Tridentate CCC-Pincer Bis(carbene)-Ligated Rare-Earth Metal Dibromides. Synthesis and Characterization

The first xylene-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) (bis(NHC))-ligated CCC-pincer rare-earth metal dibromides (PBNHC)LnBr(2)(THF) (PBNHC = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3C6H2NCHCHNCCH2)(2)C6H3; 1: Ln = Sc; 2: Ln = Lu; 3: Lu = Sm) were prepared by in situ treatment of a THF suspension of 2,6-bis(1-mesitylimidazolium methyl)-1-bromobenzene dibromides ((PB-NHC-Br) center dot 2HBr) and lanthanide trichlorides (LnCl(3)) with dropwise addition of nBuLi at room temperature.

Highly 3,4-selective living polymerization of isoprene with rare earth metal fluorenyl N-heterocyclic carbene precursors

Fluorenyl modified N-heterocyclic carbene ligated rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes, (Flu-NHC)Ln(CH2SiMe3)2 (Flu-NHC = (C13H8CH2CH2(NCHCCHN)C6H2Me3-2,4,6); Ln = Sc (1a); Ln = Y (1b); Ln = Ho (1c); Ln = Lit (1d)), were synthesized and fully characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses. Complexes Ib-d with the activation of (AlBu3)-Bu-i and [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] exhibited high activity, medium syndio-but remarkably high 3,4-regio-selectivity, and the unprecedented livingness for the polymerization of isoprene. Such distinguished catalytic performances could be maintained under various monomer-to-initiator ratios (500-5000) and broad polymerization temperatures (25-80 degrees C).

Copolymerization of ethylene with norbornene catalyzed by cationic rare earth metal fluorenyl functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes attached by fluorenyl modified N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) (Flu-NHC)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2) (Flu-NHC = (C13H8CH2CH2(NCHCCHN)C6H2Me3-2,4,6); Ln = Sc (2a); Y (2b); Ho (2c); Lu (2d)), ((tBu)Flu-NHC)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2) ((tBu)Flu-NHC = 2,7-(Bu2C13H6CH2CH2)-Bu-t(NCHCCHN)C6H2Me3-2,4,6; Ln = Sc (1a); Lu (1d)) and attached by indenyl modified N-heterocyclic carbene (Ind-NHC)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2) (Ind-NHC = C9H6CH2CH2(NCHCCHN)C6H2Me3-2,4,6; Ln = Sc (3a); Lu (3d)), under the activation of (AlBu3)-Bu-i and [Ph3C][B(C6F5)(4)], showed varied catalytic activities toward homo- and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene. Among which the scandium complexes, in spite of ligand type, exhibited medium to high catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization (10(5) g mol(Sc)(-1) h(-1) atm(-1)), but all were almost inert to norbornene polymerization. Remarkably, higher activity was found for the copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene when using Sc based catalytic systems, which reached up to 5 x 10(6) g mol(Sc)(-1) h(-1) atm(-1) with 2a. The composition of the isolated copolymer was varying from random to alternating according to the feed ratio of the two monomers (r(E) = 4.1, r(NB) = 0.013).

Synthesis of the first rare earth metal bis(alkyl)s bearing an indenyl functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene

Treatment of indenyl-modified imidazolium bromide [C9H7CH2CH2(NCHCHN(C6H2Me3-2,4,6)CH)Br] ((IndH-NHC-H)Br) with rare earth metal tetra(alkyl) lithium (Ln(CH2SiMe3)(4)Li(THF)(4)) or with (trimethylsilylmethyl)lithium (LiCH2SiMe3) and rare earth metal tris(alkyl)s (Ln(CH2SiMe3)(3)(THF)(2)) sequentially afforded the first NHC-stabilized monomeric rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes (Ind-NHC)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2) (1, Ln = Y; 2, Ln = Lu; 3, Ln = Sc) via double-deprotonation reactions. Complexes 1-3 are THF-free isostructural monomers. The monoanionic Ind-NHC species bond to the central metal ion in a eta(5):kappa(1) constrained geometry configuration (CGC) mode, which combine with the two cis-located alkyl moieties to form a tetrahedron ligand core, leading to the chirality of the complexes. Under the presence of activators AlEt3 and [Ph3C][B(C6F5)(4)], complex 2 showed catalytic activity toward the polymerization of isoprene to afford 3,4-regulated polyisoprene (91%).

Synthesis and reactivity of rare earth metal alkyl complexes stabilized by anilido phosphinimine and amino phosphine ligands

Anilido phosphinimino ancillary ligand H2L1 reacted with one equivalent of rare earth metal trialkyl [Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(3)(thf)(2)] (Ln = Y, Lu) to afford rare earth metal monoalkyl complexes [L(1)LnCH(2)Si(CH3)(3)(THF)] (1a: Ln = Y; 1b: Ln = Lu). In this process, deprotonation of H2L1 by one metal alkyl species was followed by intramolecular C-H activation of the phenyl group of the phosphine moiety to generate dianionic species L-1 with release of two equivalnts of tetramethylsilane. Ligand L-1 coordinates to Ln(3+) ions in a rare C,N,N tridentate mode. Complex 1a reacted readily with two equivalents of 2,6-diisopropylaniline to give the corresponding bis-amido complex [(HL1)LnY(NHC(6)H(3)iPr(2)-2,6)(2)] (2) selectively, that is, the C-H activation of the phenyl group is reversible. When 1a was exposed to moisture, the hydrolyzed dimeric complex [{(HL1)Y(OH)}(2)](OH)(2) (3) was isolated. Treatment of [Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(3)-(thf)(2)] with amino phosphine ligands HL2-R gave stable rare earth metal bisalkyl complexes [(L2-R)Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(2)(thf)] (4a: Ln=Y, R=Me; 4b: Ln=Lu, R=Me; 4c: Ln=Y, R=iPr; 4d: Ln=Y, R=iPr) in high yields. No proton abstraction from the ligand was observed. Amination of 4a and 4c with 2,6-diisopropylaniline afforded the bis-amido counterparts [(L2-R)Y(NHC(6)H(3)iPr(2)-2,6)(2)(thf)] (5a: R=Me; 5b: R=iPr).