Main group metal polymerisation catalysts

With sustainability at the forefront of current polymerisation research, the typically earth-abundant, inexpensive and low-toxicity main group metals are attractive candidates for catalysis. Main group metals have been exploited in a broad range of polymerisations, ranging from classical alkene polymerisation to the synthesis of new bio-derived and degradable polyesters and polycarbonates via ring-opening polymerisation and ring-opening copolymerisation. This tutorial review highlights efficient polymerisation catalysts based on Group 1, Group 2, Zn and Group 13 metals. Key mechanistic pathways and catalyst developments are discussed, including tailored ligand design, heterometallic cooperativity, bicomponent systems and careful selection of the polymerisation conditions, all of which can be used to fine-tune the metal Lewis acidity and the metal-alkyl bond polarity.

Characterization of Highly Coordinated Allylgermanes: Pivotal Players for Enhanced Nucleophilicity and Stereoselectivity

Allylgermanes with a 4-, 5-, and 6-coordinated germanium center were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Cationic 6-coordinated group 14 allylmetals, which were hitherto assumed to be a transition-state structure of allylations, were successfully isolated. Forming high coordination states significantly enhanced the reactivity of the allylgermanes. In contrast to the 4-coordinated allylgermanes with low reactivity, the highly coordinated species readily reacted with several aldehydes. Furthermore, the high coordination states exerted a significant effect on the E/Z selectivity of allylation depending on external additives. The coordination structure had a dramatic influence on the electronic and steric environments around the Ge center, enabling the geometrically controlled allylation of aldehydes.

Rationale for the reactivity differences between main group and d0 transition metal complexes toward olefin polymerisation

In contrast to early transition metal complexes of d0 electron configuration, their main group metal analogues are usually poor catalysts for ethylene polymerisation due to their diminished tendency to insert ethylene into an M-R bond. Interestingly, we found that ring strain in the transition structure of the insertion reaction is most likely responsible to set the ease of the process. Ethylene insertion into an M-R bond requires a four-membered ring transition structure. Strain in a four-membered ring was shown to be dependent on the metal identity (transition or main group/d or p block). For early transition metals, due to the presence of empty valence d orbitals, the strain is negligible but, for main group metals, the strain is significant and so destabilizes the corresponding transition structure. Our claim gains support from investigation of ethylene insertion into an M-allyl bond. In this case, the relevant insertion preferentially passes through a six-membered ring transition structure with an accessibly low activation barrier. In contrast to four-membered ring transition structures, six-membered ones do not suffer significantly from ring strain, causing the insertion activation barrier to become independent of the metal identity. It becomes obvious from our study that this previously undisclosed factor should play the pivotal role in determining the reactivity of many catalysts.

Schiff-base -ate derivatives with main group metals: generation of a tripodal aluminate metalloligand

A new type of -ate derivatives is described, where the alkali metal exerts a strong influence on the final outcome.

Controlling the Coordination Sphere of Alkyllithiums Results in Selective Reactions with Allylic Amines

Described herein is a selective way to control the reaction of allylic amines with metalorganic bases depending on the amine handle as well as the metalorganic base is used. Depending on the number of coordinating groups within the amine handle either a selective carbometalation or deprotonation reaction can be performed. By changing the alkali metal within the base from lithium to either sodium or potassium, a change of chemoselectivity takes place and the reaction of piperidinoallylamine can be controlled.

Alkynes as Electrophilic or Nucleophilic Allylmetal Precursors in Transition-Metal Catalysis

Diverse late transition metal catalysts convert terminal or internal alkynes into transient allylmetal species that display electrophilic or nucleophilic properties. Whereas classical methods for the generation of allylmetal species often form stoichiometric by-products, the recent use of alkynes as allylmetal precursors enables completely atom-efficient catalytic processes to be carried out, including enantioselective transformations.

η(3) -Allyl coordination at tin(II)-reactivity towards alkynes and benzonitrile

We herein report the synthesis and characterization of a terphenyl-substituted Sn(II) allyl compound featuring an η(3)  coordination mode in solution and in the solid state. Two examples for the interesting reactivity of the allyl Sn(II) molecule are presented: Reactions with terminal alkynes result in the formation of tricyclic compounds by CC bond formation and the dimerization of two Sn moieties whereas the reaction with benzonitrile leads to a sixteen-membered ring system through CH activation.