Ligand-controlled insertion regioselectivity accelerates copolymerisation of ethylene with methyl acrylate by cationic bisphosphine monoxide-palladium catalysts

A General Enantioselective C-H Arylation Using an Immobilized Recoverable Palladium Catalyst

We herein report a general and efficient enantioselective C-H arylation of aryl bromides based on the use of BozPhos as the bisphosphine ligand and SP-NHC-PdII as recoverable heterogeneous catalyst. By exploiting the "release and catch" mechanism of action of the catalytic system, we used BozPhos as a broadly applicable chiral ligand, furnishing high enantioselectivities across all types of examined substrates containing methyl, cyclopropyl and aryl C-H bonds. For each reaction, the reaction scope was investigated, giving rise to 30 enantioenriched products, obtained with high yields and enantioselectivities, and minimal palladium leaching. The developed catalytic system provides a more sustainable solution compared to homogeneous systems for the synthesis of high added-value chiral products through recycling of the precious metal.

Density Functional Theory Analysis of the Copolymerization of Cyclopropenone with Ethylene Using a Palladium Catalyst

Density functional theory has been used to elucidate the mechanism of Pd copolymerization of cyclopropenone with ethylene. The results reveal that introducing ethylene and cyclopropenone to Pd catalyst is thermodynamically feasible and generates the α,β-unsaturated ketone unit (UnitA). Cis-mode insertion and Path A_1a are the most favorable reaction routes for ethylene and cyclopropenone, respectively. Moreover, cyclopropenone decomposition can generate CO in situ without a catalyst or with a Pd catalyst. The Pd-catalyzed decomposition of cyclopropenone exhibits a lower reaction barrier (22.7 kcal/mol) than its direct decomposition. Our study demonstrates that incorporating CO into the Pd catalyst can generate the isolated ketone unit (UnitB). CO is formed first; thereafter, UnitB is generated. Therefore, the total energy barrier of UnitB generation, accounting for the CO barrier, is 22.7 kcal/mol, which is slightly lower than that of UnitA generation (24.0 kcal/mol). Additionally, the possibility of copolymerizing ethylene, cyclopropenone, and allyl acetate (AAc) has been investigated. The free energy and global reactivity index analyses indicate that the cyclopropenone introduction reaction is more favorable than the AAc insertion, which is consistent with the experimental results. Investigating the copolymerization mechanism will help to develop of a functionalization strategy for polyethylene polymers.

Recent Advances in the Copolymerization of Ethylene with Polar Comonomers by Nickel Catalysts

The less-expensive and earth-abundant nickel catalyst is highly promising in the copolymerization of ethylene with polar monomers and has thus attracted increasing attention in both industry and academia. Herein, we have summarized the recent advancements made in the state-of-the-art nickel catalysts with different types of ligands for ethylene copolymerization and how these modifications influence the catalyst performance, as well as new polymerization modulation strategies. With regard to α-diimine, salicylaldimine/ketoiminato, phosphino-phenolate, phosphine-sulfonate, bisphospnine monoxide, N-heterocyclic carbene and other unclassified chelates, the properties of each catalyst and fine modulation of key copolymerization parameters (activity, molecular weight, comonomer incorporation rate, etc.) are revealed in detail. Despite significant achievements, many opportunities and possibilities are yet to be fully addressed, and a brief outlook on the future development and long-standing challenges is provided.

Toward the Copolymerization of Propylene with Polar Comonomers

Polyolefins are produced in vast amounts and are found in so many consumer products that the two most commonly produced forms, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), fall into the rather sparse category of molecules that are likely to be known by people worldwide, regardless of their occupation. Although widespread, the further upgrading of their properties (mechanical, physical, aesthetic, etc.) through the formation of composites with other materials, such as polar polymers, fibers, or talc, is of huge interest to manufacturers. To improve the affinity of polyolefins toward these materials, the inclusion of polar functionalities into the polymer chain is essential. The incorporation of a functional group to trigger controlled polymer degradation is also an emerging area of interest. Currently practiced methods for the incorporation of polar functionalities, such as post-polymerization functionalization, are limited by the number of compatible polar monomers: for example, grafting maleic anhydride is currently the sole method for practical functionalization of PP. In contrast, the incorporation of fundamental polar comonomers into PE and PP chains via coordination insertion polymerization offers good control, making it a highly sought-after process. Early transition metal catalysts (which are commonly used for the production of PE and PP) display poor tolerance toward the functional groups within polar comonomers, limiting their use to less-practical derivatives. As late transition metal catalysts are less-oxophilic and thus more tolerant to polar functionalities, they are ideal candidates for these reactions. This Account focuses on the copolymerization of propylene with polar comonomers, which remains underdeveloped as compared to the corresponding reaction using ethylene. We begin with the challenges associated with the regio- and stereoselective insertion of propylene, which is a particular problem for late transition metal systems because of their propensity to undergo chain walking processes. To overcome this issue, we have investigated a range of metal/ligand combinations. We first discuss attempts with group 4 and 8 metal catalysts and their limitations as background, and then focus on the copolymerization of propylene with methyl acrylate (MA) using Pd/imidazolidine-quinolinolate (IzQO) and Pd/phosphine-sulfonate (PS) precatalysts. Each generated regioregular polymer, but while the system featuring an IzQO ligand did not display any stereocontrol, that using the chiral PS ligand did. A further difference was found in the insertion mode of MA: the Pd/IzQO system inserted in a 1,2 fashion, while in the Pd/PS system a 2,1 insertion was observed. We then move onto recent results from our lab using Pd/PS and Pd/bisphosphine monoxide (BPMO) precatalysts for the copolymerization of propylene with allyl comonomers. These P-stereogeneic precatalysts generated the highest isotacticity values reported to date using late transition metal catalysts. This section closes with our work using Earth-abundant nickel catalysts for the reaction, which would be especially desired for industrial applications: a Ni/phosphine phenolate (PO) precatalyst yielded regioregular polypropylene with the incorporation of some allyl monomers into the main polymer chain. The installation of a chiral menthyl substituent on the phosphine allowed for moderate stereoselectivity to be achieved, though the applicable polar monomers currently remain limited. The Account concludes with a discussion of the factors that affect the insertion mode of propylene and polar comonomers in copolymerization reactions, beginning with our recent computational study, and finishing with work from ourselves and others covering both comonomer and precatalyst steric and electronic profiles with reference to the observed regioselectivity.

Yttrium and lanthanum bis(phosphine-oxide)methanides: structurally diverse, dynamic, and reactive

Homoleptic yttrium and lanthanum complexes of bis(phosphineoxide) methanides, RE(HPhL)3 and RE2(HMeL)6, promote the first rare-earth mediated Horner-Wittig and acid-base chemistry consistent with multifunctional reactivity (Lewis-acid/Brønstedbase).

Mechanistic Studies for Palladium Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene with Vinyl Ethers

The mechanism of ethylene with vinyl ether (VE, CH2=CHOEt) copolymerization catalyzed by phosphine-sulfonate palladium complex (A) was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. On achieving an agreement between theory and experiment, it is found that the favorable 1,2-selective insertion of VE into the complex A originates from stronger hydrogen interaction between the oxygen atom of VE and the ancillary ligand of catalyst A. Additionally, VE insertion is easier into the ethylene pre-inserted intermediate than that into the catalyst to form the resultant copolymers with the major units of OEt in chain and minor units of OEt at the chain end. The effect of β-OEt and β-H elimination was explored to elucidate chain termination and the molecular weight of copolymers. Furthermore, a family of cationic catalysts has been demonstrated to copolymerize ethylene with VE along with our modified cationic complex B with higher incorporation of VE and reactivity in comparison with complex A, which was modelled computationally by increasing the strong interactions between the catalyst and monomer moiety. Other than VE, the activity of cationic complex B for copolymerization of vinyl chloride and methacrylate is also computed successfully.

Indole-bridged bisphosphine-monoxide palladium catalysts for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers

Novel indole-based C–N-bridged bisphosphine-monoxide palladium catalysts enable ethylene polymerization with completely different activities and molecular weights and copolymerization with polar comonomers.

Utilization of BozPhos as an Effective Ligand in Enantioselective C-H Functionalization of Cyclopropanes: Synthesis of Dihydroisoquinolones and Dihydroquinolones

The bisphosphine monoxide ( R, R)-BozPhos enables enantioselective C-H functionalization of cyclopropanes in a palladium-catalyzed cyclization. The synthesis of a broad spectrum of dihydroisoquinolones and dihydroquinolones in good yields and high enantiomeric excess was achieved through the use of this hemilabile ligand. Furthermore, the isolation of an intermediary palladium(II)-BozPhos complex after oxidative addition was successful and a second complex provided further insight into bond length and angles through a crystal structure.

Emerging Palladium and Nickel Catalysts for Copolymerization of Olefins with Polar Monomers

Transition-metal-catalyzed copolymerization of olefins with polar monomers represents a challenge because of the large variety of substrate-induced side reactions. However, this approach also holds the potential for the direct synthesis of polar functionalized polyolefins with unique properties. After decades of research, only a few catalyst systems have been found to be suitable for this reaction. Some major advances in catalyst development have been made in the past five years. This Minireview summarizes some of the recent progress in the extensively studied Brookhart and Drent catalyst systems, as well as emerging alternative palladium and nickel catalysts.

Accelerating ethylene polymerization using secondary metal ions in tetrahydrofuran

A variety of metal cations are capable of enhancing the ethylene polymerization rates of nickel phosphine phosphonate-polyethylene glycol catalysts.

Coordination–insertion polymerization of polar allylbenzene monomers

Utilization of polar allylbenzene allows for a much enhanced activity (9–6300 times) of polar allyl monomers in the coordination–insertion copolymerization.

Electron-Rich Metal Cations Enable Synthesis of High Molecular Weight, Linear Functional Polyethylenes

Group 10 metal catalysts have shown much promise for the copolymerization of nonpolar with polar alkenes to directly generate functional materials, but access to high copolymer molecular weights nevertheless remains a key challenge toward practical applications in this field. In the context of identifying new strategies for molecular weight control, we report a series of highly polarized P(V)-P(III) chelating ligands that manifest unique space filling and electrostatic effects within the coordination sphere of single component Pd polymerization catalysts and exert important influences on (co)polymer molecular weights. Single component, cationic phosphonic diamide-phosphine (PDAP) Pd catalysts are competent to generate linear, functional polyethylenes with M_w up to ca. 2 × 10⁵ g mol^-1, significantly higher than prototypical catalysts in this field, and with polar content up to ca. 9 mol %. Functional groups are positioned by these catalysts almost exclusively along the main chain, not at chain ends or ends of branches, which mimics the microstructures of commercial linear low-density polyethylenes. Spectroscopic, X-ray crystallographic, and computational data indicate PDAP coordination to Pd manifests cationic yet electron-rich active species, which may correlate to their complementary catalytic properties versus privileged catalysts such as electrophilic α-diimine (Brookhart-type) or neutral phosphine-sulfonato (Drent-type) complexes. Though steric blocking within the catalyst coordination sphere has long been a reliable strategy for catalyst molecular weight control, data from this study suggest electronic control should be considered as a complementary concept less prone to suppression of comonomer enchainment that can occur with highly sterically congested catalysts.

Cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes: noticeable differences between (N,C) and (P,C) ligands in migratory insertion

Gold(iii) complexes are garnering increasing interest for opto-electronic, therapeutic and catalytic applications.

Gold(iii) complexes are garnering increasing interest for opto-electronic, therapeutic and catalytic applications. But so far, very little is known about the factors controlling their reactivity and the very influence of the ancillary ligand. This article reports the first comprehensive study on this topic. The reactivity of a cationic (N,C) gold(iii) complex, namely 1A, towards ethylene has been thoroughly studied and compared with that of the related (P,C) complex 1C. A cationic gold(iii) complex 5A resulting from double insertion of ethylene was selectively obtained. Complex 5A was found to be remarkably stable. It was trapped with chloride and fully characterized. In marked contrast to that observed with 1C, no β-H elimination or linear-to-branched rearrangement of the alkyl chain occurred with 1A. The energy profile for the reactions of 1A with ethylene has been comprehensively investigated computationally, and the influence of the ancillary ligand has been precisely delineated. Because nitrogen is a weaker donor than carbon (and phosphorus), the (N,C) ligand is very electronically dissymmetric, much more than the (P,C) ligand. This makes the two reactive sites at gold quite different, which noticeably influences the competition between migratory insertion and β-H elimination, and actually changes the outcome of the olefin insertion at gold. This study provides valuable insight into the influence of ancillary ligands on gold(iii) reactivity, something critical to further develop Au(iii) and Au(i)/Au(iii) catalysis.

Methylene-Bridged Bisphosphine Monoxide Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and Polar Monomers

A series of palladium complexes bearing a bisphosphine monoxide with a methylene linker, that is, [κ²-P,O-(R¹₂P)CH₂P(O)R²₂]PdMe(2,6-lutidine)][BAr^F₄] (Pd/BPMO), were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the homopolymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers. X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that these Pd/BPMO complexes exhibit significantly narrower bite angles and longer Pd-O bonds than Pd/BPMO complexes bearing a phenylene linker, while maintaining almost constant Pd-P bond lengths. Among the complexes synthesized, menthyl-substituted complex 3f (R¹ = (1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexan-1-yl; R² = Me) showed the best catalytic performance in the homo- and copolymerization in terms of molecular weight and polymerization activity. Meanwhile, complex 3e (R¹ = t-Bu; R² = Me) exhibited a markedly higher incorporation of comonomers in the copolymerization of ethylene and allyl acetate (≤12.0 mol %) or methyl methacrylate (≤0.6 mol %). The catalytic system represents one of the first examples of late-transition-metal complexes bearing an alkylene-bridged bidentate ligand that afford high-molecular-weight copolymers from the copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers.

Characterizing Chemical Similarity with Vibrational Spectroscopy: New Insights into the Substituent Effects in Monosubstituted Benzenes

A novel approach is presented to assess chemical similarity based the local vibrational mode analysis developed by Konkoli and Cremer. The local mode frequency shifts are introduced as similarity descriptors that are sensitive to any electronic structure change. In this work, 59 different monosubstituted benzenes are compared. For a subset of 43 compounds, for which experimental data was available, the ortho-/para- and meta-directing effect in electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions could be correctly reproduced, proving the robustness of the new similarity index. For the remaining 16 compounds, the directing effect was predicted. The new approach is broadly applicable to all compounds for which either experimental or calculated vibrational frequency information is available.

Explicit roles of diverse directing groups in determining transition state energy and reaction exothermicity of C–H activation pathways

Effects of directing groups on the C–H activation transition state.

Copolymerisation of ethylene with polar monomers by using palladium catalysts bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene–phosphine oxide bidentate ligand

We report the synthesis and characterisation of palladium complexes bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene–phosphine oxide bidentate ligand and their use as catalysts for ethylene polymerisation and ethylene/polar monomer copolymerisation.

Mechanistic Studies of Pd(II)-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and Vinylalkoxysilanes: Evidence for a β-Silyl Elimination Chain Transfer Mechanism

Copolymerizations of ethylene with vinyltrialkoxysilanes are reported using both a "traditional" cationic Pd(II) aryldiimine catalyst, t-1 (aryl = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), and a "sandwich-type" aryldiimine catalyst, s-2 (aryl = 8-tolylnaphthyl). Incorporation levels of vinyltrialkoxysilanes between 0.25 and 2.0 mol % were achieved with remarkably little rate retardation relative to ethylene homopolymerizations. In the case of the traditional catalyst system, molecular weights decrease as the level of comonomer increases and only one trialkoxysilyl group is incorporated per chain. Molecular weight distributions of ca. 2 are observed. For the sandwich catalyst, higher molecular weights are observed with many more trialkoxysilyl groups incorporated per chain. Polymers with molecular weight distributions of ca. 1.2-1.4 are obtained. Detailed NMR mechanistic studies have revealed the formation of intermediate π-complexes of the type (diimine)Pd(alkyl)(vinyltrialkoxysilane)⁺. 1,2-Migratory insertions of these complexes occur with rates similar to ethylene insertion and result in formation of observable five-membered chelate intermediates. These chelates are rapidly opened with ethylene forming alkyl ethylene complexes, a requirement for chain growth. An unusual β-silyl elimination mechanism was shown to be responsible for chain transfer and formation of low molecular weight copolymers in the traditional catalyst system, t-1. This chain transfer process is retarded in the sandwich system. Relative binding affinities of ethylene and vinyltrialkoxysilanes to the cationic palladium center have been determined. The quantitative mechanistic studies reported fully explain the features of the bulk polymerization results.