Catalytic chain transfer in free-radical polymerizations

Correlation of Metal Spin-State in α-Diimine Iron Catalysts with Polymerization Mechanism

The alpha-diimine iron complexes, (R',R'')[N,N]FeCl(2) ((R',R'')[N,N] = R'-N=CR' '-CR' '=N-R', where R' = tert-butyl (tBu), cyclohexyl (Cy) and R' ' = phenyl (Ph), para-fluorophenyl (F-Ph), para-bromophenyl (Br-Ph), para-methylphenyl (Me-Ph), or para-methoxyphenyl (MeO-Ph)), are found to polymerize styrene through a catalytic chain transfer (CCT) mechanism. Magnetic moment measurements indicate that Fe(III) complexes containing these ligands possess intermediate (S = 3/2) spin-state iron centers. In contrast, Fe(III) complexes bearing proton (R' ' = H) and para-dimethylaminophenyl (R' ' = NMe(2)-Ph) substituents are high-spin and are efficient atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) catalysts. Hammett plots show a linear correlation of the substituent constant, sigma, with polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight, respectively.

Syntheses and characterization of organo-group 14 cobaloxime compounds

Reactions of cobaloxime Na[(t-BuPy)Co(DH)2] with Ph3ECl (E = Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) were investigated. Metal-metal bonded complexes (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2EPh3 were isolated for E = Sn and Pb. (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2SnPh3.(C2H5)2O, C39H52CoN5O5Sn, crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c (Z = 4) with unit cell dimensions a = 11.6443(6) A, b = 15.6085(8) A, c = 22.6354(12) A, beta = 96.634(1) degrees , and V = 4086.4(4) A3 at 295(2) K. The structure resembled those of six-coordinate alkyl cobaloxime complexes and had Co-NPy and Co-Sn distances of 2.056(2) and 2.5568(3) A, respectively. (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2PbPh3, C35H42CoN5O4Pb, crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n (Z = 4) with unit cell dimensions a = 15.0104(7) A, b = 15.7693(8) A, c = 16.6230(8) A, beta = 114.348(1) degrees , and V = 3584.8(3) A3 at 295(2) K. The complex was nearly isostructural with the Sn analogue and had Co-NPy and Co-Pb distances of 2.049(2) and 2.6191(4) A, respectively. Coupling of the ortho phenyl protons to the spin 1/2 isotopes of Sn and of Pb was a characteristic feature of the 1H NMR spectrum. Additional, longer range couplings were observed for the Pb complex and for both complexes in the 13C NMR. Metal-metal bonded complexes were not obtained for E = Si or Ge. The products isolated in the latter case were the hydride Ph3GeH and the cobalt(II) complex (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2,C17H27CoN5O4, which crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (Z = 8). Unit cell dimensions were a = 17.9821(11) A, b = 9.7449(6) A, c = 22.7374(15) A, and V = 3984.4(4) A3 at 295(2) K. The five-coordinate complex had Co-NPy = 2.096(2) A and was dimeric in the lattice.

Synthesis and structure of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H and its oxidation by Ph3C+

The reaction of CpMo(CO)(dppe)Cl (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with Na+[AlH2(OCH2CH2OCH3)2]- gives the molybdenum hydride complex CpMo(CO)(dppe)H, the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical oxidation of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H in CH3CN is quasi-reversible, with the peak potential at -0.15 V (vs Fc/Fc+). The reaction of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H with 1 equiv of Ph3C+BF4- in CD3CN gives [CpMo(CO)(dppe)(NCCD3)]+ as the organometallic product, along with dihydrogen and Gomberg's dimer (which is formed by dimerization of Ph3C.). The proposed mechanism involves one-electron oxidation of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H by Ph3C+ to give the radical-cation complex [CpMo(CO)(dppe)H].+. Proton transfer from [CpMo(CO)(dppe)H].+ to CpMo(CO)(dppe)H, loss of dihydrogen from [CpMo(CO)(dppe)(H)2]+, and oxidation of Cp(CO)(dppe)Mo. by Ph3C+ lead to the observed products. In the presence of an amine base, the stoichiometry changes, with 2 equiv of Ph3C+ being required for each 1 equiv of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H because of deprotonation of [CpMo(CO)(dppe)H].+ by the amine. Protonation of CpMo(CO)(dppe)H by HOTf provides the dihydride complex [CpMo(CO)(dppe)(H)2]+OTf-, which loses dihydrogen to generate CpMo(CO)(dppe)(OTf).

Kinetics of hydrogen atom transfer from (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)(3)H to various olefins: influence of olefin structure

Treating (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)3H (1) or (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)3D (1-d(1)) with an excess of olefin containing the opposite isotope generally leads to H/D exchange, although hydrogenation is also observed in some cases. Application of an appropriate statistical correction to the observed exchange rate gives kH and kD, the rate constants for H* (D*) transfer from (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)(3)H (D) to various olefins. The values of kH and kD vary appreciably with the substituents on the double bond. Phenyl-substituted olefins accept H* more readily than do carbomethoxy-substituted olefins, although the latter accept H* more readily than do alkyl-substituted olefins. A methyl substituent on the incipient radical site increases k(H) at 323 K by a factor between 5 and 50. A methyl substituent on the carbon to which the H* is being transferred decreases kH substantially. On the whole, the rate constants for H* transfer reflect steric effects as well as the stability of the resulting carbon-centered radicals.

Relationship between One-Electron Transition-Metal Reactivity and Radical Polymerization Processes

Controlled radical polymerization has come along in leaps and bounds following the development of efficient transition-metal catalysts for atom-transfer radical polymerization. Another type of controlled radical polymerization process, namely organometallic radical polymerization, uses the reversible formation of metal-carbon bonds. Metals are also implicated in catalytic chain transfer, a process that involves the abstraction of hydrogen atoms. This Minireview discusses the importance of one-electron transition-metal reactivity in metal-mediated controlled radical polymerization processes.

Alpha-tocopherol amplifies benzoyl peroxide free radical decomposition in a chemical system

Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used in the treatment of acne, even though some adverse effects have been reported, probably mediated by the formation of peroxide-derived free radicals and the depletion of antioxidants. In the present work we have studied, in a chemical system, the effect of alpha-tocopherol on benzoyl peroxide radical decomposition to analyse the presence of an interaction between these two compounds, leading to an enhanced peroxide-cytotoxicity, as we have previously reported. Under our experimental conditions alpha-tocopherol strongly amplified the peroxide free radical decomposition occurring either in the presence or in the absence of UV irradiation, and lead to the formation of an unknown radical species in addition to benzoyloxy, phenyl and tocopheroxyl free radicals. The results of this study show that the enhancement of benzoyl peroxide toxicity in cells exposed simultaneously to this peroxide and alpha-tocopherol, is likely due to the generation of the detected radical species.

Carbon-to-Metal Hydrogen Atom Transfer: Direct Observation Using Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

We report the direct spectroscopic observation of hydrogen atom transfer reactions from carbon to metals, in which homolytic cleavage of a C-H bond is accomplished at a single metal center. Laser flash photolysis (355 nm) of a solution of [Cp(CO)2Os]2 leads to homolysis of the Os-Os bond and formation of the osmium-centered radical, Cp(CO)2Os*, as observed by time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy. DFT computations on Cp(CO)2Os* support this assignment. Continuous photolysis (lambda > 300 nm) of [Cp(CO)2Os]2 in the presence of excess 1,4-cyclohexadiene produces the osmium hydride Cp(CO)2OsH. The kinetics of this carbon-to-metal hydrogen atom transfer were examined by TRIR spectroscopy. The second-order rate constant for hydrogen atom transfer from 1,4-cyclohexadiene to Cp(CO)2Os* in hexane at 23 degrees C is kH = (2.1 +/- 0.2) x 106 M-1 s-1. The pKa of Cp(CO)2OsH was determined as 32.7 in CH3CN, and use of a thermochemical cycle provided an estimated lower limit of 82 kcal/mol for the Os-H bond dissociation energy, indicating that it is an exceptionally strong M-H bond. Photolysis of [Tp(CO)2Os]2 (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) results in carbon-to-metal hydrogen atom transfers from even stronger C-H bonds (THF or toluene) and produces Tp(CO)2OsH.