Megan E. Fieser

Dinitrogen Reduction via Photochemical Activation of Heteroleptic Tris(cyclopentadienyl) Rare-Earth Complexes

Dinitrogen can be reduced by photochemical activation of the Ln(3+) mixed-ligand tris(cyclopentadienyl) rare-earth complexes (η(5)-C5Me5)(3-x)(C5Me4H)(x)Ln (Ln = Y, Lu, Dy; x = 1, 2). [(C5Me4R)2Ln]2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2) products (R = H, Me) are formed in reactions in which N2 is reduced to (N═N)(2-) and (C5Me4H)(-) is oxidized to (C5Me4H)2. Density functional theory indicates that this unusual example of rare-earth photochemistry can be rationalized by absorptions involving the (η(3)-C5Me4H)(-) ligands.

(C5Me4H)1−-based reduction of dinitrogen by the mixed ligand tris(polyalkylcyclopentadienyl) lutetium and yttrium complexes, (C5Me5)3−x(C5Me4H)xLn

Synthesis of the mixed ligand complexes (C5Me5)(C5Me4H)2Ln (Ln = Lu, Y) for comparison with (C5Me5)2(C5Me4H)Ln to evaluate details of steric effects on reductive reactivity has revealed that (C5Me5)3−x(C5Me4H)xLn complexes can reduce dinitrogen to (NN)2−. (C5Me5)(C5Me4H)2Lu reacts with N2 to form [(C5Me5)(C5Me4H)Lu]2(μ-η2:η2-N2), (C5Me5)2(C5Me4H)Y reduces N2 to [(C5Me5)2Y]2(μ-η2:η2-N2), and (C5Me4H)3Sc converts N2 to [(C5Me4H)2Sc]2(μ-η2:η2-N2). Exclusive (C5Me4H)1− loss occurs in each case with formation of (C5Me4H)2 as the byproduct. (C5Me5)2, the signature byproduct of sterically induced reduction reactions, is not observed. Since these complexes do not exhibit unusual steric parameters and since the more crowded (C5Me5)2(C5Me4H)Lu and (C5Me5)3Y do not display analogous reactivity, these reactions do not appear to be sterically induced reductions and suggest a new type of ligand-based reduction pathway involving (C5Me4H)1−.

Mechanistic Insights into the Alternating Copolymerization of Epoxides and Cyclic Anhydrides Using a (Salph)AlCl and Iminium Salt Catalytic System

Mechanistic studies involving synergistic experiment and theory were performed on the perfectly alternating copolymerization of 1-butene oxide and carbic anhydride using a (salph)AlCl/[PPN]Cl catalytic pair. These studies showed a first-order dependence of the polymerization rate on the epoxide, a zero-order dependence on the cyclic anhydride, and a first-order dependence on the catalyst only if the two members of the catalytic pair are treated as a single unit. Studies of model complexes showed that a mixed alkoxide/carboxylate aluminum intermediate preferentially opens cyclic anhydride over epoxide. In addition, ring-opening of epoxide by an intermediate comprising multiple carboxylates was found to be rate-determining. On the basis of the experimental results and analysis by DFT calculations, a mechanism involving two catalytic cycles is proposed wherein the alternating copolymerization proceeds via intermediates that have carboxylate ligation in common, and a secondary cycle involving a bis-alkoxide species is avoided, thus explaining the lack of side reactions until the polymerization is complete.

Metal versus Ligand Reduction in Ln3+ Complexes of a Mesitylene-Anchored Tris(Aryloxide) Ligand

The synthesis of 4f n Ln3+ complexes of the tris(aryloxide) mesitylene ligand, ((Ad,MeArO)3mes)3-, with Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Sm, and Yb, and their reduction with potassium have revealed that this ligand system can be redox active with some metals. Protonolysis of [Ln(N(SiMe3)2)3] (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Sm, Yb) with the tris(phenol) (Ad,MeArOH)3mes yielded the Ln3+ complexes [((Ad,MeArO)3mes)Ln] (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Sm, Yb), 1-Ln. Single electron reduction of each 4f n complex, 1-Ln, using potassium yielded the reduced products, [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][((Ad,MeArO)3mes)Ln] (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Sm, Yb), 2-Ln. The Sm and Yb complexes have properties consistent with the presence of Ln2+ ions with traditional 4f n+1 electron configurations. However, the La, Ce, and Pr complexes appear to formally contain Ln3+ ions and ((Ad,MeArO)3mes)4- ligands. Structural comparisons of the [((Ad,MeArO)3mes)Ln] and [((Ad,MeOAr)3mes)Ln]1- complexes along with UV-vis absorption and EPR spectroscopy as well as density functional theory calculations support these ground state assignments.