Neutral and Cationic Rare Earth Metal Alkyl and Benzyl Compounds with the 1,4,6-Trimethyl-6-pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,4-diazepane Ligand and Their Performance in the Catalytic Hydroamination/Cyclization of Aminoalkenes

A new neutral tridentate 1,4,6-trimethyl-6-pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,4-diazepane (L) was prepared. Reacting L with trialkyls M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 (M = Sc, Y) and tribenzyls M(CH2Ph)3(THF)3 (M = Sc, La) yielded trialkyl complexes (L)M(CH2SiMe3)3 (M = Sc, 1; M = Y, 2) and tribenzyl complexes (L)M(CH2Ph)3 (M = Sc, 3; M = La, 4). Complexes 1 and 2 can be converted to their corresponding ionic compounds [(L)M(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)][B(C6H5)4] (M = Sc, Y) by reaction with [PhNMe2H][B(C6H5)4] in THF. Complexes 3 and 4 can be converted to cationic species [(L)M(CH2Ph)2]+ by reaction with [PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4] in C6D5Br in the absence of THF. The neutral complexes 1-4 and their cationic derivatives were studied as catalysts for the hydroamination/cyclization of 2,2-diphenylpent-4-en-1-amine and N-methylpent-4-en-1-amine reference substrates and compared with ligand-free Sc, Y, and La neutral and cationic catalysts. The most effective catalysts in the series were the cationic L-yttrium catalyst (for 2,2-diphenylpent-4-en-1-amine) and the cationic lanthanum systems (for N-methylpent-4-en-1-amine). For the La catalysts, evidence was obtained for release of L from the metal during catalysis.

Yttrium-Alkyl Complexes Supported by a Ferrocene-Based Phosphinimine Ligand

The synthesis and characterization of two yttrium alkyl complexes supported by a bisphosphinimine ferrocene ligand, <b>NP</b>^<b>fc</b> (1,1′-di­(2,4-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-6-diphenylphosphiniminophenoxy)­ferrocene), were accomplished. Although <b>(NP</b>^<b>fc</b><b>)­Y­(CH</b>_<b>2</b><b>Ph)</b> and <b>(NP</b>^<b>fc</b>)<b>Y­(CH</b>_<b>2</b><b>SiMe</b>_<b>3</b><b>)</b> could be structurally characterized, these compounds are thermally sensitive and decompose at ambient temperature within hours. Their characterization was accomplished by NMR spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, and elemental analysis. Reactivity studies were also carried out; however, the lack of prolonged thermal stability at ambient temperature of these molecules led to decomposition before a clean transformation to reaction products could be observed