-Ind)}ZrCl2 (2i-Zr), {Me2Si(2,5-Me2,3,4-iPr2-Cp)(2-Me,4-Ph,6-tBu-Ind)}ZrCl2 (2j-Zr) and {Me2Si(Me4Cp)(2-Me-4,5-[a]anthracene-Ind)}MCl2 (2k-Zr) were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The solid-state molecular structures of 2b-Zr, 2d-Zr, 2e-Zr, 2f-Zr, 2j-Zr and 2k-Zr were determined by X-ray crystallography. The zirconocene complexes, once activated with MAO in toluene solution, exhibited propylene polymerization activities at 60 °C up to 161 000 kg(PP) mol(Zr)-1 h-1, affording highly isotactic polypropylenes (iPP) with [m]4 up to 96.5% and Tm up to 157 °C. Also, metallocene complexes 2b-e-Zr were supported on SiO2-MAO and evaluated in slurry bulk propylene polymerization at 70 °C, producing iPPs with [m]4 = 91.7-96.6 mol% and low regiodefects (0.2-0.3 mol%) content, with productivities up to 636 000 kg(PP) mol(Zr)-1 h-1. DFT calculations allowed rationalizing a polymerization reaction mechanism occurring through "chain-stationary" enchainment with preference for 1,2-insertions.

Meso- and Rac-[bis(3-phenyl-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl)dimethylsilyl]zirconium Dichloride: Precatalysts for the Production of Differentiated Polyethylene Products with Enhanced Properties.

Ansa-zirconocene complexes are widely employed as precatalysts for olefin polymerization. Their synthesis generally leads to mixtures of their rac and meso isomers, whose separation is often problematic. In this contribution, we report on the synthesis of a novel silyl-bridged bis(indenyl)-based metallocene, and on the separation of its rac and meso isomers by simple recrystallization from toluene. The two complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO), have been used as precatalysts in ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization. Regardless of the reaction conditions, the meso complex outperformed its rac congener. A similar trend was observed by performing the process in the presence of the silica-supported versions of the complexes. This is remarkable, since meso metallocenes generally display lower activities than their rac analogues. Furthermore, the meso isomer generates polymer products that are more in line with the targets for the preparation of a bimodal PE grade made of a lower-MW high-density (HDPE) fraction and a higher-MW linear low-density (LLDPE) fraction.

{Cyclopentadienyl/Fluorenyl}-Group 4 ansa-Metallocene Catalysts for Production of Tailor-Made Polyolefins.

The development of new metallocene-based polymerization catalysts and innovative processes derived thereof still constitutes a challenge for the manufacturing of polyolefinic materials with tailored properties (e. g. particular microstructure or topology, ultra-high molecular weight, high melting transition, and their combinations) for contemporary commercial applications. This personal account summarizes our continuing endeavors to advance the family of industry-relevant stereoselective propylene polymerization catalysts based on C1 -symmetric group 4 ansa-metallocenes incorporating multi-substituted fluorenyl-cyclopentadienyl {Cp/Flu} ligands. Within the framework of this project, valuable structural and catalytic data, harvested both for neutral metallocenes and for metallocenium ion-pairs, have been used for rational design of more efficient catalytic systems, reluctant towards side reactions, and for providing new stereoregular value-added polymer materials.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions of CO2 with C2 H4 and Hydrosilanes towards Silyl Esters.

A series of in situ-prepared catalytic systems incorporating RuII precursors and bidentate phosphine ligands has been probed in the reductive carboxylation of ethylene in the presence of triethylsilane as reductant. The catalytic production of propionate and acrylate silyl esters was evidenced by high-throughput screening (HTS) and implemented in batch reactor techniques. The most promising catalyst systems identified were made of Ru(H)(Cl)(CO)(PPh3 )3 and 1,4-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)butane (DCPB) or 1,1'-ferrocene-diyl-bis(cyclohexylphosphine) (DCPF). A marked influence of water on the acrylate/propionate selectivity was noted. Turnover numbers [mol mol(Ru)-1 ] up to 16 for acrylate and up to 68 for propionate were reached under relatively mild conditions (20 bar, 100 °C, 0.5 mol % Ru, 40 mol % H2 O vs. HSiEt3 ). Possible mechanisms are discussed.

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).

Paraffin-Inert Atmospheric Solid Analysis Probe: A Fast and Easy Approach To Characterize Extremely Air-Sensitive Organometallic Complexes by Mass Spectrometry.

Rational characterization of most organometallic compounds is hampered by their high reactivity, in particular, toward oxygen and water. Mass spectrometry experiments require physical introduction of the sample in the ionization source. So, the main challenge is to transfer air-sensitive organometallic compounds from inert atmosphere to the ionization source. In this aim, we have developed an easy technique that allows the analysis of air-sensitive compounds using the atmospheric solid analysis probe (ASAP). This method consists of a glass capillary filled with the sample (solid or liquid) and sealed by a paraffin plug to maintain the inert sample until the ionization process. It is illustrated through the structural characterization of a new highly air-sensitive dinuclear zirconium complex supported by an original switchable stilbene platform.

A Theoretical Outlook on the Stereoselectivity Origins of Isoselective Zirconocene Propylene Polymerization Catalysts.

The first three insertion steps of propylene for isoselective metallocenes from the one-carbon-bridged cyclopentadienyl-fluorenyl {Cp/Flu} and silicon-bridged ansa-bis(indenyl) {SBI} families were computed by using a theoretical method implementing the B3PW91 functional in combination with solvent corrections incorporated with the Solvation Model based on Density (SMD) continuum model. For C1 -symmetric {Cp/Flu}-type metallocenes, two mechanisms of stereocontrol were validated theoretically: more facile and more stereoselective chain "stationary" insertion (or site epimerization backskip) and less stereoselective alternating mechanisms. For the C2 -symmetric {SBI}-type system, the computation results were in complete agreement with the sole operating chain migratory insertion mechanism. The thermochemical data obtained through the study were used to predict microstructures of polypropylenes by using three-parameter and one-parameter statistical models for the two metallocene systems, respectively. The calculated meso/rac pentad distributions were found to be in good agreement with those determined experimentally for isotactic polypropylene samples obtained at different polymerization temperatures.

Engineering of Syndiotactic and Isotactic Polystyrene-Based Copolymers via Stereoselective Catalytic Polymerization.

This contribution presents an updated overview of the different copolymers containing stereoregular polystyrene blocks. Special emphasis is placed on syndiospecific and isospecific copolymerization of styrene with co-monomers (ethylene and α-olefins, conjugated and non-conjugated dienes, styrene derivatives, etc.). The catalytic systems involved are described and the polymerization mechanisms are discussed. Alternative approaches (simultaneous, living, chain-transfer and graft copolymerization) and the resulting detailed structures and characteristics of the copolymers are also reported.

Conformationally dynamic titanium and zirconium cationic complexes of bis(naphthoxy)pyridine ligands: structure, "oscillation" and olefin polymerization catalysis.

Discrete ionic complexes {ONOSiMe2tBu}M(CH2Ph)((η6-Ph)CH2B(C6F5)3) (M = Ti, 2-Ti; Zr, 2-Zr) have been prepared from the parent neutral dibenzyl precursors and B(C6F5)3. Also, a neutral dichloro complex {ONOSiMe2tBu}ZrCl2(Me2NH) (3) was synthesized by the reaction of a proligand {ONOSiMe2tBu}H2 (1-H2) with (Me2N)2ZrCl2(DME). The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography (for 2-Zr and 3). In the solid state, both 2-Zr and 3 feature meso-like binding of the ligand. VT NMR studies of 2-Ti and 2-Zr revealed that the former species dissociates in solution to form an outer-sphere ion pair (OSIP) that features a complicated dynamic behavior, while the latter compound retains an inner-sphere ion pair (ISIP) structure that interconverts between Cs-symmetric (meso-like) and C1-symmetric (rac-like) conformations. The mechanism of this interconversion was assessed by DFT calculations and the corresponding barrier for the straightforward interconversion was calculated ().

Synthesis and structure of the first discrete dinuclear cationic aluminum complexes.

The reactions of the charge neutral dinuclear aluminum tetraalkyl complexes of di-Schiff base ligands, i.e. [AlMe2{ON}-R-{ON}AlMe2] (1a, R = 1,3-propylene; 1b, R = 1,3-cyclohexylene) with B(C6F5)3 and [H(Et2O)2](+)[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2](-) were investigated. When B(C6F5)3 was used as the cationizing agent (1 or 2 equiv. vs. Al), only monocationic dinuclear complexes [2a,b]+[MeB(C6F5)3]- were obtained. In contrast, with [H(Et2O)2](+)[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2](-), both mixed-dicationic [3a,b·(OEt2)2]2+[MeB(C6F5)3]-[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]- and homo-dicationic [3a,b·(OEt2)2]2+[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]-2 ion-pairs were prepared. All cationic complexes were characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (19)F and (11)B NMR spectroscopy, and an X-ray diffraction study was performed for [3b·(OEt2)2]2+[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]-2.

Highly Stereocontrolled Ring-Opening Polymerization of Racemic Alkyl ß-Malolactonates Mediated by Yttrium [Amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)] Complexes.

Yttrium [amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)]amido complexes have been used for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic alkyl ß-malolactonates (4-alkoxycarbonyl-2-oxetanones, rac-MLA(R) s) bearing an allyl (All), benzyl (Bz) or methyl (Me) lateral ester function. The nature of the ortho-substituent on the phenolate rings in the metal ancillary dictated the stereocontrol of the ROP, and consequently the syndiotactic enrichment of the resulting polyesters. ROP promoted by catalysts with halogen (Cl, Br)-disubstituted ligands allowed the first reported synthesis of highly syndiotactic PMLA(R) s (Pr ≥ 0.95); conversely, catalysts bearing bulky alkyl and aryl ortho-substituted ligands proved largely ineffective. All polymers have been characterized by (1) H and (13) C{(1) H} NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry and DSC analyses. Statistical and thermal analyses enabled the rationalization of the chain-end control mechanism. Whereas the stereocontrol of the polymerization obeyed a Markov first-order (Mk1) model for the ROP of rac-MLA(Bz) and rac-MLA(All) , the ROP of rac-MLA(Me) led to a chain end-control of Markov second-order type (Mk2). DFT computations suggest that the high stereocontrol ability featured by catalysts bearing Cl- and Br-substituted ligands does not likely originate from halogen bonding between the halogen substituent and the growing polyester chain.

Tandem C(sp(2))-OMe Activation/C(sp(2))-C(sp(2)) Coupling in Early Transition-Metal Complexes: Aromatic C-O Activation beyond Late Transition Metals.

We report on combined structural, kinetic, and computational studies unraveling the mechanism of a unique, highly selective intramolecular C(sp(2))-OMe cleavage/C(sp(2))-C(sp(2)) coupling tandem reaction in group 3 metal (Y and Sc) complexes of amidine-amidopyridinate ligands. The latter process represents a rare stoichiometric model of the nonredox cleavage of inert C(sp(2))-O bonds relevant to cross-coupling reactions of aromatic ethers catalyzed by late transition metals.

Heterobi- and -trimetallic Ion Pairs of Zirconocene-Based Isoselective Olefin Polymerization Catalysts with AlMe3.

The reactivity towards AlMe3 of discrete cationic ansa-zirconocenes 2 a,b that are ubiquitously used in isoselective propylene polymerization and based on [{Ph(H)C(3,6-tBu2-Flu)(3-tBu-5-Et-Cp)}ZrMe2)] {Cp-Flu} and rac-[{Me2Si-(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2}ZrMe2] {SBI} was scrutinized. The first example of a structurally characterized Group 4 metallocene AlMe3 adduct (3 b) is reported. In the presence of excess AlMe3, the {SBI}-based AlMe3 adduct 3 b undergoes a slow decomposition via C-H activation in a bridging methyl unit to yield a new species (4 b) with a trimetallic {Zr(µ-CH2)(µ-Me)AlMe(µ-Me)AlMe2} core. EXSY NMR data for the process 2 b⇄3 b→4 b suggest very rapid and reversible binding of an additional AlMe3 molecule onto AlMe3 adduct 3 b. The resulting heterotrimetallic species intermediates exchange of methyl groups between different metal centers and slowly undergoes the C-H activation reaction towards 4 b.

Beyond stereoselectivity, switchable catalysis: some of the last frontier challenges in ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters.

Metal-based catalysts and initiators have played a pivotal role in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, thanks to their high activity and remarkable ability to control precisely the architectures of the resulting polyesters in terms of molar mass, dispersity, microstructure, or tacticity. Today, after two decades of extensive research, the field is slowly reaching maturity. However, several challenges remain, while original concepts have emerged around new types or new applications of catalysis. This Review is not intended to comprehensively cover all of these aspects. Rather, it provides a personal overview of the very recent progress achieved in some selected, important aspects of ROP catalysis--stereocontrol and switchable catalysis. Hence, the first part addresses the development of new metal-based catalysts for the isoselective ROP of racemic lactide towards stereoblock copolymers, and the use of syndioselective ROP metal catalysts to control the monomer sequence in copolymers. A second part covers the development of ROP catalysts--primarily metal-based catalysts, but also organocatalysts--that can be externally regulated by the use of chemical or photo stimuli to switch them between two states with different catalytic abilities. Current challenges and opportunities are highlighted.

Scandium versus yttrium{amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)} complexes for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide and ß-butyrolactone.

Scandium and yttrium amide complexes Ln{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2)(THF)n (Ln = Sc, n = 0 or Y, n = 1; X = NMe2 or OMe; R(1) = Cumyl or p-Cl-Cumyl; R(2) = Me or Cumyl) were prepared by aminolysis of Ln[N(SiHMe2)2]3(THF) with the corresponding tetradentate diamino- or alkoxy-amino-bis(phenol) pro-ligands {ONXO(R1,R2)}H2. In the solid state and in toluene solution, the scandium complexes are monomeric and 5-coordinated, while the analogous yttrium complexes all bear an extra THF-coordinated molecule and are 6-coordinated. Sc{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2) complexes are single-site initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic lactide but are less active than their yttrium analogues Y{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2)(THF); also, in contrast to the latter ones, they are inactive in the ROP of the more demanding racemic ß-butyrolactone. On the other hand, the scandium amide complexes feature a significantly improved control over the ROP of lactide, yielding PLAs with much narrower molecular weight distributions (D(M) < 1.1 for Sc vs. 1.5-2.0 for Y). The yttrium complex with the very bulky o,p-dicumyl-substituted ligand is more heteroselective than its scandium analogue (P(r) = 0.88 vs. 0.83), while the opposite is observed with complexes based on p-methyl-substituted ligands (P(r) = 0.50 in toluene or 0.72-0.75 in THF for Y vs. P(r) = 0.75-0.83 for Sc in toluene). These reactivity and selectivity trends are rationalized by a much more sterically crowded coordination sphere in scandium than in yttrium complexes.

Exploring electronic versus steric effects in stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of lactide and ß-butyrolactone with amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)-yttrium complexes.

A series of methoxy-amino-bis(phenol)s (ONOO(R(1),R(2)))H(2) possessing on the phenol rings R(1) ortho substituents with variable steric and electronic properties (R(1)=CMe(2)Ph, 1; CMe(2)tBu, 3; CMe(2)(4-CF(3)C(6)H(4)), 5; CPh(3), 9; Cl, 10) has been synthesized and further reacted with [Y{N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(3)](THF)(2) to give cleanly the corresponding yttrium compounds [Y(ONOO(R(1),R(2))){N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(thf)(n)] (Y-x); the solid-state structures of Y-3 and Y-10 have been determined. These amido complexes have been used as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (LA) and rac-ß-butyrolactone (BBL) to provide heterotactically enriched poly(lactic acid)s (PLAs) and syndiotactically enriched poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)s (PHBs), respectively, by means of a chain-end control mechanism. Most of these polymerizations proceeded in a controlled fashion, giving polymers with narrow polydispersities and experimental molecular weights in good agreement with calculated values. The nature of the R(1) ortho substituents has a profound impact on the rates and, more spectacularly, on the stereocontrol of the polymerizations. The heterotactic stereocontrol in the ROP of rac-LA appears to be governed essentially by steric considerations; the larger the substituent, the higher the heterotacticity: R(1)=Cl (P(r)=0.56)≪CMe(3) (P(r)=0.80)≪CMe(2)Ph (P(r)=0.90)

Group 3 metal complexes supported by tridentate pyridine- and thiophene-linked bis(naphtholate) ligands: synthesis, structure, and use in stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide and beta-butyrolactone.

Scandium, yttrium and lanthanum amido complexes supported by tridentate bis(ortho-silyl-substituted naphtholate)-donor ligands ({ONO(SiPh3)}(2-) and {ONO(SitBuMe2)}(2-), donor = 2,6-pyridine; {OSO(SiPh3)}(2-), donor = 2,5-thiophene) have been prepared in high yields (72-96%) by reaction of the corresponding pro-ligand {OZO(SiR3)}H(2) and Ln[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](3)(THF)(n) precursor. The solid-state structures of {ONO(SiPh3)}La[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](THF) (3), {ONO(SitBuMe2)}Ln[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](THF) (Ln = Sc, 4; Y, 5) and {OSO(SiPh3)}Ln[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](THF) (Ln = Sc, 7; La, 9) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In all five complexes, the naphtholate rings twist in the same direction from the plane of the pyridine or thiophene linker, to give rise to C(s)-symmetric (non crystallographic) structures. Compounds are 1-9 single-site initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic lactide (rac-LA) at 20 degrees C, affording poly(lactides)s (PLAs) with relatively narrow polydispersities and molecular weights in good agreement with calculated values. When carried out in THF, the polymerizations afforded heterotactic-enriched PLAs (P(r) up to 0.93), while atactic polymers are formed in toluene. Compounds 1-3 and 7-9, having o-SiPh(3) substituents on the naphtholate rings, are also active for the ROP of racemic beta-butyrolactone at 20-50 degrees C, to form syndiotactic-enriched poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)s (PHBs) (P(r) up to 0.87) when using toluene as the solvent, whereas atactic polymers were obtained in THF. The nature of the metal center (Sc, Y, La), the central linker in the ligand framework (pyridine, thiophene), and the ortho-silyl substituent (SiPh(3), SiMe(2)tBu) significantly affect the degree of stereocontrol in those polymerizations.

On the initiation mechanism of syndiospecific styrene polymerization catalyzed by single-component ansa-lanthanidocenes.

The mechanism of the initiation step of styrene polymerization promoted by single-component ansa-lanthanidocene catalysts [{Cp'XMe(2)Flu'}Ln(R)(ether)(n)] (Cp' = C(5)H(4); Flu' = 9-C(13)H(8); X = C or Si; R = allyl = CH(2)CHCH(2) or alkyl = CH(2)SiMe(3); ether = THF or Et(2)O, n = 0,1) has been studied from a combined experimental/theoretical perspective. First, detailed (13)C NMR studies conducted on syndiotactic oligostyrenes prepared by chain-growth polymerization with [{C(5)H(4)CMe(2)Flu'}Nd(eta(3)-1,3-C(3)H(3)(SiMe(3))(2))]/Mg(nBu)(2) (1:50) have shown that the insertion of styrene in these lanthanidocene systems proceeds selectively in a secondary (2,1) fashion, both at the initiation and propagation steps. Next, DFT studies of styrene insertion have been carried out on three model compounds, [{Cp'CMe(2)Flu'}Eu(eta(3)-allyl)(thf)] (I), [{Cp'SiMe(2)Flu'}Eu(eta(3)-allyl)(thf)] (II), and [{Cp'CMe(2)Flu'}Eu(eta(1)-CH(2)SiMe(3))(thf)] (III), in order to rationalize the influence of the ansa bridge (CMe(2) vs. SiMe(2)) and that of the "active" R ligand (eta(3)-allyl vs. eta(1)-CH(2)SiMe(3)), previously noticed in styrene polymerization experiments. Dissociation of the THF molecule in precursor I appears not to be a rate-limiting step and proceeds readily. The steric hindrance between the phenyl ring of the incoming styrene monomer and the ancillary ligands (Cp', Flu'), induced by the change of either the bridge or the "active" R ligand, is proposed to control the reactivity of the complexes. In all cases, orientation of the styrene phenyl ring toward the most sterically opened Cp' ligand (as compared to Flu') and 2,1-insertion of styrene have been found to be the most thermodynamically and kinetically favorable pathway. Also, in all cases, insertion of the first styrene unit proceeds directly in the eta(3)-coordinated allyl group. The lack of activity of the ansa-dimethylsilylene allyl complex and of the ansa-isopropylidene alkyl complex appears to be mainly due to the thermodynamics of the insertion reaction rather than the height of the activation barrier.