Constrained geometry scandium permethylindenyl complexes for the ring-opening polymerisation of l- and rac-lactide

Synthesis and characterisation of an enantiomerically pure scandium pentadienyl complex and its application in the polymerisation of rac-lactide

The alkyl-functionalised scandium complex [(pdl*SiMe₂N^tBu)Sc(thf)(CH₂SiMe₃)] (2) was synthesised in enantiomerically pure form and characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 2 features a chiral constrained geometry ligand derived from the natural compound (1R)-(-)-myrtenal, in which the pentadienyl (pdl*) fragment coordinates in η³:η²-allyl-en fashion to the scandium atom. Compound 2 catalyses the polymerisation of rac-lactide at 30 °C and 50 °C yielding amorphous poly(lactide) with slightly heterotactic enchainment (P_m = 0.36 and 0.37). In agreement with the data obtained from GPC and DSC measurements, a chain-end control mechanism is proposed with fast chain propagation relative to the initiation, which leads to broad molecular weight distributions (Đ ≈ 1.80) and higher than expected molecular weights. Furthermore, chain transfer processes are observed, but only small amounts of transesterification and racemisation occur. Kinetic studies reveal a second-order dependence in rac-lactide (monomer) concentration and a first-order dependence in the concentration of catalyst 2.

Synthesis and crystal structures of nickel(ii) and palladium(ii) complexes with o-carboranyl amidine ligands

A number of new nido-carboranyl amidines 10-R(CH₂)_nNHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ (n = 2, R = OH, OMe, and NMe₂; n = 3, R = OH) were synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of amino alcohols and N,N-dimethylethylenediamine to the highly activated -C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N⁺- triple bond of the 10-propionitrilium derivative of nido-carborane. A similar reaction of 10-EtC[triple bond, length as m-dash]N-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ with ethylenediamine unexpectedly resulted in the cleavage of the C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N bond to form the ammonium derivative 10-H₃N-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁. The complexation of the synthesized carboranyl amidines 10-MeO(CH₂)₂NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ and 10-Me₂N(CH₂)₂NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ with nickel and palladium phosphine complexes [(Ph₃P)₂MCl₂] (M = Ni, Pd) was studied. The reactions with 10-MeO(CH₂)₂NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ result in half-sandwiched metallacarborane complexes with the retention of one triphenylphosphine ligand [3-Ph₃P-3-(8-MeOCH₂CH₂N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Et)NH)-3,1,2-MC₂B₉H₁₀], while the reactions with 10-Me₂N(CH₂)₂NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁ proceed with the complete loss of the phosphine ligands and lead to the formation of complexes with the η⁵:κ²(N,N')-coordinated carboranyl amidine ligand [3,3-(8-Me₂NCH₂CH₂N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Et)NH)-3,1,2-MC₂B₉H₁₀]. The crystal molecular structures of the synthesized complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Ring-opening polymerisation of l- and rac-lactide using group 4 permethylpentalene aryloxides and alkoxides

A new family of group 4 permethylpentalene (C₈Me₆^2-; Pn*) aryloxide and alkoxide complexes have been synthesised and fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction; (η⁸-C₈Me₆)Zr(OR)₂ (R = ^tBu (1), 2,6-Me-C₆H₃ (2), 2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃ (3) and 4-OMe-C₆H₄ (4)), (η⁸-C₈Me₆)Zr (OR) (R = 2,6-^tBu-C₆H₃ (5) and 2,6-^tBu-4-Me-C₆H₂ (6)), (η⁸-C₈Me₆)ZrCp(OR) (R = ^tBu (7), 2,6-Me-C₆H₃ (8) and 2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃ (9)), (η⁸-C₈Me₆)TiCp(O-2,6-Me-C₆H₃) (10) and (η⁸-C₈Me₆)ZrCp^Me(OR) (R = 2,6-Me-C₆H₃ (11), 2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃ (12) and 2,4-^tBu-C₆H₃ (13)). 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 were studied as initiators for the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of l-lactide, and 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10 were studied as initiators for the ROP of rac-lactide. 3 was found to be the most active initiator for the ROP of l-lactide (k_obs = 0.35 h^-1) and 2 for the ROP of rac-lactide (k_obs = 0.21 h^-1). These initiators produced isotactic PLA for the ROP of l-lactide and moderately heterotactic enriched (maximum P_r of 0.69) or atactic PLA for the ROP of rac-lactide with polymer chains consisting of polylactic acid repeat units with -OR and -OH end groups.

l- and rac-lactide polymerisation using scandium and aluminium permethylindenyl complexes

Scandium and aluminium constrained geometry permethylindenyl complexes are reported and their lactide polymerisation study discussed.