Zirconocene Allyl Complexes: Dynamics in Solution, Reaction with Aluminum Alkyls, B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 -Induced Propene Insertion, and Density-Functional Calculations on Possible Formation and Reaction Pathways

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Zirconocene-Catalyzed Oligomerization of 1-Octene

Zirconocene-catalyzed coordination oligomerization of higher α-olefins is of theoretical and practical interest. In this paper, we present the results of experimental and theoretical study of α-olefin oligomerization, catalyzed by (η⁵-C₅H₅)]₂ZrX₂1/1′ and O[SiMe₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)]₂ZrX₂2/2′ (X = Cl, Me) with the activation by modified methylalymoxane MMAO-12 or by perfluoroalkyl borate [PhNMe₂H][B(C₆F₅)₄] (NB^F) in the presence and in the absence of organoaluminium compounds, Al(CH₂CHMe₂)₃ (TIBA) and/or Et₂AlCl. Under the conditions providing a conventional mononuclear reaction mechanism, 1′ catalyzed dimerization with low selectivity, while 2′ initiated the formation of oligomers in equal mass ratio. The presence of TIBA and especially Et₂AlCl resulted in an increase of the selectivity of dimerization. Quantum chemical simulations of the main and side processes performed at the M-06x/ DGDZVP level of the density functional theory (DFT) allowed to explain experimental results involving traditional mononuclear and novel Zr-Al₁ and Zr-Al₂ mechanistic concepts.

Catalyst Speciation During ansa-Zirconocene-Catalyzed Polymerization of 1-Hexene Studied by UV-vis Spectroscopy-Formation and Partial Re-Activation of Zr-Allyl Intermediates

Catalyst speciation during polymerization of 1-hexene in benzene or toluene solutions of the catalyst precursor SBIZr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂⁺ B(C₆F₅)₄⁻ (SBI = rac-dimethylsilyl-bis(1-indenyl)) at 23 °C is studied by following the accompanying UV-vis-spectral changes. These indicate that the onset of polymerization catalysis is associated with the concurrent formation of two distinct zirconocene species. One of these is proposed to consist of SBIZr-σ-polyhexenyl cations arising from SBIZr-Me⁺ (formed from SBIZr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂⁺ by release of AlMe₃) by repeated olefin insertions, while the other one is proposed to consist of SBIZr-η³-allyl cations of composition SBIZr-η³-(1-R-C₃H₄)⁺ (R = n-propyl), formed by σ-bond metathesis between SBIZr-Me⁺ and 1-hexene under release of methane. At later reaction stages, all zirconocene-σ–polymeryl cations appear to decay to yet another SBIZr-allyl species, i.e., to cations of the type SBIZr-η³-(x-R-(3-x)-pol-C₃H₃)⁺ (pol = i-polyhexenyl, x = 1 or 2). Renewed addition of excess 1-hexene is proposed to convert these sterically encumbered Zr-allyl cations back to catalytically active SBIZr-σ–polymeryl cations within a few seconds, presumably by initial 1-hexene insertion into the η¹- isomer, followed by repeated additional insertions, while the initially formed, less crowded allyl cations, SBIZr-η³-(1-R-C₃H₄)⁺ appear to remain unchanged. Implications of these results with regard to the kinetics of zirconocene-catalyzed olefin polymerization are discussed.

Heterobi- and -trimetallic Ion Pairs of Zirconocene-Based Isoselective Olefin Polymerization Catalysts with AlMe₃

The reactivity towards AlMe3 of discrete cationic ansa-zirconocenes 2 a,b that are ubiquitously used in isoselective propylene polymerization and based on [{Ph(H)C(3,6-tBu2-Flu)(3-tBu-5-Et-Cp)}ZrMe2)] {Cp-Flu} and rac-[{Me2Si-(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2}ZrMe2] {SBI} was scrutinized. The first example of a structurally characterized Group 4 metallocene AlMe3 adduct (3 b) is reported. In the presence of excess AlMe3, the {SBI}-based AlMe3 adduct 3 b undergoes a slow decomposition via C-H activation in a bridging methyl unit to yield a new species (4 b) with a trimetallic {Zr(μ-CH2)(μ-Me)AlMe(μ-Me)AlMe2} core. EXSY NMR data for the process 2 b⇄3 b→4 b suggest very rapid and reversible binding of an additional AlMe3 molecule onto AlMe3 adduct 3 b. The resulting heterotrimetallic species intermediates exchange of methyl groups between different metal centers and slowly undergoes the C-H activation reaction towards 4 b.

Zirconium-allyl complexes as resting states in zirconocene-catalyzed α-olefin polymerization

UV-vis spectroscopic data indicate that zirconocene cations with Zr-bound allylic chain ends are generally formed during olefin polymerization with zirconocene catalysts. The rates and extent of their formation and of their re-conversion to the initial pre-catalyst cations depend on the types of zirconocene complexes and activators used.

Zirconium allyl complexes as participants in zirconocene-catalyzed α-olefin polymerizations

In a search for the hitherto elusive catalyst resting state(s) of zirconocene-based olefin polymerization catalysts, a combination of UV/Vis and NMR spectrometric methods reveals that polymer-carrying cationic Zr allyl complexes make up about 90 % of the total catalyst concentration. Other catalyst species that take part in the polymerization process have to be generated from this allyl pool into which they appear to relapse rather frequently.

Structures and properties of nonchelated, d0 alkyl alkene complexes of the type [Cp2ZrMe(alkene)]+: elusive intermediates during Ziegler-Natta polymerizations of alkenes

Caught in the act: An alkyl alkene Zr(IV) complex (see picture; Cp = C(5)H(5)) has been synthesized and characterized for the first time. The alkene bonding mode is highly asymmetric, and C2 is quite carbocationic. There is also evidence for rotation about the C1-C2 bond. This extremely unusual complex provides an exemplar of previously unknown intermediates in Ziegler-Natta and carbocationic polymerization reactions of alkenes.

Metallocene-catalyzed alkene polymerization and the observation of Zr-allyls

Single-site polymerization catalysts enable exquisite control over alkene polymerization reactions to produce new materials with unique properties. Knowledge of catalyst speciation and fundamental kinetics are essential for full mechanistic understanding of zirconocene-catalyzed alkene polymerization. Currently the effect of activators on fundamental polymerization steps is not understood. Progress in understanding activator effects requires determination of fundamental kinetics for zirconocene catalysts with noncoordinating anions such as [B(C6F5)4]-. Kinetic NMR studies at low temperature demonstrate a very fast propagation rate for 1-hexene polymerization catalyzed by [(SBI)Zr(CH2SiMe3)][B(C6F5)4] [where SBI is rac-Me2Si(indenyl)2] with complete consumption of 1-hexene before the first NMR spectrum. Surprisingly, the first NMR spectrum reveals, aside from uninitiated catalyst, Zr-allyls as the sole catalyst-containing species. These Zr-allyls, which exist in two diastereomeric forms, have been characterized by physical and chemical methods. The mechanism of Zr-allyl formation was probed with a trapping experiment, leading us to favor a mechanism in which Zr-polymeryl undergoes beta-H transfer to metal without dissociation of coordinated alkene followed by sigma-bond metathesis to form H2 and Zr-allyl. Zr-allyl species undergo slow reactions with alkene but react rapidly with H2 to form hydrogenation products.

Chain epimerization during propylene polymerization with metallocene catalysts: mechanistic studies using a doubly labeled propylene

The mechanisms of chain epimerization during propylene polymerization with methylaluminoxane-activated rac-(EBTHI)ZrCl(2) and rac-(EBI)ZrCl(2) catalysts (EBTHI = ethylenebis(eta(5)-tetrahydroindenyl); EBI = ethylenebis(eta(5)-indenyl)) have been studied using specifically isotopically labeled propylene: CH(2)=CD(13)CH(3). These isospecific catalysts provide predominantly the expected [mmmm] pentads with [minus signCH(2)CD(13)CH(3)(-)] repeating units ((13)C NMR). Under relatively low propylene concentrations at 50 and 75 degreesC, where stereoerrors attributable to chain epimerization are prevalent, (13)C NMR spectra reveal (13)C-labeled methylene groups along the polymer main chain, together with [CD(13)CH(3)] units in [mmmr], [mmrr], and [mrrm] pentads and [CH(13)CH(3)] units in [mmmmmm] and [mmmmmr] heptads, as well as [mrrm] pentads. The isotopomeric regiomisplacements and stereoerrors are consistent with a mechanism involving beta-D elimination, olefin rotation and enantiofacial interconversions, and insertion to a tertiary alkyl intermediate [Zr-C(CH(2)D)((13)CH(3))P] (P = polymer chain), followed by the reverse steps to yield two stereoisomers of [Zr-CHDCH((13)CH(3))P] and [Zr-(13)CH(2)CH(CH(2)D)P], as well as unrearranged [Zr-CH(2)CD((13)CH(3))P]. The absence of observable [-CH(2)CH(13)CH(2)D-] in the [mrrm] pentad region of the (13)C NMR spectra provides evidence that an allyl/dihydrogen complex does not mediate chain epimerization.