Selective ethylene trimerization by titanium complexes bearing phenoxy-imine ligands: NMR and EPR Spectroscopic studies of the reaction intermediates

The catalyst systems (FI)TiCl₃/MAO (FI = phenoxyimine ligand with an additional aryl–O–CH₃ donor) display exceptionally high activity in selective ethylene trimerization. By means of NMR and EPR spectroscopy, the nature of the Ti species formed in the catalyst systems (FI)TiCl₃/MAO, (FI)TiCl₃/MMAO, and (FI)TiCl₃/AlR₃/[Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ (R = Me, Et, ⁱBu) has been studied. It was shown that outer-sphere ion pairs of the type [(FI)TiIVMe₂]⁺[A]⁻ ([A]− = [MeMAO]⁻, [MeMMAO]⁻, [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻) are formed at the initial stage of the reaction of (FI)TiCl₃ with MAO, MMAO, and AlMe₃/[Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻. These ion pairs further partially convert into TiIII and TiII species. In the systems (FI)TiCl₃/MAO and (FI)TiCl₃/AlMe₃/[Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F5)₄]⁻, complexes with the proposed structures (FI)TiIIIMe₂, (FI)TiIICl, and [(FI)TiII(S)]⁺[A]⁻ ([A]− = [MeMAO]⁻, [B(C₆F₅)4)]⁻, S = solvent, vacancy) were observed (concentrations of TiIII species was lower than those of the TiII congeners). In contrast, in the system (FI)TiCl₃/MMAO, the concentrations of TiIII species (ion pairs of the type [(FI)TiIII(μ-H)(μ-Cl)AlⁱBu₂]⁺[MeMMAO]⁻) were higher than those of the TiII counterparts (ion pairs [(FI)TiII(S)]⁺[MeMMAO]⁻). The system (FI)TiCl₃/MMAO displays lower activity and selectivity in 1-hexene formation, in comparison to (FI)TiCl₃/MAO, due to undesirable PE generation. Probably, TiII and TiIV ion pairs are those participating in ethylene trimerization

Formation of Trivalent Zirconocene Complexes from ansa-Zirconocene-Based Olefin-Polymerization Precatalysts: An EPR- and NMR-Spectroscopic Study

Reduction of Zr(IV) metallocenium cations with sodium amalgam (NaHg) produces EPR signals assignable to Zr(III) metallocene complexes. The chloro-bridged heterodinuclear ansa-zirconocenium cation [(SBI)Zr(μ-Cl)_2AlMe_2]^+ (SBI = rac-dimethylsilylbis(1-indenyl)), present in toluene solution as its B(C_6F_5)_4^– salt, thus gives rise to an EPR signal assignable to the complex (SBI)Zr^(III)(μ-Cl)_2AlMe_2, while (SBI)ZrIII-Me and (SBI)Zr^(III)(μ-H)_2Al^(i)Bu_2 are formed by reduction of [(SBI)Zr(μ-Me)_2AlMe_2]^+ B(C_6F_5)_4– and [(SBI)Zr(μ-H)_3(AliBu_2)_2]^+ B(C_6F_5)_4^–, respectively. These products can also be accessed, along with (SBI)ZrIII-iBu and [(SBI)ZrIII]^+ AlR_4^–, when (SBI)ZrMe_2 is allowed to react with HAl^(i)Bu_2, eliminating isobutane en route to the Zr(III) complex. Further studies concern interconversion reactions between these and other (SBI)Zr(III) complexes and reaction mechanisms involved in their formation

Activation of Bis(pyrrolylaldiminato) and (Salicylaldiminato)(pyrrolylaldiminato) Titanium Polymerization Catalysts with Methylalumoxane

Cationic intermediates formed upon activation of an olefin polymerization catalyst based on bis[N-phenylpyrrolylaldiminato]titanium(IV) dichloride (L2TiCl2, I ) and [N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoroanilinato-N‘-phenylpyrrolylaldiminato]titanium(IV) dichloride (L‘LTiCl2, II ) with methylalumoxane (MAO) have been identified. Outer-sphere ion pairs of the type [L2TiMe(S)]+[MeMAO]- and [L‘LTiMe(S)]+[MeMAO]- capable of ethene polymerization have been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Unlike methyl metallocenium cations, the barrier of the first ethene insertion into the Ti-Me bonds of these species is not significantly higher than that of subsequent insertions. Surprisingly, whereas homoligated catalyst precursors L2TiCl2 in the presence of MAO are prone to ligand transfer to aluminum, under the same conditions the heteroligated system L‘LTiCl2/MAO proved resistant to ligand scrambling

Direct Selective Oxidative Functionalization of C–H Bonds with H2O2: Mn-Aminopyridine Complexes Challenge the Dominance of Non-Heme Fe Catalysts

Non-heme iron(II) complexes are widespread synthetic enzyme models, capable of conducting selective C–H oxidation with H2O2 in the presence of carboxylic acid additives. In the last years, structurally similar manganese(II) complexes have been shown to catalyze C–H oxidation with similarly high selectivity, and with much higher efficiency. In this mini-review, recent catalytic and mechanistic data on the selective C–H oxygenations with H2O2 in the presence of manganese complexes are overviewed. A distinctive feature of catalyst systems of the type Mn complex/H2O2/carboxylic is the existence of two alternative reaction pathways (as found for the oxidation of cumenes), one leading to the formation of alcohol, and the other to ester. The mechanisms of formation of the alcohol and the ester are briefly discussed

α-Diimine Ni-Catalyzed Ethylene Polymerizations: On the Role of Nickel(I) Intermediates

Nickel(II) complexes with bidentate N,N-α-diimine ligands constitute a broad class of promising catalysts for the synthesis of branched polyethylenes via ethylene homopolymerization. Despite extensive studies devoted to the rational design of new Ni(II) α-diimines with desired catalytic properties, the polymerization mechanism has not been fully rationalized. In contrast to the well-characterized cationic Ni(II) active sites of ethylene polymerization and their precursors, the structure and role of Ni(I) species in the polymerization process continues to be a “black box”. This perspective discusses recent advances in the understanding of the nature and role of monovalent nickel complexes formed in Ni(II) α-diimine-based ethylene polymerization catalyst systems

The origin of living polymerization with an o-fluorinated catalyst : NMR spectroscopic characterization of chain-carrying species

To characterize the origin of living polymerization with nonmetallocene titanium-based catalysts containing o-fluoroaryl substituents, ethene polymerization by an o-fluorinated bis(enolatoimine) titanium catalyst and its nonfluorinated counterpart has been studied by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy by using methylaluminoxane (MAO) or AlMe3/CPh3B(C6F5)4 as activators. Formation of ion pairs of the type [TiL2Me][MeMAO] and [TiL2Me][B(C6F5)4] has been observed for both catalysts. These ion pairs react with ethene to afford the chain-propagating species [TiL2P][MeMAO] and [TiL2P][B(C6F5)4], respectively (P=growing polymeryl chain). For the o-F-substituted catalyst species of the second type, NMR spectroscopy provides evidence that the o-F substituents interact with the metal center. This interaction is proposed to keep the polymerization catalysis living by suppressing chain transfer to AlMe3 and β-hydrogen transfer processes

Isoinversion Behavior in the Enantioselective Oxidations of Pyridylmethylthiobenzimidazoles to Chiral Proton Pump Inhibitors on Titanium Salalen Complexes

The oxidation of two pyridylmethylthiobenzimidazoles to proton pump inhibitors (<i>S</i>)-omeprazole and (<i>R</i>)-lansoprazole, and to their enantiomers, with H₂O₂ is achieved by using chiral titanium salalen complexes as catalysts. The latter ensure high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) and efficiencies (TN 200–300), with high sulfoxide yields (up to >96%). The oxidation enantioselectivities vary with temperature in a nonmonotonic manner, demonstrating isoinversion behavior. Maximum enantioselectivity is attained at 273···283 K, which temperature region may be recommended for preparative oxidations. Kinetic peculiarities and the oxidation mechanism are discussed