Stable rac-[1,2-Ethylene-1,1‘-bis(η5-tetrahydroindenyl)]- zirconacyclopentanes. Syntheses, X-ray Crystal Structures, Stability, and Catalysis of Ethylene Polymerization

In Situ UV-Vis-NIR Absorption Spectroscopy and Catalysis

This review highlights in situ UV-vis-NIR range absorption spectroscopy in catalysis. A variety of experimental techniques identifying reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and structural properties are discussed. Stopped flow techniques, use of laser pulses, and use of experimental perturbations are demonstrated for in situ studies of enzymatic, homogeneous, heterogeneous, and photocatalysis. They access different time scales and are applicable to different reaction systems and catalyst types. In photocatalysis, femto- and nanosecond resolved measurements through transient absorption are discussed for tracking excited states. UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopies for structural characterization are demonstrated especially for Cu and Fe exchanged zeolites and metalloenzymes. This requires combining different spectroscopies. Combining magnetic circular dichroism and resonance Raman spectroscopy is especially powerful. A multitude of phenomena can be tracked on transition metal catalysts on various supports, including changes in oxidation state, adsorptions, reactions, support interactions, surface plasmon resonances, and band gaps. Measurements of oxidation states, oxygen vacancies, and band gaps are shown on heterogeneous catalysts, especially for electrocatalysis. UV-vis-NIR absorption is burdened by broad absorption bands. Advanced analysis techniques enable the tracking of coking reactions on acid zeolites despite convoluted spectra. The value of UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy to catalyst characterization and mechanistic investigation is clear but could be expanded.

Extension of the Simmons-Smith reaction to metal-carbynes: efficient synthesis of metallacyclopropenes with σ-aromaticity

The Simmons-Smith reaction offers a direct route for conversion of an alkene into a cyclopropane with a zinc carbenoid as the active intermediate. Zinc carbenoids, however, have never delivered a methylene unit to substrates with metal-carbon multiple bonds. Herein, we describe this type of reaction and the construction of three-membered rings has now been applied in organometallic systems by combining classical zinc carbenoid reagents with a range of structurally and electronically diverse metal carbynes. A variety of metallacyclopropene derivatives prepared in this way represent rare examples with σ-aromaticity in an unsaturated three-membered ring. The structures of such products are supported by experimental observations and theoretical calculations.

Advantages of Group 4 Metallocene Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene Complexes as Metallocene Sources Towards Other Synthetically used Systems

Active species for synthetic and catalytic applications are formed from well defined complexes or mixtures of compounds. For group 4 metallocenes, three pathways for the formation of the reactive complex fragment [Cp'2M] are known: (i) reductive mixtures and well defined complexes which are able to form the metallocene fragments either by (ii) addition or (iii) substitution reactions. In this account for each of theses systems (i)-(iii) a prominent example will be discussed in detail, (i) the Negishi reagent Cp2ZrCl2/n-BuLi, (ii) bis(η5 : η1-pentafulvene) complexes and (iii) metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes, to show the advantages and the disadvantages for each of these methods for synthetic applications. This account summarizes some main advantages of group 4 metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes as metallocene generating agents over other synthetically used systems. For each of the special purposes, all described systems have advantages as well as disadvantages. The aim of this overview is to help synthetic chemists in selecting the most effective system on the basis of [Cp'2M] (M=Ti, Zr) for synthetic or catalytic puposes.

Synthesis of carborane-fused carbo- and heterocycles via zirconacyclopentane intermediates

Carborane-fused zirconacyclopentane serves as an important synthon for the preparation of a variety of carborane-fused carbo- and heterocycles via insertion and transmetalation reactions.

Crystal structure of bis-(η(5)-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)(2,3-di-ethyl-butane-1,4-di-yl)hafnium(IV)

The title compound, [Hf(C₅H₅)₂(C₈H₁₆)], proves a structural motif of hafna­cyclo­pentane besides the coordination of two cyclo­penta­dienyl ligands in an η⁵-fashion. The hafna­cyclo­pentane ring has a twist conformation and is substituted by two ethyl groups in the β,β′-positions, which are trans orientated to each other. One cyclo­penta­dienyl ring and one ethyl group are each disordered over two positions with site-occupancy ratios of 0.679 (15):0.321 (15) and 0.702 (18):0.298 (18), respectively.

Combination of spectroscopic methods: in situ NMR and UV/Vis measurements to understand the formation of group 4 metallacyclopentanes from the corresponding metallacyclopropenes

By reaction of the dichloride rac-(ebthi)HfCl(2) [ebthi = 1,2-ethylene-1,1'-bis(eta(5)-tetrahydroindenyl)] with lithium in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene, the hafnacyclopropene rac-(ebthi)Hf(eta(2)-Me(3)SiC(2)SiMe(3)) (1-Hf) was obtained. The reaction of the blue-green complex 1-Hf with an excess of ethylene at room temperature leads by insertion of the olefin to the yellow-green hafnacyclopentene 2-Hf which is only stable in solution and eliminates the alkyne at 100 degrees C under ethylene to form the corresponding yellow hafnacyclopentane 3-Hf, which was characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The reaction of 1-Hf to give stepwise via 2-Hf the complex 3-Hf was investigated in detail and compared to the formation and stability of the corresponding zirconacyclopropene 1-Zr, zirconacyclopentene 2-Zr, and zirconacyclopentane 3-Zr. Moreover, the reaction of the titanocene alkyne complex 1-Ti with ethylene was studied. For investigating the reaction behavior of the alkyne complexes 1-M, NMR spectroscopy was used and the results were compared with UV/vis spectroscopy, suggesting the existence of a bis-pi-complex prior to the formation of the hafnacyclopentene 2-Hf.

What do titano- and zirconocenes do with diynes and polyynes?

A thorough investigation of the reactions of diynes, R(C&tbd1;C)(2)R, and polyynes, R(C&tbd1;C)(n)()R, with titanocene and zirconocene was performed using the metallocene sources Cp(2)M(L)(eta(2)-Me(3)SiC&tbd1;CSiMe(3)) (M = Ti, L = -; M = Zr, L = THF, pyridine). The conversions show an array of different products generated in complexation, coupling, and cleavage reactions. These results include remarkable structures (e.g., five-membered metallacyclocumulenes) and reactions (e.g., C-C single-bond cleavage). In addition, the first C-C single-bond metathesis in homogeneous solution was discovered. The presented findings have been supported by theoretical studies.