Tunable Keplerate Type-Cluster "Mo132 " Cavity with Dicarboxylate Anions.

The internal functionalization of the Keplerate-type capsule Mo132 has been carried out by ligand exchange leading to the formation of glutarate and succinate containing species isolated as ammonium or dimethylammonium salts. Solution NMR analysis is consistent with asymmetric inner dicarboxylate ions containing one carboxylato group grafted onto the inner side of the spheroidal inorganic shell while the second hangs toward the center of the cavity. Such a disposition has been confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the glutarate containing {Mo132 } species.

Scandium versus yttrium{amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)} complexes for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide and β-butyrolactone.

Scandium and yttrium amide complexes Ln{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2)(THF)n (Ln = Sc, n = 0 or Y, n = 1; X = NMe2 or OMe; R(1) = Cumyl or p-Cl-Cumyl; R(2) = Me or Cumyl) were prepared by aminolysis of Ln[N(SiHMe2)2]3(THF) with the corresponding tetradentate diamino- or alkoxy-amino-bis(phenol) pro-ligands {ONXO(R1,R2)}H2. In the solid state and in toluene solution, the scandium complexes are monomeric and 5-coordinated, while the analogous yttrium complexes all bear an extra THF-coordinated molecule and are 6-coordinated. Sc{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2) complexes are single-site initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic lactide but are less active than their yttrium analogues Y{ONXO(R1,R2)}(N(SiHMe2)2)(THF); also, in contrast to the latter ones, they are inactive in the ROP of the more demanding racemic β-butyrolactone.

Binucleating behaviour of a proximally-diphosphinated calix[4]arene.

The long diphosphine 5,11-diphenylphosphanyl-25,26-dipropyloxy-27,28-bis(2-propenyloxy) calix[4]arene (cone) (5), in which the two phosphorus atoms are separated by a semi-rigid linking unit, was prepared in four steps starting from calix[4]arene. Reaction of 5 with AuCl(SEt(2)) or [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) led to calixarenes bearing two metallated pendant arms, [5·(AuCl)(2)] and [5·{RuCl(2)(p-cymene)}(2)], respectively. In the presence of AgBF(4) or [Ni(C(5)H(5))(1,5-cyclooctadiene)]BF(4), diphosphine 5 displayed a marked tendency to form oligomeric material, but under high dilution conditions dimeric species were obtained selectively.