CP, Mendoza Á, Hernández Téllez G. (S)-(+)-1-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-N-[(4-methoxyphen-yl)methyl-idene]ethyl-amine and bis-{(S)-(+)-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-N-[(4-methoxyphen-yl)methyl-idene]ethyl-amine-κN}di-chlorido-palladium(II)

The (S)-(+)-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-N-[(4-methoxyphen-yl)methyl-idene]ethyl-amine ligand, C16H16BrNO, (I), was synthesized through the reaction of 4-meth-oxy-anisaldehyde with (S)-(-)-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)ethyl-amine. It crystallizes in the ortho-rhom-bic space group P212121 belonging to the Sohncke group, featuring a single mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit. The refinement converged successfully, achieving an R factor of 0.0508. The PdII com-plex bis-{(S)-(+)-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-N-[(4-methoxyphen-yl)methyl-idene]ethyl-amine-κN}di-chlorido-pal-ladium(II), [PdCl2(C16H16BrNO)2], (II), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 belonging to the Sohncke group, with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. The central atom is tetra-coordinated by two N atoms and two Cl atoms, resulting in a square-planar configuration. The imine moieties exhibit a trans configuration around the PdII centre, with average Cl-Pd-N angles of approximately 89.95 and 90°. The average distances within the palladium com-plex for the two mol-ecules are ∼2.031 Å for Pd-N and ∼2.309 Å for Pd-Cl.

A perspective of microemulsions in critical metal separation and recovery: Implications for potential application of CO2-responsive microemulsions

Since the discovery of microemulsions, they have attracted great attention due to its unique properties, such as ultra-low interfacial tension and nanoscale droplets. During the past several decades, microemulsions have shown unparalleled advantages in critical metal separation and recovery, e.g., high separation rate, high recovery efficiency, and good selectivity. Therefore, fundamental understandings of such metal recovery behavior are of great significance for the continuous development of microemulsion-based separation technology in this field. Herein, we first systematically reviewed the application of regular microemulsion in the separation and recovery process of critical metals focusing on their separation mechanisms. Then, we summarized the recent progress of CO2-responsive microemulsions and highlighted their potential application in critical metal separation and recovery, aiming to provide some insights into alleviating the difficulties in demulsification during the stripping stage using regular microemulsions. In this section, the latest development of CO2-responsive microemulsions is introduced, and the relationship between their composition, microstructure and macroscopic properties is discussed. Discussion and future perspectives are provided highlighting the design of new microemulsions and potential application of CO2-responsive microemulsions for metal separation and recovery in the future.

Amine-Imine Nickel Catalysts with Pendant O-Donor Groups for Ethylene (Co)Polymerization

The introduction of a secondary interaction is an efficient strategy to modulate transition-metal-catalyzed ethylene (co)polymerization. In this contribution, O-donor groups were suspended on amine-imine ligands to synthesize a series of nickel complexes. By adjusting the interaction between the nickel metal center and the O-donor group on the ligands, these nickel complexes exhibited high activities for ethylene polymerization (up to 3.48 × 10⁶ g_PE·mol_Ni^-1·h^-1) with high molecular weight up to 5.59 × 10⁵ g·mol^-1 and produced good polyethylene elastomers (strain recovery (SR) = 69-81%). In addition, these nickel complexes can catalyze the copolymerization of ethylene with vinyl acetic acid, 6-chloro-1-hexene, 10-undecylenic, 10-undecenoic acid, and 10-undecylenic alcohol to prepare the functionalized polyolefins.

Amphiphilic Polyethylene-b-poly(L-lysine) Block Copolymer: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Responsivity

Polyethylene-b-polypeptide copolymers are biologically interesting, but studies of their synthesis and properties are very few. This paper reports synthesis and characterization of well-defined amphiphilic polyethylene-block-poly(L-lysine) (PE-b-PLL) block copolymers by combining nickel-catalyzed living ethylene polymerization with controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine-N-carboxyanhydride (Z-Lys-NCA) and sequential post-functionalization. Amphiphilic PE-b-PLL block copolymers self-assembled into spherical micelles with a hydrophobic PE core in aqueous solution. The pH and ionic responsivities of PE-b-PLL polymeric micelles were investigated by means of fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV-circular dichroism, and transmission electron microscopy. The variation of pH values led to the conformational alteration of PLL from α-helix to coil, thereby changing the micelle dimensions.

Late Transition Metal Catalysts with Chelating Amines for Olefin Polymerization

Polyolefins are the most consumed polymeric materials extensively used in our daily life and are usually generated by coordination polymerization in the polyolefin industry. Olefin polymerization catalysts containing transition metal–organic compound combinations are undoubtedly crucial for the development of the polyolefin industry. The nitrogen donor atom has attracted considerable interest and is widely used in combination with the transition metal for the fine-tuning of the chemical environment around the metal center. In addition to widely reported olefin polymerization catalysts with imine and amide donors (sp2 hybrid N), late transition metal catalysts with chelating amine donors (sp3 hybrid N) for olefin polymerization have never been reviewed. In this review paper, we focus on late transition metal (Ni, Pd, Fe, and Co) catalysts with chelating amines for olefin polymerization. A variety of late transition metal catalysts bearing different neutral amine donors are surveyed for olefin polymerization, including amine–imine, amine–pyridine, α-diamine, and [N, N, N] tridentate ligands with amine donors. The relationship between catalyst structure and catalytic performance is also encompassed. This review aims to promote the design of late transition metal catalysts with unique chelating amine donors for the development of high-performance polyolefin materials.

Photoresponsive Palladium and Nickel Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization and Copolymerization

In this contribution, we install an azobenzene functionality in olefin polymerization catalysts and use light to modulate their properties via photoinduced trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety. The initially targeted azobenzene-functionalized α-diimine palladium and nickel catalysts are not photoresponsive. To address this issue, an imine-amine system bearing interrupted conjugation with the metal center, and a sandwich-type α-diimine system bearing an azobenzene unit at a position covalently far from the metal center were prepared and studied. We demonstrate that light can be used to tune their properties in ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar comonomers, enabling light-induced control of the polymerization processes, polymer microstructures and polymer properties. More interestingly, the light-mediated property changes were attributed to ligand electronic effects in one system and ligand steric effects in the other.

Combining hydrogen bonding interactions with steric and electronic modifications for thermally robust α-diimine palladium catalysts toward ethylene (co)polymerization

Thermally robust α-diimine palladium catalysts are highly active for ethylene (co)polymerization at high temperatures by steric and electronic modifications in combination with hydrogen bonding interactions.

A ferrocene-templated Pd-bearing molecular reactor

High-yield, chromatography-free syntheses of a ferrocene-templated molecular cage and its Pd-bearing derivative are presented. The formation of a symmetric cage-type structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Pd-bearing cage was used as an innovative catalyst for the efficient synthesis of 1,1'-biphenyls under mild conditions. The presented catalyst is reusable and 1,1'-biphenyls can be obtained efficiently in a gram scale process.

Living (co)polymerization of ethylene and bio-based furfuryl acrylate using dibenzobarrelene derived α-diimine palladium catalysts

Living (co)polymerizations of petroleum-based ethylene and bio-based furfuryl acrylate were realized using dibenzobarrelene-derived α-diimine palladium catalysts.

High Temperature, Living Polymerization of Ethylene by a Sterically-Demanding Nickel(II) α-Diimine Catalyst

Catalysts that employ late transition-metals, namely Ni and Pd, have been extensively studied for olefin polymerizations, co-polymerizations, and for the synthesis of advanced polymeric structures, such as block co-polymers. Unfortunately, many of these catalysts often exhibit poor thermal stability and/or non-living polymerization behavior that limits their ability to access tailored polymer structures. Due to this, the development of catalysts that display controlled/living behavior at elevated temperatures is vital. In this manuscript, we describe a Ni α-diimine complex that is capable of polymerizing ethylene in a living manner at temperatures as high as 75 °C, which is one of the highest temperatures reported for the living polymerization of ethylene by a late transition metal-based catalyst. Furthermore, we will demonstrate that this catalyst’s living behavior is not dependent on the presence of monomer, and that it can be exploited to access polyethylene-based block co-polymers.

Synthesis and characterization of α-diamine palladium complexes and insight into hybridization effects of nitrogen donor atoms on norbornene (co)polymerizations

Hybridization effects of nitrogen donor atoms showed that the α-diamine palladium catalyst more easily produced highly active Pd²⁺cations for norbornene (co)polymerization.

Regioselective living polymerization of allylcyclohexane and precise synthesis of hydrocarbon block copolymers with cyclic units

Regioselective living polymerization of allylcyclohexane was catalyzed by a bulky α-diimine nickel catalyst. Well-defined hydrocarbon block copolymers with cyclic units were constructed by sequential monomer addition.

Nickel and palladium complexes with fluorinated alkyl substituted α-diimine ligands for living/controlled olefin polymerization

Living/controlled olefin polymerization is displayed by novel nickel and palladium diimine catalysts with fluorinated tails.

Copolymerization of norbornene and butyl methacrylate at elevated temperatures by a single centre nickel catalyst bearing bulky bis(α-diimine) ligand with strong electron-withdrawing groups

Bis(α-diimine) single nickel(ii) catalyst with strong electron-withdrawing group was applied to catalyze polymerization and copolymerization of norbornene and butyl methacrylate.