Search

International audience; Monocationic complexes of yttrium with various bis-alkyl and bis-allyl ligands Y(CH2SiMe2Ph)2(THF)4][B(C6F5)4], [Y(CH2C6H4NMe2)2(THF)2][B(C6F5)4], and [Y[1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2(THF)2][B(C6F5)4] have been prepared by protonolysis of the corresponding homoleptic tris-alkyl or -allyl complexes using the anilinium borate salt [PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4]. The resulting ion-pair complexes have been isolated and characterized by different techniques such as elemental analysis, 1H, 13C, and 89Y NMR, and EXAFS for the allyl cationic complex [Y[1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2(THF)2][B(C6F5)4]. More specifically, a 1H-coupled 89Y INEPT sequence has been developed in order to quantify the metal/alkyl ligand stoichiometry of both synthesized neutral tris-alkyl and cationic bis-alkyl yttrium complexes. The activity of the cationic complexes toward ethylene and isoprene homopolymerization has been assessed. In presence of TiBA, polyethylene was produced with activities ranging from 6 to 26 kgPE molY–1 h–1 bar–1. The molar mass of the yielded polymers shows a bimodal distribution. Under similar conditions, polyisoprene was produced up to full conversion of the monomer. The microstructure of the yielded polyisoprene displayed mainly cis-1,4-units (ca. 60–70%) and 3,4-units (ca. 20–30%). Only a few percent of trans-1,4 units was revealed.

The use of the dialkene divinyltetramethyldisiloxane (dvtms) allows easy access to the reactive 16-valence-electron complexes [Fe0(L-L)(dvtms)] (L-L = dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; 1), dppp (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane; 2), pyNMeP(iPr)2 (N-(diisopropylphosphino)-N-methylpyridin-2-amine; 4), dipe (1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane; 5)) and [Fe0(L)2(dvtms)] (L = PMe3; 3) by a mild reductive route using AlEt2(OEt) as reducing agent. In contrast, by the same methodology, the 18-valence-electron complexes [Fe0(L-L)2(ethylene)] (L-L = dppm (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane; 6), dppa (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)amine; 7), dppe (8)) were obtained, which do not contain dvtms. In addition, a combined DFT and solid-state paramagnetic NMR methodology is introduced for the structure determination of 5. A comparative study of the reactivity of 1, 2, 4–6, and 8 with 3-hexyne highlights emerging mechanistic implications for C–C coupling reactions using these complexes as catalysts.

The synthesis of Pd(II) and Ni(II) alcohol-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes was explored to examine the possible influence of the functional arm attached to the NHC backbone on their structure and reactivity and, in the case of a Ni(II) complex, on its catalytic properties in ethylene oligomerization. Starting from the alcohol-functionalized imidazolium salt [ImDiPP(C2OH)]Cl (2), the new functionalized NHC palladium(II) complex [PdCl(acac){ImDiPP(C2OH)-CNHC}] (3) was synthesized and fully characterized. Two byproducts, [PdCl{μ-ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,O}]2 (4) and trans-[PdCl2{ImDiPP(C2OH)-CNHC}2] (5), formed during the synthesis of 3, were also fully characterized. Acids promoted the transformation of 3 into the new CNHC-bound complex [PdCl(μ-Cl){ImDiPP(C2OH)-CNHC}]2 (6), unveiling the lability of the acac ligand and the resistance of the Pd-NHC bond to acids. Complex 6 reacted with a base to afford complex 4, in which alkoxide coordination to Pd(II) has occurred to generate a CNHC,O chelate. The stability of 3 was also assessed under basic conditions, and the new complex [Pd(acac){ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,O}] (7) was characterized. The new nickel(II) alcoholate-functionalized NHC complex [NiCl{μ-ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,O}]2 (8) was synthesized by the reaction of the imidazolium salt 2 with n-BuLi and [NiCl2(dme)]. The reaction of 8 with HCl regenerates the imidazolium and alcohol functions to give [ImDiPP(C2OH)]2[NiCl4] (9). The mixed-metal Ni(II)-Li(I) complexes [Ni2{μ-ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,μ-O}4Li]BF4 (10), [Ni2{μ-ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,μ-O}4Li]Cl (11), and [Ni{ImDiPP(C2O)-CNHC,μ-O}2LiBr] (12) were isolated and characterized. However, it was not possible to synthesize a Ni(II) alcohol-functionalized NHC complex in high yield. Small amounts of the square-planar complex [NiCl2{ImDiPP(C2OH)-CNHC}2] (13) could be isolated, and this complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 13, only the CNHC atom of the alcohol-functionalized NHC ligand is bound to the metal. The structures of the imidazolium salt 2·2H2O and of the complexes 3, 4, 4-polymorph, 5, 6·CH2Cl2, and 8-13 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

We report a novel iron(III)-based catalytic system formed by the addition of an anionic N,N,N ligand to an iron(III) precursor. The complex has been characterized by FT-IR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. This precatalyst proved to form a stable, active species for the selective oligomerization of ethylene. Up to 66 wt % of butenes was obtained with a selectivity of 98% in 1-butene.