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Abstract: The first three insertion steps of propylene for isoselective metallocenes from the one‐carbon‐bridged cyclopentadienyl–fluorenyl {Cp/Flu} and silicon‐bridged ansa‐bis(indenyl) {SBI} families were computed by using a theoretical method implementing the B3PW91 functional in combination with solvent corrections incorporated with the Solvation Model based on Density (SMD) continuum model. For C1‐symmetric {Cp/Flu}‐type metallocenes, two mechanisms of stereocontrol were validated theoretically: more facile and more stereoselective chain “stationary” insertion (or site epimerization backskip) and less stereoselective alternating mechanisms. For the C2‐symmetric {SBI}‐type system, the computation results were in complete agreement with the sole operating chain migratory insertion mechanism. The thermochemical data obtained through the study were used to predict microstructures of polypropylenes by using three‐parameter and one‐parameter statistical models for the two metallocene systems, respectively. The calculated meso/rac pentad distributions were found to be in good agreement with those determined experimentally for isotactic polypropylene samples obtained at different polymerization temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A joint experimental/theoretical (DFT) study of the activation of heteroallenes CO xS2- x ( x = 0-2) by [Sm(Giso)2] {Giso- = [(ArN)2CNCy2]-, Cy = cyclohexyl, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl} is reported. All heteroallenes are reduced in a different manner. Indeed, while activation of CS2 yields a bimetallic CS2 coupled product through C-S bond formation, CO2 forms an oxalate complex through C-C bond formation. This subsequently undergoes CO2 insertion into one of its Sm-N bonds. Finally, COS activation is predicted to yield a dithiocarbonate complex, through the formation of an intermediate sulfido complex [(Giso)2Sm(µ-S)Sm(Giso)2]. Therefore, [Sm(Giso)2] is a very versatile reagent, since it is a rare example of a complex that allows formation of several activation products involving valence isoelectronic substrates. This is rationalized by DFT calculations, and the latter emphasizes both the lack of kinetic stability of CS vs. CO and the high thermodynamic stability of the oxalate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction mechanisms for the oxidative reactions of CO2 and COS with [(C5Me5)2Sm] have been investigated by means of DFT methods. The experimental formation of oxalate and dithiocarbonate complexes is explained. Their formation involve the samarium(III) bimetallic complexes [(C5Me5)2Sm-CO2-Sm(C5Me5)2] and [(C5Me5)2Sm-COS-Sm(C5Me5)2] as intermediates, respectively, ruling out radical coupling for the formation of the oxalate complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A predictive reactivity of Cp2An(IV)Me2 (with An=uranium [U], neptunium [Np] and plutonium [Pu]) with pyridine N-oxide has been studied at the theoretical level. The predictive reaction, which consists in the formation of a formaldehyde complex, begins after the initial formation of a cyclometalated complex produced by a C-H activation of the pyridine N-oxide. A difference of reactivity between U/Pu and Np has been observed and has been attributed to the presence of a more covalent bond between Np and the carbene group in the transition state of formation of a transient carbene intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]