Binuclear Heteroligated Titanium Catalyst Based on Phenoxyimine Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Ethylene (Co)polymerization

Bis-[C(sp3)-chelating] Ti2 catalysts supported by arylene-1,4-diyl-2,3-X2 bridges for olefin copolymerisation: X substituents impose conformational cooperative effects

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterisation and catalytic olefin polymerisation behaviour of a class of binuclear titanium bis(benzyl) complexes bearing bis-(pyridine-2-phenolate-6-methine)-[μ-(arylene-1,4-diyl-2,3-X2)] ligands [X2 = -C4H4- (1), F2 (2), H2 (3)], and mononuclear analogues, are described. These bimetallic catalyst frameworks are designed to exhibit a degree of conformational flexibility, which is regulated by steric effects and crucially permits tuning of intermetallic distances and geometry, yet their shape-persistent nature can also confer favourable entropic terms. Complexes 1-3 are characterised as two diastereomers [meso (RS) and rac (RR,SS)] in ratios of 1.32, 1.18 and 1.13 respectively, according to 1H NMR spectroscopy. In contrast to 3, [1H,1H]-ROESY experiments for 1 and 2 revealed that the X2 substituents can impose preferred conformations with syn orientations of Ti2 centres and benzyl groups, thus implying that the activated catalysts would present binding sites with the same direction of access. For ethylene-(1-octene) copolymerisation reactions, in conjunction with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4], catalyst 1 displayed superior efficiencies and produced polymers with higher Mw values and enhanced comonomer incorporation ratios (up to 41%), when compared with the mononuclear 5m (22%). These results are indicative of enhanced comonomer enchainment and cooperative reactivity by the Ti2 sites.

Coplanar binuclear group 4 post-metallocene complexes supported by chelating μ-(σ2-aryl) ligands: characterisation and olefin polymerisation catalysis

The report concerns expansion of the previously developed M-[O,N,C] [pyridine-2-phenolate-6-(σ-aryl)] catalyst system into rigid, coplanar bimetallic assemblies, which afford metal-metal distances that are predetermined yet amenable for cooperativity, as well as locked-in "syn" orientation of binding sites that offer the same direction of access for substrates. The binuclear complexes are generated in a regioselective manner to yield para hydrogen atoms (not ortho) at the central μ-aryl moiety, and have been characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The "anti" (showing opposite directions of access) and mononuclear analogues have also been prepared for comparison purposes. Six syn-type bimetallic derivatives of Ti, Zr and Hf have been characterised by X-ray crystallography, to reveal metal-metal separations of 6.3-6.7 Å. For ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerisation reactions in conjunction with trityl borate, the syn-Ti2 catalysts display superior efficiencies and produced polymers with higher Mw values than for the anti and mono-Ti congeners, thus indicating the possibility of favourable enchainment interactions and cooperative reactivity.

Crystal structure of 2,2′-(propane-1,3-dilylbis(azaneylylidene))bis(methanylylidene)bis(4-methylphenol), C19H22N2O2

C19H22N2O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 19.3063(4) Å, b = 5.83200(10) Å, c = 14.7996(3) Å, β = 92.715(1)°, V = 1664.48(6) Å3, Z = 4, R gt (F) = 0.0423, wR ref (F 2) = 0.1102, T = 100(2) K.

Synthesis and Cu(I)/Mo(VI) Reactivity of a Bifunctional Heterodinucleating Ligand on a Xanthene Platform

In an effort to probe the feasibility of a model of Mo-Cu CODH (CODH = carbon monoxide dehydrogenase) lacking a bridging sulfido group, the new heterodinucleating ligand LH₂ was designed and its Cu(I)/Mo(VI) reactivity was investigated. LH₂ ((E)-3-(((5-(bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthen-4-yl)imino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) features two different chelating positions bridged by a xanthene linker: bis(pyridyl)amine for Cu(I) and catecholate for Mo(VI). LH₂ was synthesized via the initial protection of one of the amine positions, followed by two consecutive alkylations of the second position, deprotection, and condensation to attach the catechol functionality. LH₂ was found to exhibit dynamic cooperativity between two reactive sites mediated by H-bonding of the catechol protons. In the free ligand, catechol protons exhibit H-bonding with imine (intramolecular) and with pyridine (intermolecular in the solid state). The reaction of LH₂ with [Cu(NCMe)₄]⁺ led to the tetradentate coordination of Cu(I) via all nitrogen donors of the ligand, including the imine. Cu(I) complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations. Cu(I) coordination to the imine disrupted H-bonding and caused rotation away from the catechol arm. The reaction of the Cu(I) complex [Cu(LH₂)]⁺ with a variety of monodentate ligands X (PPh₃, Cl^-, SCN^-, CN^-) released the metal from coordination to the imine, thereby restoring imine H-bonding with the catechol proton. The second catechol proton engages in H-bonding with Cu-X (X = Cl, CN, SCN), which can be intermolecular (XRD) or intramolecular (DFT). The reaction of LH₂ with molybdate [MoO₄]^2- led to incorporation of [Mo^VIO₃] at the catecholate position, producing [MoO₃(L)]^2-. Similarly, the reaction of [Cu(LH₂)]⁺ with [MoO₄]^2- formed the heterodinuclear complex [CuMoO₃(L)]^-. Both complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR, UV-vis, and HRMS. HRMS in both cases confirmed the constitution of the complexes, containing molecular ions with the expected isotopic distribution.

Methylene-Bridged Tridentate Salicylaldiminato Binuclear Titanium Complexes as Copolymerization Catalysts for the Preparation of LLDPE through [Fe]/[Ti] Tandem Catalysis

A novel tandem catalysis system consisted of salicylaldiminato binuclear/mononuclear titanium and 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes was developed to catalyze ethylene in-situ copolymerization. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with varying molecular weight and branching degree was successfully prepared with ethylene as the sole monomer feed. The polymerization conditions, including the reaction temperature, the Fi/Ti molar ratio, and the structures of bi- or mononuclear Ti complexes were found to greatly influence the catalytic performances and the properties of obtained polymers. The polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and high temperature 13C NMR spectroscopy, and found to contain ethyl, butyl, as well as some longer branches. The binuclear titanium complexes demonstrated excellent catalytic activity (up to 8.95 × 106 g/molTi·h·atm) and showed a strong positive comonomer effect when combined with the bisiminopyridyl Fe complex. The branching degree can be tuned from 2.53 to 22.89/1000C by changing the reaction conditions or using different copolymerization pre-catalysts. The melting points, crystallinity and molecular weights of the products can also be modified accordingly. The binuclear complex Ti2L1 with methylthio sidearm showed higher capability for comonomer incorporation and produced polymers with higher branching degree and much higher molecular weight compared with the mononuclear analogue.

Polymerization of phenylacetylenes by binuclear rhodium catalysts with different para-binucleating phenoxyiminato linkages

A binuclear rhodium catalyst 3b with a 2,5-phenyloxydiiminato linkage and an nbd ligand exhibits cooperative effects in terms of enhanced catalytic activity in the polymerization of phenylacetylene and its functional derivatives.

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.

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.

Synthesis of poly(α-olefins) containing rare short-chain branches by dinuclear Ni-based catalysts

Chain walking mechanism with regard to dinuclear Ni-based catalyst stereoisomers in the polymerization of α-olefins: the effects of bridge, backbone and ortho-substituents.

DFT study on 1,7-octadiene polymerization catalyzed by a non-bridged half-titanocene system

For (η⁵-C₅Me₅)TiCl₂(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)/MAO system, the selectivity of repeated insertion and intramolecular cyclization of 1,7-octadiene were explored in detail by DFT method.

Influence of ligand second coordination sphere effects on the olefin (co)polymerization properties of α-diimine Pd(ii) catalysts

A series of α-diimine ligands and their corresponding palladium complexes were synthesized and characterized.