Kinetics, Mechanism and Theoretical Studies of Norbornene-Ethylene Alternating Copolymerization Catalyzed by Organopalladium(II) Complexes Bearing Hemilabile α-Amino-pyridine.

Cationic methylpalladium complexes bearing hemilabile bidentate α-amino-pyridines can serve as effective precursors for catalytic alternating copolymerization of norbornene (N) and ethylene (E), under mild conditions. The norbornyl palladium complexes in the formula of {[RHNCH2(o-C6H4N)]Pd(C7H10Me)(NCMe)}(BF4) (R = iPr (2a), tBu (2b), Ph (2c), 2,6-Me2C6H3 (2d), 2,6-iPr2C6H3 (2e)) were synthesized via single insertion of norbornene into the corresponding methylpalladium complexes 1a-1e, respectively. Both square planar methyl and norbornyl palladium complexes exhibit facile equilibria of geometrical isomerization, via sterically-controlled amino decoordination-recoordination of amino-pyridine. Kinetic studies of E-insertion, N-insertion of complexes 1 and 2, and the geometric isomerization reactions have been examined by means of VT-NMR, and found in excellent agreement with the results estimated by DFT calculations. The more facile N-insertion in the cis-isomers, and ready geometric isomerization, cooperatively lead to a new mechanism that accounts for the novel catalytic formation of alternating COC.

Correction: Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(i) carbonyl complexes.

Correction for 'Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(i) carbonyl complexes' by Chang-Hong Chen, et al., Dalton Trans., 2012, 41, 2747-2754.

Coordination chemistry of highly hemilabile bidentate sulfoxide N-heterocyclic carbenes with palladium(II).

Imidazolium salts, [RS(O)-CH2 (C3 H3 N2 )Mes]Cl (R=Me (L1a), Ph (L1b)); Mes=mesityl), make convenient carbene precursors. Palladation of L1a affords the monodentate dinuclear complex, [(PdCl2 {MeS(O)CH2 (C3 H2 N2 )Mes})2 ] (2a), which is converted into trans-[PdCl2 (NHC)2] (trans-4a; N-heterocyclic carbene) with two rotamers in anti and syn configurations. Complex trans-4a can isomerize into cis-4a(anti) at reflux in acetonitrile. Abstraction of chlorides from 4a or 4b leads to the formation of a new dication: trans-[Pd{RS(O)CH2(C3H2N2)Mes}2](PF6)2 (R=Me (5a), Ph (5b)). The X-ray structure of 5a provides evidence that the two bidentate SO-NHC ligands at palladium(II) are in square-planar geometry. Two sulfoxides are sulfur- and oxygen-bound, and constitute five- and six-membered chelate rings with the metal center, respectively. In acetonitrile, complexes 5a or 5b spontaneously transform into cis-[Pd(NHC)2(NCMe)2](PF6)2. Similar studies of thioether-NHCs have also been examined for comparison. The results indicate that sulfoxides are more labile than thioethers.

CO2 fixation by dicopper(II) complexes in hypodentate framework of N8O2.

A new ligand with N8O2 donors containing three potential metal-binding sites (H2L) and its tricopper(II) complex 1 are synthesized. The tricopper species is found to be formed from a hypodentate dicopper(II) complex 2 in basic solutions. Complex 2 may be isolated from the reaction of H2L with a copper source under acidic conditions. Complex 2 can undergo CO2-abstraction to yield an octacopper(II) complex 3. The single crystal structures of complexes 2 and 3 are characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis, structures of (aminopyridine)nickel complexes and their use for catalytic ethylene polymerization.

A series of α-aminopyridines in the form of (2,6-C(6)H(3)N)(R(1))(CHR(2)NR(3)R(4)) (R(1) = R(2) = H R(3) = H R(4) = (i)Pr (L1a), R(4) = (t)Bu (L1b), R(4) = Ph (L1c), R(4) = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (L1d), R(4) = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (L1e), R(1) = R(2) = H R(3) = R(4) = Et (L1f), R(1) = H R(2) = Me R(3) = H R(4) = (i)Pr (L2a), R(4) = Ph (L2c), R(4) = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (L2d), R(4) = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (L2e), R(1) = Me R(2) = H R(3) = H R(4) = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (L3e)) and ß-aminopyridines in the form of (2-C(6)H(4)N)(CH(2)CH(2)NR(1)R(2)) (R(1) = H R(2) = (i)Pr (4a), R(2) = (t)Bu (L4b), R(1) = R(2) = Et (L4f)) have been prepared. Their corresponding halonickel complexes 1a-4f are synthesized by ligand substitution from (DME)NiBr(2) and the molecular structures are characterized. Four types of coordination modes include four-coordinate mononuclear species with one ligand, five-coordinate mononuclear species with two ligands, five-coordinate dinuclear species with two ligands, and a six-coordinate polymeric framework were determined by X-ray crystallography. Using methylaluminoxanes (MAO) as the activator, the nickel complexes can catalyze ethylene polymerization under moderate pressure and ambient temperature. The activity reaches 10(5) g PE mol(-1) Ni h. The PE products with high branching and high crystallinity have M(n) ~ 10(3) with PDI < 2.

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes.

Reaction of aminophosphinimine [RHN(CH(2))(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh(3)] (R = H, Et) with Re(2)(CO)(10) provided the NH-functionalized carbene rhenium complex [Re(2)(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(9)] (3a, R = H, 3b, R = Et). Treatment of 3 with Br(2) provided the mono nuclear [Re(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(4)Br] (1, R = H, 2, R = Et). However, NH-functionalized carbene complexes 1-3 did not undergo N-alkylation with alkyl halides to yield the N-substituted NHC complexes. The direct ligand substitution of [Re(CO)(5)Br] with a carbene donor was employed to prepare [Re(IMes(2))(CO)(4)Br] (6a, IMes(2) = 1,3-di-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; 6b, IMes(2) = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal data of 6a and 6b show similar corresponding data among these complexes, suggesting the saturated and unsaturated NHCs have similar bonding with Re(I) metal centers. Reduction of 6a and 6b with LiEt(3)BH yielded the corresponding hydrido complexes 7a-b [ReH(CO)(4)(IMes(2))], but not 1 and 2. Ligand substitution of 1, 6a and 6b toward 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) was investigated. Crystal structures of 1, 3a-b, 6a-b and 7b were determined for characterization and comparison.

Palladium(II) complexes based on 1,8-naphthyridine functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and their catalytic activity.

Palladium complexes containing 2,7-bis(mesitylimidazolylidenyl)naphthyridine (NHC-NP) have been synthesized and characterized. Reaction of [{Ag(3)(NHC-NP)(2)}(PF(6))(3)] with [Pd(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)] provided an unusual dipalladium complex bridged by two NHC-NP units, forming a 20-membered dinuclear metallacycle [{Pd(2)(NHC-NP)(2)Cl(2)}(PF(6))] (2) in high yield. Treatment of 2 with KI in acetone yielded a neutral species [Pd(2)(NHC-NP)I(4)] (3). Meanwhile, the pyridinyl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC-Py) precursor, 1-(2-pyridinyl)-3-mesitylimidazolium chloride, reacted with Pd(2)(dba)(3) directly to form the mononuclear palladium complex [Pd(NHC-Py)Cl(2)] (4). These complexes were characterized by elemental analyses as well as NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 3 and 4 were further identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The use of these palladium complexes for Suzuki-Miyaura and Kumada-Corriu coupling reactions has been examined. There is no significant difference in catalytic activities between 2 and 4 in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. However, the catalytic activity of 2 in the Kumada-Corriu coupling of ArBr with cyclohexylmagnesium bromide is quite different from that of 4. Thus complex 2 is active for the cross coupling, but complex 4 is active for the reduction of aryl halides.

Biscarbene palladium(II) complexes. reactivity of saturated versus unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbenes.

A series of designed palladium biscarbene complexes including saturated and unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) moieties have been prepared by the carbene transfer methods. All of these complexes have been characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. The reactivity of Pd-C((saturated NHC)) is distinct from that of Pd-C((unsaturated NHC)). The Pd-C((saturated NHC)) bonds are fairly stable toward reagents such as CF(3)COOH, AgBF(4) and I(2), whereas Pd-C((unsaturated NHC)) bonds are readily cleaved under the similar conditions. Notably, the catalytically activity of these palladium complexes on Suzuki-Miyaura coupling follows the order: (sat-NHC)(2)PdCl(2) > (sat-NHC)(unsat-NHC)PdCl(2 )> (unsat-NHC)(2)PdCl(2).

Alternating ethylene-norbornene copolymerization catalyzed by cationic organopalladium complexes bearing hemilabile bidentate ligands of alpha-amino-pyridines.

Cationic methylpalladium complexes with hemilabile bidentate ligands of alpha-amino-pyridines, in the form of {[R(1)HNCR(2)H(o-C(6)H(5)N)]Pd(Me)(NCMe)}(BF(4)) (R(1) = (i)Pr, (t)Bu, Ar R(2) = H, Me) have been found to be effective precursors for catalytic copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene under mild conditions. The copolymer products exhibit predominant alternating microstructures which are evidenced by NMR and mass spectrometry as well as a kinetic analysis according to the Finman-Ross relationship.

Kinetic and mechanistic studies of geometrical isomerism in neutral square-planar methylpalladium complexes bearing unsymmetrical bidentate ligands of alpha-aminoaldimines.

A series of hemilabile ligands of alpha-aminoaldimines and their methylpalladium complexes have been prepared and characterized. Neutral square-planar methylpalladium complexes in the form of [R(1)R(2)NCMe(2)CH horizontal lineNR]Pd(Me)Cl (R = Me, R(1) = R(2) = Me (3a); R = Me, R(1) = R(2) = Et (3b); R = Et, R(1) = R(2) = Me (4a); R = (n)Pr, R(1) = R(2) = Me (5a); R = (i)Pr, R(1) = R(2) = Me (6a); R = (i)Pr, R(1) = R(2) = Et (6b); R = (i)Pr, (R(1), R(2)) = c-C(4)H(8) (6c); R = (i)Pr, R(1) = (i)Pr, R(2) = H (6d); R = (i)Pr, R(1) = (t)Bu, R(2) = H (6e); R = (t)Bu, R(1) = R(2) = Me (7a); R = (t)Bu, R(1) = R(2) = Et (7b); R = (t)Bu, (R(1), R(2)) = c-C(4)H(8) (7c); R = (t)Bu, R(1) = (i)Pr, R(2) = H (7d); R = (t)Bu, R(1) = (t)Bu, R(2) = H (7e); R = Ph, R(1) = R(2) = Me (8a); R = Ph, R(1) = R(2) = Et (8b)) show geometrical isomerism. The relative ratios of trans/cis isomers appear to be predominated by the steric hindrance between the Pd-bound methyl group and imino or amino substituents (R and R(1) and R(2)). The NMR studies for the substitution reaction of (COD)Pd(Me)Cl with Et(2)NCMe(2)CH horizontal lineN(i)Pr at -20 degrees C indicate that cis-6b is the major kinetic product, which isomerizes to the thermodynamic product in trans form quantitatively above -5 degrees C. Kinetic results show that the ligand substitution reaction likely undergoes an associative pathway, and the isomerization reaction proceeds via an intramolecular process that comprises imine dissociation and recoordination.

Nickel catalysts bearing bidentate alpha-aminoaldimines for ethylene polymerization--independent and cooperative structure/reactivity relationship resulting from unsymmetric square planar coordination.

Ethylene polymerization catalyzed by Ni(ii) complexes that bear new bidentate ligands with a functional hybrid of amine and imine has been studied. A class of new alpha-aminoaldimines and their nickel complexes [R(1)R(2)NCMe(2)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N(2,6-R(3)(2)C(6)H(3))]NiBr(2) (R(1) = R(2) = Me, R(3) = Me (Ni-); R(3) = (i)Pr (Ni-); R(1) = R(2) = Et, R(3) = H (Ni-); Me (Ni-); (i)Pr (Ni-); R(1) = R(2) = (n)Pr, R(3) = (i)Pr (Ni-); (R(1)R(2)) = c-C(3)H(6) R(3) = (i)Pr (Ni-); (R(1)R(2)) = c-C(4)H(8), R(3) = (i)Pr (Ni-)) were synthesized. The molecular structures of six nickel complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography, showing distorted tetrahedral configurations. The SQUID data of Ni- confirms its ground state of triplet spin. Using methylaluminoxanes (MAO) as the activator, the nickel complexes are found to catalyze ethylene polymerization under moderate pressure and ambient temperature. The activity reaches to 10(6) g PE mol Ni(-1) h(-1), and increases with the ethylene pressure in the range of 14-28 bar. The highly branching PE products have M(n) approximately 10(5) with PDI < 2. The amine and imine functionalities demonstrate independent control to the polymerization reactions, wherein the activity appears to be facilitated by using the catalysts installed with bulky imino substituents as well as with less sterically hindered amino substituents. This is ascribed to the C(2) unsymmetric coordination in the square planar resting state in which the bulky polymer chain prefers cis to the imine and the small ethylene monomer is cis to the amine.

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of saturated and unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(i) complexes.

Both saturated and unsaturated N-benzyl substituted heterocyclic carbene (NHC) iridum(i) complexes were synthesized. The unsaturated carbene complex [(un-NHC-Bn)Ir(CO)(2)Cl] in the cis form was prepared via the carbene transfer from the corresponding silver complex to [Ir(COD)(2)Cl](2) followed by ligand substitution with CO, whereas the saturated complex was obtained via the transfer from (sat-NHC-Bn)W(CO)(5). The treatment of phosphines with (NHC)Ir(CO)(2)Cl complexes yielded the products with the phosphine ligand trans to the carbene moiety via substitution. X-Ray structural determination shows that distances of Ir-C((carbene)) in both (un-NHC-Bn)Ir(CO)(PR(3))Cl and (un-NHC-Bn)Ir(CO)(PR(3))Cl are essentially the same. Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal structural data of iridium complexes [(NHC)Ir(CO)(PR(3))Cl] and Vaska's complex show similar corresponding data in both types of complexes, suggesting that the studied NHC ligands and phosphines have similar bonding with Ir(i) metal center. All iridium complexes studied in this work illustrated their catalytically activity on N-alkylation of amine with alcohol via hydrogen transfer reduction. It appears no dramatic difference on the catalytic activity among these iridium carbene complexes; but the saturated carbene complex (sat-NHC-Bn)Ir(CO)(PR(3))Cl appears to be slightly more active. For example, the reaction of benzyl alcohol with aniline in the presence of catalyst (1 mol%) under basic conditions at 100 degrees C provided the secondary amine (N-benzylaniline) in 96% yield.

Coordination chemistry and catalytic activity of N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(I) complexes.

Iridium complexes [(CO)2Ir(NHC-R)Cl] (R = Et-, 3a; PhCH2-, 3b; CH3OCH2CH2-, 3c; o-CH3OC6H4CH2-, 3d; NHC: N-heterocyclic carbene) are prepared via the carbene transfer from [(NHC-R)W(CO)5] to [Ir(COD)Cl]2. By using substitution with 13CO, we are able to estimate the activation energy (G) of the CO-exchange in 3a-d, which are in the range of 12-13 kcal mol-1, significantly higher than those for the phosphine analog [(CO)2Ir(PCy3)Cl]. Reactions of 3b and 3d with an equimolar amount of PPh3 result in the formation of the corresponding [(NHC-R)Ir(CO)(PPh3)Cl] with the phosphine and NHC in trans arrangement. In contrast, the analogous reaction of 3a or 3c with phosphine undergoes substitution followed by the anion metathesis to yield the corresponding di-substituted [(NHC-R)Ir(CO)(PPh3)2]BF4 (5) directly. Treatment of 3b or 3d with excess of PPh3 leads to the similar product of disubstitution 5b and 5d. The analysis for the IR data of carbonyliridium complexes provides the estimation of electron-donating power of NHCs versus phosphines. The NHC moiety on the iridium center cannot be replaced by phosphines, even 1,2-bis(diphenylphohino)ethane (dppe). All the carbene moieties on the iridium complexes are inert toward sulfur treatment, indicating a strong interaction between NHC and the iridium centers. Complexes 3a-c are active on the catalysis of the oxidative cyclization of 2-(o-aminophenyl)ethanol to yield the indole compound. The phosphine substituted complexes or analogs are less active.

Synthesis and characterization of Pd(II)-methyl complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene-amine ligands.

A number of palladium(ii) complexes with a heteroditopic NHC-amine ligand and their precursor silver(i) carbene complexes have been efficiently prepared and their structural features have been investigated. The heteroditopic coordination of this ligand class was unequivocally shown by NMR-spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The neutral and cationic cis-methyl-palladium(NHC) complexes are not prone to reductive elimination, which is normally a major degenerative pathway for this type of complex. In contrast, under carbon monoxide atmosphere rapid reductive elimination of the acyl-imidazolium salt was observed.

Unsymmetrical bidentate ligands of alpha-aminoaldimines leading to sterically controlled selectivity of geometrical isomerism in square planar coordination.

New alpha-aminoaldimines with the formula of Et(2)NCMe(2)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NR (R = (i)Pr, (t)Bu, Ph) and their dichloro or diacetato complexes of Ni, Pd, Pt are prepared and structurally characterized. A nickel complex is in a distorted tetrahedral configuration, and the Pd and Pt complexes () are of square planar form. The alpha-aminoaldimines can chelate to the metal in a C(2)-unsymmetric bidentate motif through the hetero functionalities of amine and imine, which show comparable trans influence. Square planar organometallic palladium derivatives bearing alpha-aminoaldimines, including Pd-methyl, Pd-acetyl, and Pd-(eta(2)-acetylnorboryl) (), are also synthesized. The latter two species are a result of CO-insertion into Pd-methyl complexes and ensuing norbornene-insertion, respectively. The geometrical isomerism is found in the trans configuration in most studied cases. Such a stereoselectivity results from the thermodynamic stability governed predominantly by steric control. The stereoselectivity is also supported by DFT calculations.

Four- and five-coordinate aluminum ketiminate complexes: synthesis, characterization, and ring-opening polymerization.

A series of aluminum complexes featuring with the ketiminate ligand, OCMeCHCMeNHAr (Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3), 1), have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically and structurally. Reactions of 1 with trialkylaluminum in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio generate four- and five-coordinated aluminum complexes (OCMeCHCMeNAr)AlR(2) (R = Me (2); R = Et (3)) and (OCMeCHCMeNAr)(2)AlR (R = Me (4); R = Et (5)) in high yields. Similarly, reaction of AlCl(3) with 1 or 2 equiv of the lithiated 1 in toluene afforded bis(ketiminate) aluminum chloride complex, (OCMeCHCMeNAr)(2)AlCl (6) or (OCMeCHCMeNAr)AlCl(2) (7). Surprisingly, reacting 6 with 1 equiv of AgBF(4) in methylene/acetonitrile mix-solvents generates (OCMeCHCMeNAr)(2)AlF (8) in moderate yield. The structures of complexes 2-6 and 8 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 2 and 3 both exhibit tetrahedron structures with the aluminum atom surrounded by oxygen and nitrogen atoms of chelating ketiminate and two alkyl groups. The mono- and bis-ketiminate aluminum complexes 2-5 have shown moderate activity toward the ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone.