Main group complexes incorporating 1,3-bis(furyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazide ligands

Group 4 metal compounds incorporating the amide ligand, [N(SiMe2{C6H4-2-OMe})2](-)

The anisole-substituted silyl-amide anion, [N(SiMe2{C6H4-2-OMe})2](-) (L), has been used as a pincer-type ligand in coordination chemistry. X-ray diffraction data for the lithium salt shows a trimetallic structure consisting of two equivalents of Li(L) that sequester a molecule of LiCl. The potassium salt K(L) is dimeric in the solid-state with bridging amide ligands. Each structure shows chelation of both O-donor groups to the electropositive metal. In contrast, the titanium compound Ti(L)Cl3 is four-coordinate with a monodentate amide. The zirconium compound Zr(L)2Cl2 is monometallic with a six-coordinate metal and two N,O-bidentate amides.

Deactivation pathways of ethylene polymerization catalysts derived from titanium and zirconium 1,3-bis(furyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazide complexes

The stoichiometric reaction between the previously described lithium amide salts, LiN(SiMe2R)2 [Li{i}, R = furyl, Li{ii}, R = 2-methylfuryl] and titanium(iv)chloride at low temperature afforded the mono-amide compounds Ti{i}Cl3 (1a) and Ti{ii}Cl3 (1b). The analogous zirconium derivatives Zr{i}Cl3 (3a) and Zr{ii}Cl3 (3b) were accessed via the reaction of excess trimethylsilylchloride with the mixed tetra-amide species, Zr{i}(NMe2)3 (2a) and Zr{ii}(NMe2)3 (2b). The bis-amide complexes Ti{ii}2Cl2 (4b), Zr{i}2Cl2 (5a) and Zr{ii}2Cl2 (5b) were synthesized in a straightforward salt metathesis reaction employing two equivalents of Li{i} or Li{ii} with the metal salts, MCl4(THF)2. The reactivity of the halide compounds 1 and 3-5 with a variety of alkylating agents was studied, with ligand transfer from the transition-element to the main group metal-alkyl reagent being the predominant reaction pathway. The reaction of 4b with MeLi was, however, partially successful affording the titanium(III) complex, Ti{ii}2X (X = Cl/Me, 6b'); this compound was subsequently made as the pure chloride from the reaction of two equivalents of Li{iii} with TiCl3(THF)3. The targeted dialkyl species, Ti{ii}Me2 (7b), was successfully isolated from the reaction between the dichloride 4b and dimethylmagnesium. The molecular structures of 1a, 1b, [3a]2 [3b]2, 4b, 5b and 6b have been solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, indicating varying nuclearity of the complexes and hapticities for the amide ligands in the solid-state. The catalytic activity of selected complexes in the polymerization of ethylene is reported.