Heterobimetallic rare earth metal-zinc catalysts for reactions of epoxides and CO under ambient conditions.

Four homodinuclear rare earth metal (RE) complexes 1-4 bearing a multidentate diglycolamine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand were synthesized. In addition, seven heterobimetallic RE-Zn complexes 5-11 were prepared through a one-pot strategy. In these heterobimetallic complexes, two RE centers are bridged by either Zn(OAc) or Zn(OBn) moieties.

Rare-earth/zinc heterometallic complexes containing both alkoxy-amino-bis(phenolato) and chiral salen ligands: synthesis and catalytic application for copolymerization of CO with cyclohexene oxide.

Ten rare-earth/zinc heterometallic complexes containing both alkoxy-amino-bis(phenolato) and chiral salen ligands were synthesized from the reactions of alkoxy-amino-bis(phenolato) rare-earth complexes with chiral salen zinc complexes via ligand redistribution and THF disassociation. Six of them were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which showed 6-coordinate rare-earth and 5-coordinate zinc centres in the complexes. A primary catalytic application of these heterometallic complexes was studied, and it was found that samarium/zinc and dysprosium/zinc heterometallic complexes are highly efficient catalysts for copolymerization of CO2 with cyclohexene oxide while the alkoxy-amino-bis(phenolato) samarium complex and chiral salen zinc complex show very low catalytic activity or no catalytic activity for this copolymerization.

Synthesis of Homo- and Heteronuclear Rare-Earth Metal Complexes Stabilized by Ethanolamine-Bridged Bis(phenolato) Ligands and Their Application in Catalyzing Reactions of CO and Epoxides.

A series of homonuclear rare-earth (RE) metal complexes (1, 2, 3, and 4) and heteronuclear RE-Zn complexes (1, 3, and 5) stabilized by ethanolamine-bridged bis(phenolato) ligands was prepared and structurally characterized. Heteronuclear complexes are assembled through bridging acetate ligands, and their formation and characterization add to the diversity of 3d-4f complexes. Their activities in mediating reactions of CO and epoxides were evaluated and compared.