Roman Savka

Fast Olefin Metathesis at Low Catalyst Loading

Reactions of the Grubbs 3rd generation complexes [RuCl(2)(NHC)(Ind)(Py)] (N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimidazolin)-2-ylidene (SIMes), 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimidazolin)-2-ylidene (SIPr), or 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimidazol)-2-ylidene (IPr); Ind=3-phenylindenylid-1-ene, Py=pyridine) with 2-ethenyl-N-alkylaniline (alkyl=Me, Et) result in the formation of the new N-Grubbs-Hoveyda-type complexes 5 (NHC=SIMes, alkyl=Me), 6 (SIMes, Et), 7 (IPr, Me), 8 (SIPr, Me), and 9 (SIPr, Et) with N-chelating benzylidene ligands in yields of 50-75 %. Compared to their respective, conventional, O-Grubbs-Hoveyda complexes, the new complexes are characterized by fast catalyst activation, which translates into fast and efficient ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactivity. Catalyst loadings of 15-150 ppm (0.0015-0.015 mol %) are sufficient for the conversion of a wide range of diolefinic substrates into the respective RCM products after 15 min at 50 °C in toluene; compounds 8 and 9 are the most catalytically active complexes. The use of complex 8 in RCM reactions enables the formation of N-protected 2,5-dihydropyrroles with turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 58,000 and turnover frequencies (TOFs) of up to 232,000 h(-1); the use of the N-protected 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines proceeds with TONs of up to 37,000 and TOFs of up to 147,000 h(-1); and the use of the N-protected 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroazepines proceeds with TONs of up to 19,000 and TOFs of up to 76,000 h(-1), with yields for these reactions ranging from 83-92 %.

Oxidation‐Triggered Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Eight new N-Hoveyda-type complexes were synthesized in yields of 67-92 % through reaction of [RuCl2 (NHC)(Ind)(py)] (NHC=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimidazolin)-2-ylidene (SIMes) or 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimidazolin)-2-ylidene (SIPr), Ind=3-phenylindenylid-1-ene, py=pyridine) with various 1- or 1,2-substituted ferrocene compounds with vinyl and amine or imine substituents. The redox potentials of the respective complexes were determined; in all complexes an iron-centered oxidation reaction occurs at potentials close to E=+0.5 V. The crystal structures of the reduced and of the respective oxidized Hoveyda-type complexes were determined and show that the oxidation of the ferrocene unit has little effect on the ruthenium environment. Two of the eight new complexes were found to be switchable catalysts, in that the reduced form is inactive in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cis-cyclooctene (COE), whereas the oxidized complexes produce polyCOE. The other complexes are not switchable catalysts and are either inactive or active in both reduced and oxidized states.

Triptycene‐Based Chiral and meso‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Metal Complexes

Based on 1-amino-4-hydroxy-triptycene, new saturated and unsaturated triptycene-NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands were synthesized from glyoxal-derived diimines. The respective carbenes were converted into metal complexes [(NHC)MX] (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=Cl, Br) and [(NHC)MCl(cod)] (M=Rh, Ir; cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) in good yields. The new azolium salts and metal complexes suffer from limited solubility in common organic solvents. Consequently, the introduction of solubilizing groups (such as 2-ethylhexyl or 1-hexyl by O-alkylation) is essential to render the complexes soluble. The triptycene unit infers special steric properties onto the metal complexes that enable the steric shielding of selected areas close to the metal center. Next, chiral and meso-triptycene based N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared. The key step in the synthesis of the chiral ligand is the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of 1-bromo-4-butoxy-triptycene with (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane, followed by cyclization to the azolinium salt with HC(OEt)3 . The analogous reaction with meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane provides the respective meso-azolinium salt. Both the chiral and meso-azolinium salts were converted into metal complexes including [(NHC)AuCl], [(NHC)RhCl(cod)], [(NHC)IrCl(cod)], and [(NHC)PdCl(allyl)]. An in situ prepared chiral copper complex was tested in the enantioselective borylation of α,β-unsaturated esters and found to give an excellent enantiomeric ratio (er close to 90:10).

Photochromic spiropyran- and spirooxazine-homopolymers in mesoporous thin films by surface initiated ROMP

The control of ionic permselectivity in porous films is an interesting aspect in the context of lab-on-chip devices and μ-electronics. Especially, visible light triggered ionic permselectivity control is of relevance because control by light can be maintained externally without changing internal system parameters. In addition, light is a sustainable energy source if sunlight is used. Here, we present the first mesoporous films modified with two different photochromic homopolymers by surface-initiated ring opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP). Spiropyran- and spirooxazine functionalized norbornene monomers and the corresponding ROMP homopolymers are synthesized in solution and in mesopores and compared concerning their optical properties such as photochromic conversion kinetics, photostability, and the ratio of converted molecules. Optical properties are investigated using UV/VIS spectroscopy and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Especially, spirooxazine, whose surface functionalization has not been studied in detail, shows fast switching properties and higher ratios of photochromically interconverted molecules. After grafting spiropyran- and spirooxazine norbornene homopolymers into mesopores, a slightly faster photochromic interconversion of polymers located inside the mesopores is observed compared to the solution polymers.