Insertion Homo- and Copolymerization of Diallyl Ether

Recent Advancements in Mechanistic Studies of Palladium- and Nickel-Catalyzed Ethylene Copolymerization with Polar Monomers

The introduction of polar functional groups into polyolefin chain structures creates opportunities to enhance specific properties, such as adhesion, dyeability, printability, compatibility, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity, which widen the range of potential applications for these modified materials. Transition metal catalysts, especially late transition metals, have proven to be highly effective in copolymerization processes due to their reduced Lewis acidity and electrophilicity. However, when compared to the significant progress and summary of synthetic methods, there is a distinct lack of a comprehensive summary of mechanistic studies pertaining to the catalytic systems involved in ethylene copolymerization catalyzed by palladium and nickel catalysts. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in mechanistic studies of ethylene copolymerization with polar monomers catalyzed by late-transition-metal complexes. Experimental and computational methods were employed to conduct a detailed investigation of these organic and organometallic systems. It is mainly focused on ligand substitution, changes in binding modes, ethylene/polar monomer insertion, chelate opening, and β-H elimination. Factors that control the catalytic activity, molecular weight, comonomer incorporation ratios, and branch content are analyzed, these include steric repulsions between ligands and monomers, electronic effects arising from both ligands and monomers, and so on.

Synergistic effect of coordinating interface and promoter for enhancing ammonia synthesis activity of Ru@N-C catalyst

Triruthenium dodecacarbonyl (Ru3(CO)12) was applied to prepare the Ru-based ammonia synthesis catalysts. The catalyst obtained from this precursor exhibited higher activity than the other Ru salts owing to its unique atomic reorganization under mild temperatures. Herein, Ru3(CO)12 as a guest metal source incorporated into the pore of ZIF-8 formed the Ru@N-C catalysts. The results indicated that the Ru nanoparticle (1.7 nm) was dispersed in the confined N coordination environment, which can increase the electron density of the Ru nanoparticles to promote N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N bond cleavage. The promoters donate the basic sites for transferring the electrons to Ru nanoparticles, further enhancing ammonia synthesis activity. Ammonia synthesis investigations revealed that the obtained Ru@N-C catalysts exhibited obvious catalytic activity compared with the Ru/AC catalyst. After introducing the Ba promoter, the 2Ba-Ru@N-C(450) catalyst exhibited the highest ammonia synthesis activity among the catalysts. At 360 °C and 1 MPa, the activity of the 2Ba-Ru@N-C(450) is 16 817.3 µmol h-1 gRu-1, which is 1.1, 1.6, and 2 times higher than those of 2Cs-Ru@N-C(450) (14 925.4 µmol h-1 gRu-1), 2K-Ru@N-C(450) (10 736.7 µmol h-1 gRu-1), and Ru@N-C(450) (8604.2 µmol h-1 gRu-1), respectively. A series of characterizations were carried out to explore the 2Ba-Ru@N-C(450) catalysts, such as H2-TPR, XPS, and NH3-TPD. These results suggest that the Ba promoter played the role of an electronic and structural promoter; moreover, it can promote the NH3 desorption from the Ru nanoparticles.

Polar-Functionalized Polyethylenes Enabled by Palladium-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and Butadiene/Bio-Based Alcohol-Derived Monomers

Polar-functionalized polyolefins are high-value materials with improved properties. However, their feedstocks generally come from non-renewable fossil products; thus, it requires the development of renewable bio-based monomers to produce functionalized polyolefins. In this contribution, via the Pd-catalyzed telomerization of 1,3-butadiene and three types of bio-based alcohols (furfuryl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, and solketal), 2,7-octadienyl ether monomers including OC8-FUR, OC8-THF, and OC8-SOL were synthesized and characterized, respectively. The copolymerization of these monomers with ethylene catalyzed by phosphine-sulfonate palladium catalysts was further investigated. Microstructures of the resultant copolymers were analyzed by NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopy, revealing linear structures with incorporations of difunctionalized side chains bearing both allyl ether units and polar cyclic groups. Mechanical property studies exhibited better strain-at-break of these copolymers compared to the non-polar polyethylene, among which the copolymer E-FUR with the incorporation of 0.3 mol% displayed the highest strain-at-break and stress-at-break values of 940% and 35.9 MPa, respectively.

Mechanistic study to reveal steric and electronic aspects involved in the formation of microstructures during Pd-catalyzed olefin/divinyl formal copolymerization: reactivity to catalyst choice

The advancement of metal-catalyzed copolymers is a formidable challenge for achieving distinct catalytic properties to compete with existing plastic polymers in industrial commodities. Herein, we reveal the roles of electronic and steric environments in the thermodynamic preference of microstructures in ethylene/divinyl formal (DVF) co-polymerization using a Pd catalyst under mild conditions to accommodate the respective industrial applicabilities. The insertion products of DVF result in the alteration of the steric crowding, ultimately favoring the efficient formation of cyclic units having potential applications in the manufacture of high-strength fibers. More specifically, to achieve an improved yield of the end copolymer, we tuned the catalytic activity and regioselectivity through a variety of catalysts during ethylene-DVF co-polymerization. The naphthalene-bridged (P^O)PdMe catalyst was found to be promising in terms of the least hindered (buried volume of 47.8%) environment with the thermodynamic preference of 2,1-insertion with an energy of 5.1 kcal mol^-1 among all the Pd-metal based catalysts. The highest activity with moderate energy barriers of the proposed catalyst will open new avenues for achieving a variety of potential applications, which is typically not possible using existing polymerization techniques.

Dramatic differences in the conformational equilibria of chalcogen-bridged compounds: the case of diallyl ether versus diallyl sulfide

The conformational landscapes of diallyl ether (DAE) and diallyl sulfide (DAS) were investigated for the first time using rotational spectroscopy from 6-20 GHz supported by quantum mechanical calculations. A significant difference in the conformational distribution of these chalcogen-bridged compounds is predicted by theory at the B3LYP-D3(BJ)/aug-cc-pVTZ level as DAS has only one low energy conformer while DAE has up to 12 energy minima within 5 kJ mol^-1. This was confirmed by rotational spectroscopy as only transitions corresponding to the global minimum of DAS were observed while the spectrum of DAE was much richer and composed of features from the nine lowest energy conformers. To understand the effects that govern the conformational preferences of DAE and DAS, natural bond orbital and non-covalent interaction analyses were done. These show that unique orbital interactions stabilize several conformers of the ether making its conformational landscape more competitive than that of the sulfide. This is consistent with a bonding model involving decreased hybridization of the bridging atom as one moves down the periodic table which is confirmed by the experimental ground state structures of the lowest energy forms of DAE and DAS, derived using spectra of the ¹³C and ³⁴S substituted species in natural abundance.

Functional Polyethylenes by Organometallic-Mediated Radical Polymerization of Biobased Carbonates

Partly or fully renewable (co)polymers are gaining interest in both academia and industry. Polyethylene is a widely used polymer, classically derived from fossil fuels, with a high versatility stemming from the introduction of comonomers altering the mechanical properties. The introduction of renewable functionalities into this polymer is highly attractive to obtain functional, tunable, and at least partially renewable polyethylenes. We herein report the introduction of biosourced cyclic carbonates into polyethylene using organometallic-mediated radical polymerization under mild conditions. Molecular weights of up to 14 600 g mol^-1 with dispersities as low as 1.19 were obtained, and the cyclic carbonate content could be easily tuned by the ethylene pressure during the polymerization. As a proof of concept, the hydrolysis of the cyclic carbonates of a representative copolymer was explored, and it provided polyethylene-bearing vicinal diols, with a hydrolysis degree of 71%. Given the multitude of chemoselective modifications possible on cyclic carbonates as well as the fact that many allylic- and alkylidene-type cyclic carbonates are accessible from renewable resources, this work opens up an avenue for the design of functional and more sustainable polyethylenes.

Propylene homopolymerization and copolymerization with ethylene by acenaphthene-based α-diimine nickel complexes to access EPR-like elastomers

A series of acenaphthene-based α-diimine nickel complexes were synthesized and subsequently used for accessing branched EPR-like elastomers with different compositions and chain structures.

Custom-made polar monomers utilized in nickel and palladium promoted olefin copolymerization

In this review, the functions of custom-made polar monomers are insightfully emphasized in the preparation of functional polyolefins.

Mechanistic Studies for Palladium Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene with Vinyl Ethers

The mechanism of ethylene with vinyl ether (VE, CH2=CHOEt) copolymerization catalyzed by phosphine-sulfonate palladium complex (A) was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. On achieving an agreement between theory and experiment, it is found that the favorable 1,2-selective insertion of VE into the complex A originates from stronger hydrogen interaction between the oxygen atom of VE and the ancillary ligand of catalyst A. Additionally, VE insertion is easier into the ethylene pre-inserted intermediate than that into the catalyst to form the resultant copolymers with the major units of OEt in chain and minor units of OEt at the chain end. The effect of β-OEt and β-H elimination was explored to elucidate chain termination and the molecular weight of copolymers. Furthermore, a family of cationic catalysts has been demonstrated to copolymerize ethylene with VE along with our modified cationic complex B with higher incorporation of VE and reactivity in comparison with complex A, which was modelled computationally by increasing the strong interactions between the catalyst and monomer moiety. Other than VE, the activity of cationic complex B for copolymerization of vinyl chloride and methacrylate is also computed successfully.

Emerging Palladium and Nickel Catalysts for Copolymerization of Olefins with Polar Monomers

Transition-metal-catalyzed copolymerization of olefins with polar monomers represents a challenge because of the large variety of substrate-induced side reactions. However, this approach also holds the potential for the direct synthesis of polar functionalized polyolefins with unique properties. After decades of research, only a few catalyst systems have been found to be suitable for this reaction. Some major advances in catalyst development have been made in the past five years. This Minireview summarizes some of the recent progress in the extensively studied Brookhart and Drent catalyst systems, as well as emerging alternative palladium and nickel catalysts.

Sterically very bulky aliphatic/aromatic phosphine-sulfonate palladium catalysts for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers

Copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers with significantly high molecular weight and activity was achieved using bulky aliphatic/aromatic phosphine-sulfonate palladium catalysts.

Coordination–insertion polymerization of polar allylbenzene monomers

Utilization of polar allylbenzene allows for a much enhanced activity (9–6300 times) of polar allyl monomers in the coordination–insertion copolymerization.

Quasi-single-crystalline CoO hexagrams with abundant defects for highly efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation

Defects and structural long-range ordering have been recognized as two crucial characters for advanced electrocatalysts. However, these two features have rarely been achieved together. Herein, we report the preparation of single-crystalline CoO hexagrams and demonstrate their exceptional electrocatalytic properties for water oxidation. The quasi-single-crystalline CoO hexagrams, prepared at the critical phase transition point of β-Co(OH)2/Co(OH)F hexagrams, possess both abundant oxygen vacancies as defects and structural long-range ordering. The matching between the b-axis of Co(OH)F crystals and the a-axis of β-Co(OH)2 crystals is critical for the formation of the CoO hexagram single crystals. The quasi-single-crystalline CoO hexagrams with abundant defects are highly efficient for water oxidation by delivering a 10 mA cm-2 current density at a low overpotential of 269 mV in a 1 M KOH aqueous solution.

Cyclopolymerizations: Synthetic Tools for the Precision Synthesis of Macromolecular Architectures

Monomers possessing two functionalities suitable for polymerization are often designed and utilized in syntheses directed to the formation of cross-linked macromolecules. In this review, we give an account of recent developments related to the use of such monomers in cyclopolymerization processes, in order to form linear, soluble macromolecules. These processes can be activated by means of radical, ionic, or transition-metal mediated chain-growth polymerization mechanisms, to achieve cyclic moieties of variable ring size which are embedded within the polymer backbone, driving and tuning peculiar physical properties of the resulting macromolecules. The two functionalities are covalently linked by a "tether", which can be appropriately designed in order to "imprint" elements of chemical information into the polymer backbone during the synthesis and, in some cases, be removed by postpolymerization reactions. The two functionalities can possess identical or even very different reactivities toward the polymerization mechanism involved; in the latter case, consequences and outcomes related to the sequence-controlled, precision synthesis of macromolecules have been demonstrated. Recent advances in new initiating systems and polymerization catalysts enabled the precision syntheses of polymers with regulated cyclic structures by highly regio- and/or stereoselective cyclopolymerization. Cyclopolymerizations involving double cyclization, ring-opening, or isomerization have been also developed, generating unique repeating structures, which can hardly be obtained by conventional polymerization methods.

Direct Synthesis of Functionalized High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene by Copolymerization of Ethylene with Polar Monomers

The introduction of even a small amount of polar functional groups into polyolefins could excise great control over important material properties. As the most direct and economic strategy, the transition-metal-catalyzed copolymerization of olefins with polar, functionalized monomers represents one of the biggest challenges in this field. The presence of polar monomers usually dramatically reduces the catalytic activity and copolymer molecular weight (to the level of thousands or even hundreds Da), rendering the copolymerization process and the copolymer materials far from ideal for industrial applications. In this contribution, we demonstrate that these obstacles can be addressed through rational catalyst design. Copolymers with highly linear microstructures, high melting temperatures, and very high molecular weights (close to or above 1 000 000 Da) were generated. The direct synthesis of polar functionalized high-molecular-weight polyethylene was thus achieved.

Methylene-Bridged Bisphosphine Monoxide Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and Polar Monomers

A series of palladium complexes bearing a bisphosphine monoxide with a methylene linker, that is, [κ²-P,O-(R¹₂P)CH₂P(O)R²₂]PdMe(2,6-lutidine)][BAr^F₄] (Pd/BPMO), were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the homopolymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers. X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that these Pd/BPMO complexes exhibit significantly narrower bite angles and longer Pd-O bonds than Pd/BPMO complexes bearing a phenylene linker, while maintaining almost constant Pd-P bond lengths. Among the complexes synthesized, menthyl-substituted complex 3f (R¹ = (1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexan-1-yl; R² = Me) showed the best catalytic performance in the homo- and copolymerization in terms of molecular weight and polymerization activity. Meanwhile, complex 3e (R¹ = t-Bu; R² = Me) exhibited a markedly higher incorporation of comonomers in the copolymerization of ethylene and allyl acetate (≤12.0 mol %) or methyl methacrylate (≤0.6 mol %). The catalytic system represents one of the first examples of late-transition-metal complexes bearing an alkylene-bridged bidentate ligand that afford high-molecular-weight copolymers from the copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers.

Synthesis, characterization and olefin polymerization behaviors of phenylene-bridged bis-β-carbonylenamine binuclear titanium complexes

Binuclear and multinuclear complexes have attracted much attention due to their unique catalytic performances for olefin polymerization compared with their mononuclear counterparts. In this work, a series of phenyl-bridged bis-β-carbonylenamine [O⁻NS^R] (R = alkyl or phenyl) tridentate ligands and their binuclear titanium complexes (Ti²L₁–Ti²L₅) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of ligand L₂ (R = ⁿPr) and its corresponding Ti complex Ti²L₂ were further investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which showed that each titanium coordinated with six atoms to form a distorted octahedral configuration along with the conversion of the ligand from β-carbonylenamine to β-imino enol form. Under the activation of MMAO, these complexes catalyzed ethylene polymerization and ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization with extremely high activity (over 10⁶ g mol (Ti)⁻¹ h⁻¹ atm⁻¹) to produce high molecular weight polyethylene. At the same time, wider polydispersity as compared with the mononuclear counterpart TiL₆ was observed, indicating that two active catalytic centers may be present, consistent with the asymmetrical crystal structure of the binuclear titanium complex. Furthermore, these complexes possessed better thermal stability than their mononuclear analogues. Compared with the complexes bearing alkylthio sidearms, the complex Ti²L₅ bearing a phenylthio sidearm exhibited higher catalytic activity towards ethylene polymerization and produced polyethylene with much higher molecular weight, but with an appreciably lower 1-hexene incorporation ratio. Nevertheless, these bis-β-carbonylenamine-derived binuclear titanium complexes showed much higher ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization activity and 1-hexene incorporation ratios as compared with the methylene-bridged bis-salicylaldiminato binuclear titanium complexes, and the molecular weight and 1-hexene incorporation ratio could be flexibly tuned by the initial feed of α-olefin commoners and catalyst structures.

Phenyl-bridged bis-β-carbonylenamine binuclear titanium complexes were synthesized, characterized and used to catalyze ethylene (co)polymerization with extremely high activity.

In situ growth of ZIF-67 on a nickel foam as a three-dimensional heterogeneous catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation

Macroscopic three-dimensional NF/ZIF-67 efficiently catalyzed peroxymonosulfate activation.

Heteroatom-assisted olefin polymerization by rare-earth metal catalysts

Heteroatom-functionalized polyolefins are of fundamental interest and practical importance. This has spurred investigations of the copolymerization of polar and nonpolar olefins. We report the first syndiospecific polymerization of a series of heteroatom-containing α-olefins and their copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by half-sandwich rare-earth complexes. We have found that the interaction between a heteroatom in a functional α-olefin monomer and a rare-earth metal catalyst can significantly raise the olefin polymerization activity and thereby promote its copolymerization with ethylene. By using this heteroatom-assisted olefin polymerization (HOP) strategy, we have successfully synthesized a series of heteroatom (O, S, Se, N, and P)-functionalized polyolefins with high molecular weights and controllable functional monomer contents. The mechanistic aspect of the HOP process has been elucidated by computational studies. We expect that our findings will guide the design of new catalyst systems for the synthesis of various desired functional polyolefins.

Influence of Ligand Backbone Structure and Connectivity on the Properties of Phosphine-Sulfonate Pd(II)/Ni(II) Catalysts

Phosphine-sulfonate based palladium and nickel catalysts have been extensively studied in ethylene polymerization and copolymerization reactions. Previously, the majority of the research works focused on the modifications of the substituents on the phosphorous atom. In this contribution, we systematically demonstrated that the change of the ligand backbone from benzene to naphthalene could greatly improve the properties of this class of catalysts. In the palladium system, this change could increase catalyst stability and polyethylene molecular weights. In the nickel system, this change could dramatically increase the polyethylene molecular weights. Most interestingly, the change in the connectivity of phosphine and sulfonate moieties to the naphthalene backbone could also significantly influence the catalyst properties.