Solution-Phase Conformational/Vibrational Anharmonicity in Comonomer Incorporation Polyolefin Catalysis.

The prediction of comonomer incorporation statistics in polyolefin catalysis necessitates an accurate calculation of free energies corresponding to monomer binding and insertion, often requiring sub-kcal/mol resolution to resolve experimental free energies. Batch reactor experiments are used to probe incorporation statistics of ethene and larger α-olefins for three constrained geometry complexes which are employed as model systems. Herein, over 6 ns of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics is performed in combination with the zero-temperature string method to characterize the solution-phase insertion barrier and to analyze the contributions from conformational and vibrational anharmonicity arising both in vacuum and in solution.

Diol-Ritter Reaction: Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Protected Vicinal Aminoalcohols and Mechanistic Aspects of Diol Monoester Disproportionation.

The well-known epoxide-Ritter reaction generally affords oxazolines with poor to average regioselectivity. Herein, a mechanism-based study of the less known diol-Ritter reaction has provided a highly regioselective procedure for the synthesis of 1--amido-2-esters from either terminal epoxides or 1,2-diols via Lewis acid-catalyzed monoesterification. When treated with a stoichiometric Lewis acid catalyst (BF), these diol monoesters form dioxonium cation intermediates that are ring-opened with nitrile nucleophiles to form nitrilium intermediates, which undergo rapid and irreversible hydration to give the desired amidoesters.

Using nature's blueprint to expand catalysis with Earth-abundant metals.

Numerous redox transformations that are essential to life are catalyzed by metalloenzymes that feature Earth-abundant metals. In contrast, platinum-group metals have been the cornerstone of many industrial catalytic reactions for decades, providing high activity, thermal stability, and tolerance to chemical poisons. We assert that nature's blueprint provides the fundamental principles for vastly expanding the use of abundant metals in catalysis.

Unexpected Precatalyst σ-Ligand Effects in Phenoxyimine Zr-Catalyzed Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymerizations.

Recent decades have witnessed intense research efforts aimed at developing new homogeneous olefin polymerization catalysts, with a primary focus on metal-Cl or metal-hydrocarbyl precursors. Curiously, metal-NR precursors have received far less attention. In this contribution, the Zr-amido complex FIZrX (FI = 2,4-di- tert-butyl-6-((isobutylimino)methyl)phenolate, X = NMe) is found to exhibit high ethylene polymerization activity and relatively high 1-octene coenchainment selectivity (up to 7.

Mechanistic and Synthetic Implications of the Diol-Ritter Reaction: Unexpected Yet Reversible Pathways in the Regioselective Synthesis of Vicinal-Aminoalcohols.

The Ritter reaction of 1,2-diolmonoesters with nitriles to 1- vic-amido-2-esters proceeds through dioxonium and nitrilium cation intermediates. To provide the basis for the reaction mechanism, novel forms of these cations were isolated, characterized, and studied by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray analysis. Ground and transition state energies were determined both experimentally and theoretically.

Development of group IV molecular catalysts for high temperature ethylene-α-olefin copolymerization reactions.

This Account describes our research related to the development of molecular catalysts for solution phase olefin polymerization. Specifically, a series of constrained geometry and nonmetallocene (imino-amido-type) complexes were developed for high temperature olefin polymerization reactions. We have discovered many highly active catalysts that are capable of operating at temperatures above 120 °C and producing copolymers with a useful range of molecular weights (from medium to ultrahigh depending on precatalyst identity and polymerization conditions) and α-olefin incorporation capability.

Cationic Group-IV pincer-type complexes for polymerization and hydroamination catalysis.

Neutral Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) dimethyl complexes stabilized by unsymmetrical dianionic {N,C,N'} pincer ligands have been prepared from their corresponding bis-amido complexes upon treatment with AlMe₃. Their structure consists of a central ó-bonded aryl donor group (C) capable of forming robust M-C bonds with the metal center, enforced by the synergic effect of both the coordination of peripheral donor groups (N) and the chelating rigid structure of the {N,C,N} ligand framework. Such a combination translates into systems having a unique balance between stability and reactivity.

Cationic Group-IV pincer-type complexes for polymerization and hydroamination catalysis.

Neutral Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) dimethyl complexes stabilized by unsymmetrical dianionic {N,C,N'} pincer ligands have been prepared from their corresponding bis-amido complexes upon treatment with AlMe3. Their structure consists of a central σ-bonded aryl donor group (C) capable of forming robust M-C bonds with the metal center, enforced by the synergic effect of both the coordination of peripheral donor groups (N) and the chelating rigid structure of the {N,C,N} ligand framework. Such a combination translates into systems having a unique balance between stability and reactivity.

Facing unexpected reactivity paths with Zr(IV)-pyridylamido polymerization catalysts.

This work provides original insights to the better understanding of the complex structure-activity relationship of Zr(IV)-pyridylamido-based olefin polymerization catalysts and highlights the importance of the metal-precursor choice (Zr(NMe(2))(4) vs. Zr(Bn)(4)) to prepare precatalysts of unambiguous identity. A temperature-controlled and reversible σ-bond metathesis/protonolysis reaction is found to take place on the Zr(IV)-amido complexes in the 298-383 K temperature range, changing the metal coordination sphere dramatically (from a five-coordinated tris-amido species stabilized by bidentate monoanionic {N,N(-)} ligands to a six-coordinated bis-amido-mono-amino complexes featured by tridentate dianionic {N(-),N,C(-)} ligands).

Synthesis of new compounds related to the commercial fungicide tricyclazole.

Background: Tricyclazole is a commercial fungicide used to control rice blast. As part of re-registration activities, samples of metabolites and process impurities are required. In addition, isotopically labeled tricyclazole samples are also required.

13C NMR of polyolefins with a new high temperature 10 mm cryoprobe.

Recently, a high temperature 10 mm cryoprobe was developed. This probe provides a significant sensitivity enhancement for (13)C NMR of polyolefins at a sample temperature of 120-135 degrees C, as compared to conventional probes. This greatly increases the speed of NMR studies of comonomer content, sequence distribution, stereo- and regioerrors, saturated chain end, unsaturation, and diffusion of polymers.

Ligands for practical rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation.

A series of bis-phosphite and bis-phosphine ligands for asymmetric hydroformylation reactions has been evaluated. Bis-phosphite ligands lead, in general, to high regioselectivities across a range of substrates while good enantioselectivities are limited to only a few examples. We found that bis-phospholane-type ligands, such as bis-diazaphospholanes and bis-phospholanes, can lead to very high regio- and enantioselectivities for several different substrates.

Bis-(2,5-diphenylphospholanes) with sp2 carbon linkers: synthesis and application in asymmetric hydrogenation.

Four chiral diphosphine ligands consisting of bis(2,5-diphenylphospholan-1-yl) groups connected by the sp(2) carbon linkers 2,3-quinoxaline ((S,S)-Ph-Quinox), 2,3-pyrazine ((S,S)-Ph-Pyrazine), maleic anhydride ((S,S)-Ph-MalPhos), and 1,1'-ferrocene ((S,S)-Ph-5-Fc) were synthesized, and their cationic [rhodium(I)(COD)] complexes were prepared. These complexes were tested in asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins. [((S,S)-Ph-Quinox)Rh(COD)]BF4 showed high activity and selectivity against itaconate and dehydroamino acid substrates.

Asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl acetate: application in the synthesis of optically active isoxazolines and imidazoles.

(R)- and (S)-2-(Acetyloxy)-propanal were prepared [93.8% ee, 102 b/l for (R), 96.9% ee, 149 b/l for (S)] via asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl acetate on a 150-180 g scale and were used as the starting materials in the synthesis of chiral isoxazoline and imidazole derivatives which proceeded without racemization of the chiral center.

Penultimate effect in ethylene-styrene copolymerization and the discovery of highly active ethylene-styrene catalysts with increased styrene reactivity.

For the first time commercially relevant catalysts for the copolymerization of ethylene and styrene have been identified. The catalysts maintain very high copolymer efficiencies at relatively high reactor temperatures without sacrificing styrene comonomer reactivity. The observations which led to this discovery are based upon the kinetic analysis of ethylene-styrene copolymerization using constrained geometry catalyst (eta5-C5Me4)(SiMe2-N-t-Bu)TiMe2 (1).

Synthesis of biologically active amines via rhodium-bisphosphite-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation.

[reaction: see text] We report the use of a highly regioselective rhodium-bisphosphite catalyst for olefin hydroaminomethylation. This catalyst system was successfully applied in the synthesis of two biologically active tertiary amines, ibutilide and aripiprazole.

Highly active, regioselective, and enantioselective hydroformylation with Rh catalysts ligated by Bis-3,4-diazaphospholanes.

Azines made by the reaction of hydrazine with ortho-formylbenzoic acid react with 1,2-diphosphinobenzene and either succinyl chloride or phthaloyl chloride in ca. 30% yield to give rac-bis-3,4-diazaphospholanes bearing benzoic acid groups in the 2 and 5 positions. Condensation of the benzoic acid functionalities with enantiomerically pure amines affords diastereomeric benzoamides which can be separated by flash chromatography.

Parallel ligand screening on olefin mixtures in asymmetric hydroformylation reactions.

[reaction: see text] Herein we describe a new protocol for catalyst evaluation in asymmetric hydroformylation reactions where multisubstrate screening is performed in an array of parallel reactors. This method was successfully demonstrated using a mixture of styrene, allyl cyanide, and vinyl acetate. Using this screening methodology, a set of phosphite ligands was evaluated and led to the discovery of a bisphosphite ligand that gave 88% ee and unprecedented >100:1 branched:linear regioselectivity in asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl acetate.

Synthesis and application of a new bisphosphite ligand collection for asymmetric hydroformylation of allyl cyanide.

A series of mono- and bidentate phosphites was prepared with (S)-5,5',6,6'-tetramethyl-3,3'-di-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-dioxy [(S)-BIPHEN] as a chiral auxiliary and screened in the asymmetric hydroformylation of allyl cyanide. These hydroformylation results were compared with those of two existing chiral ligands, Chiraphite and BINAPHOS, whose utility in asymmetric hydroformylation has been previously demonstrated. Bisphosphite 11 with a 2,2'-biphenol bridge was found to be the best overall ligand for asymmetric hydroformylation of allyl cyanide with up to 80% ee and regioselectivities (branch-to-linear ratio, b/l) of 20 with turnover frequency of 625 [h(-)(1)] at 35 degrees C.