Evgueni Kirillov

Exploring electronic versus steric effects in stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of lactide and β-butyrolactone with amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)-yttrium complexes.

A series of methoxy-amino-bis(phenol)s (ONOO(R(1),R(2)))H(2) possessing on the phenol rings R(1) ortho substituents with variable steric and electronic properties (R(1)=CMe(2)Ph, 1; CMe(2)tBu, 3; CMe(2)(4-CF(3)C(6)H(4)), 5; CPh(3), 9; Cl, 10) has been synthesized and further reacted with [Y{N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(3)](THF)(2) to give cleanly the corresponding yttrium compounds [Y(ONOO(R(1),R(2))){N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(thf)(n)] (Y-x); the solid-state structures of Y-3 and Y-10 have been determined. These amido complexes have been used as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (LA) and rac-β-butyrolactone (BBL) to provide heterotactically enriched poly(lactic acid)s (PLAs) and syndiotactically enriched poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)s (PHBs), respectively, by means of a chain-end control mechanism. Most of these polymerizations proceeded in a controlled fashion, giving polymers with narrow polydispersities and experimental molecular weights in good agreement with calculated values. The nature of the R(1) ortho substituents has a profound impact on the rates and, more spectacularly, on the stereocontrol of the polymerizations. The heterotactic stereocontrol in the ROP of rac-LA appears to be governed essentially by steric considerations; the larger the substituent, the higher the heterotacticity: R(1)=Cl (P(r)=0.56)≪CMe(3) (P(r)=0.80)≪CMe(2)Ph (P(r)=0.90)<CMe(2)(4 CF(3)-Ph) (P(r)=0.93-0.94)≤CMe(2)tBu (P(r)=0.94-0.95)≤CPh(3) (P(r)=0.95-0.96). On the other hand, the syndiotactic stereocontrol in the polymerization of rac-BBL follows a quite different trend: R(1)=Cl (P(r)=0.42-0.45)≪CMe(2)tBu (P(r)=0.62-0.70)<CMe(3) (P(r)=0.80)≤CMe(2) (4 CF(3)-Ph) (P(r)=0.82-0.84)<CMe(2)Ph (P(r)=0.89)<CPh(3) (P(r)=0.94), which suggests the involvement of electronic interactions. DFT computations on model intermediates confirmed a stabilizing C-H···π interaction between a methylene C-H of the ring-opened BBL unit and the π system of one of the ortho-aryl substituents of the ONOO(R(1)) ligand; by contrast, for model intermediates in the ROP of LA, no such C-H···π interaction involving the methyl group of lactate was observed.

Beyond Stereoselectivity, Switchable Catalysis: Some of the Last Frontier Challenges in Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters

Metal-based catalysts and initiators have played a pivotal role in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, thanks to their high activity and remarkable ability to control precisely the architectures of the resulting polyesters in terms of molar mass, dispersity, microstructure, or tacticity. Today, after two decades of extensive research, the field is slowly reaching maturity. However, several challenges remain, while original concepts have emerged around new types or new applications of catalysis. This Review is not intended to comprehensively cover all of these aspects. Rather, it provides a personal overview of the very recent progress achieved in some selected, important aspects of ROP catalysis--stereocontrol and switchable catalysis. Hence, the first part addresses the development of new metal-based catalysts for the isoselective ROP of racemic lactide towards stereoblock copolymers, and the use of syndioselective ROP metal catalysts to control the monomer sequence in copolymers. A second part covers the development of ROP catalysts--primarily metal-based catalysts, but also organocatalysts--that can be externally regulated by the use of chemical or photo stimuli to switch them between two states with different catalytic abilities. Current challenges and opportunities are highlighted.

Dinuclear vs. mononuclear complexes: accelerated, metal-dependent ring-opening polymerization of lactide.

Dinuclear complexes of aluminum and indium with a bis(phenoxy-imine) platform have been synthesized and used in the polymerization of lactide. Kinetic studies demonstrate that the dialuminum precursor provides a more favorable reaction pathway in terms of activation free energy than that of directly related monoaluminum systems. No similar trend is observed with the corresponding diindium-monoindium systems, which is attributed to a dissimilar ROP mechanism.

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. On the other hand, the scandium amide complexes feature a significantly improved control over the ROP of lactide, yielding PLAs with much narrower molecular weight distributions (Đ(M) < 1.1 for Sc vs. 1.5-2.0 for Y). The yttrium complex with the very bulky o,p-dicumyl-substituted ligand is more heteroselective than its scandium analogue (P(r) = 0.88 vs. 0.83), while the opposite is observed with complexes based on p-methyl-substituted ligands (P(r) = 0.50 in toluene or 0.72-0.75 in THF for Y vs. P(r) = 0.75-0.83 for Sc in toluene). These reactivity and selectivity trends are rationalized by a much more sterically crowded coordination sphere in scandium than in yttrium complexes.

Carboxylic acid derivatives via catalytic carboxylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons: whether the nature of a reductant may determine the mechanism of CO2 incorporation?

Application of CO2 as a renewable feedstock and C1 building block for production of commodity and fine chemicals is a highly challenging but obvious industry-relevant task. Of particular interest is the catalytic coupling of CO2 with inexpensive unsaturated hydrocarbons (olefins, dienes, styrenes, alkynes), providing direct access to carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Although not brand new for the scientific community, it is still a complete challenge, as no truly effective catalytic system has been reported to date. In this Perspective, we discuss the available experimental, theoretical and mechanistic data for such homogeneously catalyzed carboxylation processes. A special focus is placed on the understanding of the key elementary steps and of some thermodynamic and kinetic constraints.

Syndioselective ring-opening polymerization and copolymerization of trans-1,4-cyclohexadiene carbonate mediated by achiral metal- and organo-catalysts

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of trans-1,4-cyclohexadiene carbonate (CHDC) has been investigated computationally and experimentally. DFT computations indicate that ring-opening of CHDC is thermodynamically possible, yet to a lesser extent than that of trans-cyclohexene carbonate (CHC). Effective homopolymerizations of rac-CHDC and simultaneous or sequential copolymerizations of rac-CHDC with rac-CHC and L-LA were achieved with a diaminophenolate zinc-based complex ([(NNO)ZnEt]) or a guanidine (TBD) associated with an alcohol. These ROP reactions, which confirmed the lower reactivity of rac-CHDC vs. rac-CHC, especially in homopolymerization, proceeded without any decarboxylation. Quite uniquely, highly syndiotactic PCHDC was obtained from ROP of rac-CHDC with both the zinc- and TBD-based catalysts, as revealed by 13C{1H} NMR studies. The prepared homopolymers and block or random copolymers were characterized by 1H, 13C{1H} NMR, MALDI-ToF MS, SEC and DSC techniques.

Heterobi- and -trimetallic Ion Pairs of Zirconocene-Based Isoselective Olefin Polymerization Catalysts with AlMe3†

The reactivity towards AlMe3 of discrete cationic ansa-zirconocenes 2 a,b that are ubiquitously used in isoselective propylene polymerization and based on [{Ph(H)C(3,6-tBu2-Flu)(3-tBu-5-Et-Cp)}ZrMe2)] {Cp-Flu} and rac-[{Me2Si-(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2}ZrMe2] {SBI} was scrutinized. The first example of a structurally characterized Group 4 metallocene AlMe3 adduct (3 b) is reported. In the presence of excess AlMe3, the {SBI}-based AlMe3 adduct 3 b undergoes a slow decomposition via C-H activation in a bridging methyl unit to yield a new species (4 b) with a trimetallic {Zr(μ-CH2)(μ-Me)AlMe(μ-Me)AlMe2} core. EXSY NMR data for the process 2 b⇄3 b→4 b suggest very rapid and reversible binding of an additional AlMe3 molecule onto AlMe3 adduct 3 b. The resulting heterotrimetallic species intermediates exchange of methyl groups between different metal centers and slowly undergoes the C-H activation reaction towards 4 b.

Tandem C(sp2)–OMe Activation/C(sp2)–C(sp2) Coupling in Early Transition-Metal Complexes: Aromatic C–O Activation beyond Late Transition Metals

We report on combined structural, kinetic, and computational studies unraveling the mechanism of a unique, highly selective intramolecular C(sp(2))-OMe cleavage/C(sp(2))-C(sp(2)) coupling tandem reaction in group 3 metal (Y and Sc) complexes of amidine-amidopyridinate ligands. The latter process represents a rare stoichiometric model of the nonredox cleavage of inert C(sp(2))-O bonds relevant to cross-coupling reactions of aromatic ethers catalyzed by late transition metals.

Ni(II) complexes bearing pyrrolide-imine ligands with pendant N-, O- and S-donor groups: synthesis, structural characterization and use in ethylene oligomerization

A series of new Ni(II) complexes of general formula {L}NiCl [Ni1, L = 2-(C4H3N-2′-CHN)C2H4NHPh; Ni2, L = 5-tert-butyl-2-(C4H2N-2′-CHN)C2H4NHPh; Ni3, L = 2-(C4H3N-2′-CHN)C2H4OPh; Ni4, L = 2-(C4H3N-2′-CHN)C6H4-2′-OPh; Ni5, L = 2-(C4H3N-2′-CHN)C6H4-2′-SPh; Ni6, L = 2-(C4H3N-2′-CHN)CH2C6H4-2′-OMe] were prepared and fully characterized. All nickel precatalysts, activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), exhibited moderate to good activities for ethylene oligomerization [TOF = 6.1–71.3 × 103 mol (C2H4) (mol (Ni)−1 h−1)] and producing high selectivities for 1-butene (68.3–94.0 wt%). The catalytic performance was substantially affected by the ligand environment regarding the pendant oxygen- and sulfur-donor groups, and the substituents on the pyrrolide group. Activation of nickel precatalyst Ni3 with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et3Al2Cl3, EASC) instead of MAO produced a significantly more productive catalyst system than Ni2/MAO (TOF = 153 700 vs. 43 500 mol (C2H4) (mol (Ni)−1 h−1)); however, the 1-butene selectivity was drastically reduced, attaining only 53 wt% with a concomitant production of larger amounts of internal butenes (38 wt%). Under optimized conditions ([Ni] = 10 μmol, 30 °C, oligomerization time = 20 min, 20 bar ethylene, [Al]/[Ni] = 250), precatalyst Ni3 led to a TOF = 55 900 mol (C2H4) (mol (Ni)−1 h−1) and 82.8 wt% selectivity for 1-butene.

Highly Stereocontrolled Ring-Opening Polymerization of Racemic Alkyl β-Malolactonates Mediated by Yttrium [Amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)] Complexes.

Yttrium [amino-alkoxy-bis(phenolate)]amido complexes have been used for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic alkyl β-malolactonates (4-alkoxycarbonyl-2-oxetanones, rac-MLA(R) s) bearing an allyl (All), benzyl (Bz) or methyl (Me) lateral ester function. The nature of the ortho-substituent on the phenolate rings in the metal ancillary dictated the stereocontrol of the ROP, and consequently the syndiotactic enrichment of the resulting polyesters. ROP promoted by catalysts with halogen (Cl, Br)-disubstituted ligands allowed the first reported synthesis of highly syndiotactic PMLA(R) s (Pr ≥ 0.95); conversely, catalysts bearing bulky alkyl and aryl ortho-substituted ligands proved largely ineffective. All polymers have been characterized by (1) H and (13) C{(1) H} NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry and DSC analyses. Statistical and thermal analyses enabled the rationalization of the chain-end control mechanism. Whereas the stereocontrol of the polymerization obeyed a Markov first-order (Mk1) model for the ROP of rac-MLA(Bz) and rac-MLA(All) , the ROP of rac-MLA(Me) led to a chain end-control of Markov second-order type (Mk2). DFT computations suggest that the high stereocontrol ability featured by catalysts bearing Cl- and Br-substituted ligands does not likely originate from halogen bonding between the halogen substituent and the growing polyester chain.