A catalytically relevant intermediate in the synthesis of cyclic polymers from alkynes.

A tungsten metallacyclopentadiene complex is generated upon treating a trianionic pincer tungsten alkylidyne with dipropargyl fluorene. The metallacyclopentadiene initiates the polymerization of alkynes to give cyclic polyacetylenes via ring expansion polymerization (REP).

Syntheses of Molybdenum Adamantylimido and t-Butylimido Alkylidene Chloride Complexes Using HCI and Diphenylmethylphosphine.

Reactions between Mo(N-t-Bu)2(CH2-t-Bu)2 or Mo(NAdamantyl)2(CH2CMe2Ph)2 and 3 equiv of HCl in the presence of 1 equiv of PPh2Me yield Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh2Me)Cl2 complexes, from which Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh2Me)(OAr)Cl complexes (OAr = a 2,6-terphenoxide) can be prepared. The Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh2Me)(OAr)Cl complexes were evaluated as cross-metathesis catalysts between cyclooctene and Z-1,2-dichloroethylene. The efficiencies of the test reaction for complexes in which OAr = OTPP, OHMT, OHIPT, or OHTBT (where OTPP is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenoxide, OHMT is hexamethylterphenoxide, OHIPT is hexaisopropylterphenoxide, and OHTBT is hexa-t-butylterphenoxide) maximize when OAr is OHMT or OHIPT. Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(PPh2Me)Cl2 is essentially inactive for the reaction between cyclooctene and Z-1,2-dichloroethylene. X-ray structural studies were carried out on Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)(PPh2Me)Cl2, Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(PPh2Me)(OHMT)Cl, Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)(Cl)(OHTBT)(PMe3), and [Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)(PMe3)(Cl)]2(µ-O), the product of the reaction between Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)(Cl)(OHTBT)(PMe3) and 0.5 equiv of water.

Introducing "Ynene" Metathesis: Ring-Expansion Metathesis Polymerization Leads to Highly Cis and Syndiotactic Cyclic Polymers of Norbornene.

Tungsten alkylidynes [CF3-ONO]W≡CC(CH3)3(THF)2 (1) and [(t)BuOCO]W≡CC(CH3)3(THF)2 (3) react with ethylene. Complex 1 reacts reversibly with ethylene to give the metallacyclobutene (2). Complex 3 reacts with ethylene to form the tethered alkylidene (4) featuring a tetraanionic pincer ligand. Complexes 1 and 3 initiate the polymerization of norbornene at room temperature. The polymerization of norbornene by 1 is not stereoselective, whereas 3 generates a highly cis and syndiotactic cyclic polynorbornene. Comparison of the intrinsic viscosity, radius of gyration, and elution time of the synthesized cyclic polynorbornene with those of linear analogues provides conclusive evidence for a cyclic topology.

A new ONO(3-) trianionic pincer ligand with intermediate flexibility and its tungsten alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes.

This report details the synthesis and characterization of the semi-flexible [ON(CH2)O]H3 (1) ligand and its W(vi)-alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes. The alkylidyne complex [ONH(CH2)O]W[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(t)Bu(O(t)Bu) (2) forms as a result of alcoholysis of 1 with ((t)BuO)3W[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(t)Bu. Complex 2 evolves to [ON(CH2)O]W[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(t)Bu(O(t)Bu) (3) through proton migration from the N atom of the pincer ligand to the W[triple bond, length as m-dash]Cα bond. Deprotonation of 2 or 3 with Ph3PCH2 affords the anionic alkylidyne {CH3PPh3}{[ON(CH2)O]W[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(t)Bu(O(t)Bu)} (4). Complex 4 exhibits pincer-ligand-centered reactivity with electrophiles (H(+), Me(+), and TMS(+)), in spite of its enhanced inorganic enamine interaction. Addition of 2 equiv. of HCl to 4 yields the W(vi)-neopentyl complex [ON(CH2)O]W(CH2(t)Bu)(O(t)Bu)(Cl) (5). MeOTf or TMSOTf addition to 4 generates the dianionic pincer ligated alkylidynes [ONR(CH2)O]W[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(t)Bu(O(t)Bu) (R = Me (6-Me); TMS (6-TMS)). Complexes 2-5 were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and combustion analysis. Complexes 4 and 5 were also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This work bridges the gap in the series involving W(vi)-alkylidynes ligated to the rigid [CF3-ONO](3-), and the flexible [O(CH2)N(CH2)O](3-) ligands. DFT computations permit comparison of the inorganic enamine effect within alkylidynes supported by all three trianionic-pincer type ONO ligands.