Preparation of silyl-terminated branched polyethylenes catalyzed by Brookhart's nickel diimine complex activated with hydrosilane/B(C6F5)3.

Brookhart's nickel α-diimine complex [(κ2-N,N-BIAN)NiCl2] (1) (where BIAN = {Ar-NAceN-Ar}, Ace = acenaphthen-1,2-diyl, and Ar = 2,6-(iPr)2-C6H3) activated with a hydrosilane/B(C6F5)3 (SiHB) adduct forms a highly active catalytic system for ethylene polymerization. Under optimal conditions, the activity of the system depends on the nature of hydrosilane and decreases in the order R3SiH > Ph2SiH2 > PhSiH3. The decrease in system activity within the hydrosilane series is correlated with increasing formation of Ni(I) species. In addition to their activation effect, hydrosilanes act as efficient chain termination/chain transfer agents, with the Si/Ni ratio controlling the molecular weight of the resulting polyethylene (PE). The use of Et3SiH generated elastomeric, highly branched polymers with a saturated chain-end, while systems using Ph2SiH2 and PhSiH3 led to branched end-functionalized PEs terminated with the hydrosilyl functionality (i.e. br-PE-SiPh2H or br-PE-SiPhH2).

"Activated Borane": A Porous Borane Cluster Polymer as an Efficient Lewis Acid-Based Catalyst.

Borane cluster-based porous covalent networks, named activated borane (ActB), were prepared by cothermolysis of decaborane(14) (nido-B10H14) and selected hydrocarbons (toluene, ActB-Tol; cyclohexane, ActB-cyHx; and n-hexane, ActB-nHx) under anaerobic conditions. These amorphous solid powders exhibit different textural and Lewis acid (LA) properties that vary depending on the nature of the constituent organic linker. For ActB-Tol, its LA strength even approaches that of the commonly used molecular LA, B(C6F5)3. Most notably, ActBs can act as heterogeneous LA catalysts in hydrosilylation/deoxygenation reactions with various carbonyl substrates as well as in the gas-phase dehydration of ethanol. These studies reveal the potential of ActBs in catalytic applications, showing (a) the possibility for tuning catalytic reaction outcomes (selectivity) in hydrosilylation/deoxygenation reactions by changing the material's composition and (b) the very high activity toward ethanol dehydration that exceeds the commonly used γ-Al2O3 by achieving a stable conversion of ∼93% with a selectivity for ethylene production of ∼78% during a 17 h continuous period on stream at 240 °C.

Luminescent Cationic Group 4 Metallocene Complexes Stabilized by Pendant N-Donor Groups.

Cationic group 4 metallocene complexes with pendant imine and pyridine donor groups were prepared as stable crystalline [B(C6F5)4]- salts either by protonation of the intramolecularly bound ketimide moiety in neutral complexes [(η5-C5Me5){η5-C5H4CMe2CMe2C(R)═N-κN}MCl] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; R = t-Bu, Ph) by PhNMe2H+[B(C6F5)4]- to give [(η5-C5Me5){η5-C5H4CMe2CMe2C(R)═NH-κN}MCl]+[B(C6F5)4]- or by chloride ligand abstraction from the complexes [(η5-C5Me5)(η5-C5H4CMe2CH2C5H4N)MCl2] (M = Ti, Zr) by Li[B(C6F5)4]·2.5Et2O to give [(η5-C5Me5)(η5-C5H4CMe2CH2C5H4N-κN)MCl]+[B(C6F5)4]-. Solid state structures of the new compounds were established by X-ray diffraction analysis, and their electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The cationic complexes of Zr and Hf, compared to the corresponding neutral species, exhibited significantly enhanced luminescence predominantly from triplet ligand-to-metal (3LMCT) excited states with lifetimes up to 62 µs and quantum yields up to 58% in the solid state. DFT calculations were performed to explain the structural features and optical and electrochemical properties of the complexes.

Hydrodehalogenation of organohalides by Et3SiH catalysed by group 4 metal complexes and B(C6F5)3.

Catalytic hydrodehalogenation (HDH) of aliphatic organohalides such as trifluorotoluenes by Et3SiH proceeds in the presence of readily available group 4 metal compounds: Cp'2MX2 (Cp' = η5-C5H5 or η5-C5Me5; X = F, Cl, or Me; M = Ti, Zr, or Hf), CpTiCl3 and TiCl4 with a catalytic amount of B(C6F5)3. The use of metallocenes in combination with the borane activator leads to a better selectivity of the reaction, i.e., suppression of Friedel-Crafts alkylations of arenes.

Hydrosilane-B(C6F5)3 adducts as activators in zirconocene catalyzed ethylene polymerization.

Hydrosilane-B(C6F5)3 adducts were found to activate zirconocene dihalides and generate ternary catalytic systems possessing moderate to high activity in ethylene polymerization to high density polyethylene (HDPE). The activation efficacy of the adducts increased with increasing hydride donor ability and decreased with steric crowding of the particular hydrosilane used. NMR investigation of the HSiEt3/B(C6F5)3/Cp*2ZrF2 system (Cp* = η(5)-C5Me5) revealed the formation of a stable intermediate [Cp*2ZrF(FSiEt3-κF)](+)[HB(C6F5)3](-), whereas a crucial role of the [HB(C6F5)3](-) anion as a hydride donor for generation of an active cationic zirconium hydride center was elucidated.

Synthetic transformations of a pendant nitrile moiety in group 4 metallocene complexes.

Functional group transformations at the group 4 metallocene framework have been demonstrated, which have provided relatively straightforward access to otherwise synthetically challenging derivatives. The pendant nitrile group in Ti and Zr metallocene complexes of the type [(η(5)-C5Me5)(η(5)-C5H4CMe2CH2CN)MCl2] was converted into an intramolecularly bound ketimido moiety by alkylation, which took place not only at the nitrile, but also at the metal centre. The choice of an alkylating reagent (alkyl/aryl lithium, Grignard reagent) was crucial: e.g., 2 equiv. of MeMgBr effected the alkylation only at the metal, yielding selectively complexes [(η(5)-C5Me5)(η(5)-C5H4CMe2CH2CN)MMe2], while the use of PhMgBr, PhLi, or MeLi instead gave selectively the ketimido complexes. Organyl lithium reagents were, however, not compatible with the titanocene derivatives. The metal-bound ketimides were subsequently cleaved off by the reaction with HCl, which afforded metallocene dichlorides with a pendant imino group. These compounds were easily protonated again at the nitrogen atom to produce a cationic iminium moiety. Aqueous hydrolysis of the imine or its respective hydrochloride proved to be viable in the case of Zr and it finally afforded a pendant ketone group attached to the zirconocene framework.

Si-H bond activation of alkynylsilanes by group 4 metallocene complexes.

The reactivity of variously substituted alkynylsilanes toward selected group 4 metallocene complexes was investigated. Reactions of the alkynylsilanes R(1)C(2)SiR(2)(2)H (R(1) = SiMe(3), R(2) = Me, 1; R(1) = SiMe(3), R(2) = Ph, 2; R(1) = SiMe(2)H, R(2) = Me, 5) with Cp(2)TiMe(2) (Cp = eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl) resulted, upon methyl group transfer to the silyl group, in the previously described titanocene alkyne complexes Cp(2)Ti(R(1)C(2)SiR(2)(2)R(3)) (R(1) = Me(3)Si, R(2) = R(3) = Me, 3; R(1) = HMe(2)Si, R(2) = R(3) = Me, 6) or the unreported complex 4 (R(1) = Me(3)Si, R(2) = Ph, R(3) = Me). The Cp(2)TiCl(2)/n-BuLi system yielded alkyne complexes 6 and 7 (R(1) = HMe(2)Si, R(2) = Me, R(3) = H); no alkyl group transfer was detected. On the other hand, reactions utilizing the Cp(2)ZrCl(2)/n-BuLi system afforded inseparable mixtures; however, complexes of the type Cp(2)Zr[R(1)C(2)SiMe(2)(n-Bu)] (R(1) = Me(3)Si, 8; R(1) = HMe(2)Si, 9) were detected. Cp(2)Hf(n-Bu)(2) reacted with the alkynylsilanes in a diverse way, depending on the substituents of the alkyne substrate. The reaction with an excess of alkyne 1 (R(1) = Me(3)Si, R(2) = Me) afforded only an intractable mixture, which contained Me(3)SiC(2)SiMe(2)(n-Bu) (10). Hafnacyclopentadienes 13-15 as precedented product types were obtained when alkyne 12 (R(1) = Ph, R(2) = Me) was used. In sharp contrast, the symmetrically substituted alkynes 5 (R(1) = HMe(2)Si, R(2) = Me) and H(2)PhSiC(2)SiPhH(2) (18) yielded the hitherto unknown Si-containing metallacycles 16 and 19. A reaction mechanism leading to these products was proposed and subsequently supported by DFT calculations. In addition, the reduction of Cp(2)HfCl(2) with magnesium in THF in the presence of alkynylsilanes was shown to be an alternative route to compounds 14-16 and 19. Presumably due to steric reasons, alkyne 1 could not form any of the product types described above. Nevertheless, it was utilized for the preparation of the PMe(3)-stabilized hafnocene alkyne complex 11.

Formation of a 1-zircona-2,5-disilacyclopent-3-yne: coordination of 1,4-disilabutatriene to zirconocene?

Alkyne under stress: a novel metallacycle containing one Zr atom, two Si atoms, and a C≡C bond has been prepared and its structure elucidated (Zr green, Si blue, C gray). According to X-ray data, spectral properties, and DFT calculations, the bonding situation in this compound is characterized as a 1-metalla-2,5-disilacyclopent-3-yne with a weak metal-triple-bond interaction.

Palladium catalysts supported on mesoporous molecular sieves bearing nitrogen donor groups: preparation and use in Heck and Suzuki C-C bond-forming reactions.

A series of supported catalysts is prepared by treatment of SBA-15-type mesoporous molecular sieve bearing [triple chemical bond]SiCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)NHCH(2)CH(2)NEt(2) groups with palladium(II) acetate. These catalysts are studied in Suzuki biaryl couplings and in Heck reactions to establish the influence of metal loading and innocent surface modifications (trimethylsilylation). The Suzuki reaction proceeded efficiently with model and practically relevant substrates; the catalyst performance increasing with an increasing degree of metalation (decreasing N/Pd ratio). Catalyst poisoning tests revealed that the reaction takes place in the liquid phase with the catalyst serving as a reservoir of active metal species and also as a stabilizing support once the reaction is performed. In the Heck reactions, on the other hand, the catalyst performance strongly changed with the reaction temperature and with the N/Pd ratio. The material with the lowest metal loading (0.01 mmol palladium per gram of material, N/Pd ratio ca. 100:1) proved particularly attractive in the Heck coupling, being highly active at elevated temperatures, recyclable, and capable of acting as a bifunctional catalyst (i.e., functioning without any external base.

1,2:5,6-Di-O-isopropyl-idene-α-d-3-glucofuranosyl (R(p))-2-(diphenyl-phosphino)ferrocene-1-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(30)H(32)O(7)P)], which is an inter-mediate in the synthesis of (R(p))-2-(diphenyl-phos-phino)ferrocene-1-carboxylic acid, crystallizes in the common chiral space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). In general, the mol-ecular geometry is very similar to that of the corresponding 2,1'-bis-(diphenyl-phosphino) congener. The ferrocene unit assumes a regular geometry with the proximal bulky substituents efficiently avoiding mutual spatial contacts. In the crystal, the mol-ecules participate in weak intra- and inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions.

[1-Dimethyl-silyl-2-phenyl-3-(η-tetra-methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)-prop-1-en-1-yl-κC](η-penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)titanium(III).

The title compound, [Ti(C(10)H(15))(C(20)H(26)Si)], was obtained from the reaction of [Ti{η(5):η(1)-C(5)Me(4)(CH(2))}(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))] with the alkynylsilane PhC(2)SiMe(2)H. The complex crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, which differ in the conformation of the propenyl unit, resulting in their having opposite helicity. No inter-molecular inter-actions or inter-actions involving the Si-H bond are present. The observed geometrical parameters are unexceptional compared to known structures of the same type.

Group-12 metal complexes with isomeric 1-(diphenylphosphino)-1'-[N-(pyridylmethyl)carbamoyl]ferrocenes: coordination polymers vs. finite multinuclear coordination assemblies.

The isomeric ferrocene phosphine-carboxamides, 1-(diphenylphosphino)-1'-{[N-(2-pyridyl)-methyl]carbamoyl}ferrocene (1) and 1-(diphenylphosphino)-1'-{[N-(4-pyridyl)methyl]carbamoyl}ferrocene (2) have been studied as ligands in group-12 metal bromide complexes. The reactions of 1 with CdBr2 x 4H2O and HgBr(2) at 1:1 mole ratio gave the discrete tetracadmium complex [Cd2(micro-Br)2(-1kappa2O,N2)2[micro-1kappa2O,N2:2kappaP-(C5H4N)CH2NHC(O)fcPPh2-CdBr3]2] (7; fc = ferrocene-1,1'-diyl) and the halogeno-bridged dimer [[Hg(micro-Br)Br(-kappaP)]2] (8), respectively. In the presence of acetic acid, the CdBr2-1 system furnished a zwitterionic complex featuring protonated 1 as the P-monodentate donor, [CdBr3[Ph2PfcC(O)NHCH2(C5H4NH)-kappaP]] x H2O (6 x H2O). Under neutral conditions, compound , whose terminal donor groups are better arranged for the formation of extended assemblies, gave rise to one-dimensional coordination polymers [MBr2[micro(P,N)-]](n) (M = Cd, 4; M = Hg, ). The crystal structures of 2 x H2O, its corresponding phosphine oxide (3 x H2O), and complexes 4, 5, 6 x H2O, and have been determined, revealing extensive hydrogen bonding interactions in the solid state.