Vanadium-based imido-alkoxide pro-catalysts bearing bisphenolate ligands for ethylene and epsilon-caprolactone polymerisation.

The pro-catalysts [V(NAr)(L)(OR)] (Ar = p-tolyl, p-ClC(6)H(4), p-(OMe)C(6)H(4), p-(CF(3))C(6)H(4); R = t-Bu, i-Pr, n-Pr, Et, C(CH(3))(CF(3))(2)) have been prepared in good yields from the reaction of [V(NAr)(OR)(3)] and the bisphenol 2,2'-CH(3)CH[4,6-(t-Bu)(2)C(6)H(2)OH](2) (LH(2)). X-Ray crystal structure determinations for the Ar = p-tolyl, R = t-Bu (1), R = C(CH(3))(CF(3))(2) (2) and Ar = p-ClC(6)H(4), R = t-Bu (3) derivatives revealed monomeric complexes, whereas use of R = i-Pr, n-Pr or Et led to alkoxide-bridged dimeric structures of the form [V(NAr)(L)(mu-OR)](2) (R = i-Pr, Ar = p-tolyl (4), p-ClC(6)H(4) (5), p-(CF(3))C(6)H(4) (6), p-(OMe)C(6)H(4) (7); R = n-Pr, Ar = p-tolyl (8), p-(CF(3))C(6)H(4) (9); R = Et, Ar = p-ClC(6)H(4) (10), p-tolyl (11)). Complexes 1-11 yield highly active ethylene polymerisation catalysts when treated with DMAC (dimethylaluminium chloride) in the presence of ETA (ethyltrichloroacetate), with activities in the range 38,800 to 75,200 g mmol(-1) h(-1) bar(-1). The molecular weights of the resultant polymers were in the range 37,000 to 411,000 g mol(-1), with molecular weight distribution 2.2 to 4.7. The effect of the nature of the para-arylimido substituent and the alkoxide group OR upon the catalytic activity has been investigated. For epsilon-caprolactone polymerisation, mononuclear 1-3 exhibit low conversion (< or = 25%; 0% for 2), whereas use of the dimeric species 4-11 led to higher conversions (41-78%).

Vanadium complexes possessing N2O2S2-based ligands: highly active procatalysts for the homopolymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene.

The family of ligands containing an N2O2S2 core, namely, 1,2-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)ethane (H2L1), 1,3-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)propane (H2L2), 1,4-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)butane (H2L3), and 1,2-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldamino-o-phenylthio)ethane (H2L4), have been prepared and complexed with a variety of vanadium chlorides and alkoxides to afford complexes of the form [V(X)L1] (X = O (1), Np-tol (2), Cl (3)), [V(O)(L2,3)] (L2 (4), L3 (5)), and [V(L4)] (6). Crystal structure determinations of H2L1 and H2L4 show the molecule to be centrosymmetric about the bridging ethane moiety, with structural determination of 1 and 3 revealing isostructural monomeric complexes in which the ligand chelates in such a way as to afford pseudo-octahedral coordination at the vanadium center. Prolonged reaction of H2L1 with [V(Np-tol)(OEt)3] led, via oxidative cleavage of the C-S bond, to the bimetallic complex [V2L1(3-Me,5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthiolate)2] [VL'] (7), as characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. 7 was also isolated from the reaction of H2L4 and [VO(On-Pr)3]. The ability of 1-7 to catalyze the homopolymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene in the presence of dimethylaluminum chloride (DMAC) has been assessed: screening reveals that for ethylene homopolymerization 1-7 are all highly active (>1000 g/mmol.h.bar), with the highest activity (ca. 11 000 g/mmol.h.bar) observed using catalyst 3; the use of trimethyl aluminum (TMA) or methylaluminoxane (MAO) as the cocatalyst led only to poorly active systems producing negligible polymer. Analysis of the polyethylene produced showed high molecular weight linear polymers with narrow polydispersities. For ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization, activities as high as 1,190 g/mmol.h.bar were achieved (4); analysis of the copolymer indicated an incorporation of 1-hexene in the range of 5-13%.

Niobium- and tantalum-based ethylene polymerisation catalysts bearing methylene- or dimethyleneoxa-bridged calixarene ligands.

Treatment of p-tert-butylcalix[6]areneH(6) (H(6)tBu-L) or p-tert-butylcalix[8]areneH(8) (H(8)tBu-L(1)) with [MCl(5)] (M=Nb, Ta) in refluxing toluene or dichloromethane affords, after work-up, the complexes [{M(NCMe)Cl(2)}(2)(tBu-L)] (M=Nb (1), Ta (2)) and [(MCl(2))(2)(tBu-L(1)H(2))] (M=Nb (4), Ta (5)), respectively. Complex 1, as well as [{Nb(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-Cl)(tBu-LH)}(2)] (3), is also available from [NbOCl(3)] and H(6)tBu-L. Reaction of [MOCl(3)] (M=Nb, Ta) with Li(3)(tBu-L(2)) in diethyl ether, where H(3)tBu-L(2) is p-tert-butylhexahomotrioxacalix[3]areneH(3), affords, after work-up, the trimeric complexes [{M(tBu-L(2))(mu-O)}(3)] (M=Nb (6), Ta (7)). The behaviour of 1 to 7 (not 3), as well as the known complexes [{(MCl)p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene}(2)] (M=Nb (8), Ta (9)) and [(MCl(2))p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(OMe)] (M=Nb (10), Ta (11)), as pro-catalysts for the polymerisation of ethylene has been investigated. In the presence of dimethyl (or diethyl)aluminium chloride, methylaluminoxane or trimethylaluminium, these niobium and tantalum procatalysts are all active (<35 g mmol(-1) h(-1) bar(-1)), for the polymerisation of ethylene affording high-molecular-weight linear polyethylene. The dimethyleneoxa-bridged systems (derived from 6 and 7) are more active (84 and 46 g mmol(-1) h(-1) bar(-1), respectively) than the methylene-bridged systems. The molecular structures of 1-6 and 10 (acetonitrile solvate) are reported.

Oxo- and imidovanadium complexes incorporating methylene- and dimethyleneoxa-bridged calix[3]- and -[4]arenes: synthesis, structures and ethylene polymerisation catalysis.

Reaction of [V(X)(OR)3] (X=O, Np-tolyl; R=Et, nPr or tBu) with p-tert-butylhexahomotrioxacalix[3]areneH3, LH3, affords the air-stable complexes [{V(X)L}n] (X=O, n=1 (1); X=Np-tolyl, n=2 (2)). Alternatively, 1 is readily available either from interaction of [V(mes)3THF] with LH3, and subsequent oxidation with O2 or upon reaction of LLi3 with [VOCl3]. Reaction of [V(Np-tolyl)(OtBu)3] with 1,3-dimethylether-p-tert-butylcalix[4]areneH2, Cax(OMe)2(OH)2, afforded [{VO(OtBu)}2(mu-O)Cax(OMe)2(O)2].2 MeCN (42 MeCN), in which two vanadium atoms are bound to just one calix[4]arene ligand; the n-propoxide analogue of 4, namely [{VO(OnPr)}2(mu-O)Cax(OMe)2(O)2].1.5 MeCN (51.5 MeCN), has also been isolated from a similar reaction using [V(O)(OnPr)3]. Reaction of [VOCl3], LiOtBu, (Me3Si)2O and Cax(OMe)2(OH)2 gave [{VO(OtBu)Cax(OMe)2(O)2}2Li4O2].8 MeCN (68 MeCN), in which an Li4O4 cube (two of the oxygen atoms are derived from the calixarene ligands) is sandwiched between two Cax(OMe)2(O)2. The reaction between [V(Np-tolyl)(OtBu)3] and Cax(OMe)2(OH)2, afforded [V(Np-tolyl)(OtBu)2Cax(OMe)2(O)(OH)]5 MeCN (75 MeCN), in which two tert-butoxide groups remain bound to the tetrahedral vanadium atom, which itself is bound to the calix[4]arene through only one phenolic oxygen atom. Reaction of p-tert-butylcalix[4]areneH4, Cax(OH)4 and [V(Np-tolyl)(OnPr)3] led to loss of the imido group and formation of the dimeric complex [{VCax(O)4(NCMe)}2].6 MeCN (86 MeCN). Monomeric vanadyl oxo- and imidocalix[4]arene complexes [V(X)Cax(O)3(OMe)(NCMe)] (X=O (11), Np-tolyl (12)) were obtained by the reaction of the methylether-p-tert-butylcalix[4]areneH3, Cax(OMe)(OH)3, and [V(X)(OR)3] (R=Et or nPr). Vanadyl calix[4]arene fragments can be linked by the reaction of 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine with Cax(OH)4 and subsequent treatment with [VOCl3] to afford the complex [{VOCax(O)4}2(mu-2,6-(CH2)2C5H3N)].4 MeCN (134 MeCN). The compounds 1-13 have been structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, these complexes displayed poor activities, however, the use of dimethylaluminium chloride and the reactivator ethyltrichloroacetate generates highly active, thermally stable catalysts for the conversion of ethylene to, at 25 degrees C, ultra-high-molecular-weight (>5, 500,000), linear polyethylene, whilst at higher temperature (80 degrees C), the molecular weight of the polyethylene drops to about 450,000. Using 1 and 2 at 25 degrees C for ethylene/propylene co-polymerisation (50:50 feed) leads to ultra-high-molecular-weight (>2,900,000) polymer with about 14.5 mol% propylene incorporation. The catalytic systems employing the methyleneoxa-bridged complexes 1 and 2 are an order of magnitude more active than the bimetallic complexes 5 and 13, which, in turn, are an order of magnitude more active than pro-catalysts 8, 11 and 12. These differences in activity are discussed in terms of the structures of each class of complex.

Vanadyl C and N-capped tris(phenolate) complexes: influence of pro-catalyst geometry on catalytic activity.

Vanadyl complexes of C or N-capped tripodal ligands, possessing distorted tetrahedral geometry at vanadium, serve as extremely active, thermally robust pro-catalysts for ethylene homo- and ethylene/propylene copolymerisation, whereas pseudo-octahedral pro-catalysts produce far lower activities.