Yaorong Wang

Synthesis and characterization of amine-bridged bis(phenolate)lanthanide alkoxides and their application in the controlled polymerization of rac-lactide and rac-β-butyrolactone.

A series of neutral lanthanide alkoxides supported by an amine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand were synthesized, and their catalytic behaviors for the polymerization of rac-lactide (LA) and rac-β-butyrolactone (BBL) were explored. The reactions of (C(5)H(5))(3)Ln(THF) with amine-bridged bis(phenol) LH(2) [L = Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N{CH(2)-(2-OC(6)H(2)Bu(t)(2)-3,5)}(2)] in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF for 1 h and then with 1 equiv each of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, benzyl alcohol, and 2-propanol gave the neutral lanthanide alkoxides LLn(OCH(2)CF(3))(THF) [Ln = Y (1), Yb (2), Er (3), Sm (4)], LY(OCH(2)Ph)(THF) (5), and LY(OPr(i))(THF) (6), respectively. These lanthanide alkoxides are sensitive to moisture, and the yttrium complex [(LY)(2)(μ-OPr(i))(μ-OH)] (7) was also isolated as a byproduct during the synthesis of complex 6. Complexes 1-6 were well characterized by elemental analyses and IR and NMR spectroscopy in the cases of complexes 1 and 4-6. The definitive molecular structures of all of these complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. It was found that complexes 1-6 can initiate efficiently the ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA and rac-BBL in a controlled manner. For rac-LA, polymerization gave polymers with very narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI ≤ 1.12) and very high heterotacticity (P(r) up to 0.99). The observed activity-increasing order is in agreement with the order of the ionic radii, whereas the order for stereoselectivity is in the reverse order. For rac-BBL polymerization, the resultant polymers have narrow molecular distributions (PDI ≤ 1.26) and high syndiotacticity (P(r) up to 0.83). It is worth noting that the activity-decreasing order Yb > Er > Y >> Sm is observed for rac-BBL polymerization, which is opposite to the order of ionic radii and to the order of activity for rac-LA polymerization. The ionic radii of lanthanide metals have no obvious effect on the stereoselectivity for rac-BBL polymerization, which is quite different from that for rac-LA polymerization. End-group analysis of the oligomer of rac-BBL suggested that elimination side reactions occurred slowly in these systems, which led to chain cleavage and the formation of crotonate (and carboxy) end groups.

Bimetallic aluminum alkyl complexes as highly active initiators for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Two dinuclear aluminum alkyl complexes supported by a piperazidine-bridged bis(phenolato) group were prepared, and both complexes exhibited extremely high activity for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. In the presence of benzyl alcohol (BnOH), the polymerization accelerated dramatically.

Synthesis of Oxazolidinones from Epoxides and Isocyanates Catalyzed by Rare‐Earth‐Metal Complexes

Rare‐earth‐metal complexes stabilized by an amino‐bridged triphenolate ligand showed high efficiency in catalyzing the cycloaddition of isocyanates and epoxides in the presence of NBu4I under mild conditions. This strategy is applicable to both terminal and disubstituted epoxides as well as various isocyanates, and tolerated different types of functional groups. Moreover, it is highly regio‐ and stereoselective, and afforded 3,5‐disubstituted oxazolidinones as the only products in most cases in moderate to good yields.

Synthesis and characterization of rare-earth metal complexes supported by a new pentadentate Schiff base and their application in heteroselective polymerization of rac-lactide

A series of neutral rare-earth metal aryloxides and amides supported by a new pentadentate (N2O3) salen ligand were synthesized, and their catalytic behaviors for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide (rac-LA) were explored. The protolysis reactions of N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-2,2′-diaminodiphenyl ether (LH2) with (ArO)3Ln(THF) (ArO = 2,6-But2-4-MeC6H2O) and Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 in a 1 : 1 molar ratio in THF gave the neutral rare-earth metal aryloxides LLn(OAr)(THF)n [n = 0, Ln = Sc (1), Yb (2); n = 1, Ln = Y (3), Sm (4) and Nd (5)] and rare-earth metal amides LLnN(SiMe3)2 [Ln = Yb (6), Y (7)], respectively. X-ray structural determination showed that complexes 1, 2, 6 and 7 have monomeric structures, in which the coordination geometry around the rare-earth metal atom can be best described as a distorted trigonal prism. Complexes 3 and 5 are THF-solvated monomers and each of the rare-earth metal atoms is seven-coordinated to form a distorted capped trigonal prism. It was found that all of these complexes can efficiently initiate the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-LA to give heterotactic-rich polylactides (PLAs). The highly heterotactic PLA (Pr up to 0.93) was obtained using complex 2 as the initiator at a polymerization temperature of 0 °C. The observed increasing order of activity of 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 ≈ 5 is in agreement with the order of their ionic radii, whereas the order of stereoselectivity is in the reverse order. The rare-earth metal salen amides can initiate rac-LA polymerization in a controlled manner, while polymerization using the rare-earth metal salen aryloxides is less controlled at room temperature.

Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic lanthanide–alkali metal complexes stabilized by aminophenoxy ligands and their catalytic activity for the polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate

Electronic properties of the aminophenolate groups have obvious effect on the synthesis of aminophenolate lanthanide-lithium complexes. Amine elimination reactions of Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3(μ-Cl)Li(THF)3 with lithium aminophenolates [ArNHCH2(3,5-(t)Bu2C6H2-2-O)Li(THF)]2 (Ar = p-ClC6H4, [ONH](Cl-p); p-BrC6H4, [ONH](Br-p)) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in a 1 : 2 molar ratio gave the bimetallic lanthanide-lithium amido complexes [NO](Cl-p)2Ln[N(SiMe3)2][Li(THF)]2 (Ln = Y (1), Yb (2)), and [NO](Br-p)2Ln[N(SiMe3)2][Li(THF)]2 (Ln = Y (3), Yb (4)). When the Ar groups are p-MeOC6H4, ([ONH](MeO-p)) and o-MeOC6H4 ([ONH](MeO-o)), similar reactions generated the homoleptic lanthanide-lithium complexes [NO](MeO-p)3Ln[Li(THF)]3 (Ln = Y (5), Yb (6)) and [NO](MeO-o)2Ln[Li(THF)] (Ln = Y (7), Yb (8)) in high isolated yields, respectively. Whereas the bimetallic lanthanide-lithium amido complexes [NO](Cl-o)2Ln[N(SiMe3)2][Li(THF)]2 (Ln = Y (9), Yb (10)) can be obtained in good yields, when the Ar group is o-ClC6H4 ([ONH](Cl-o)). All of these complexes were well characterized. X-ray structure determination revealed that these complexes have solvated monomeric structures. In complexes 1-4, 9, and 10, the lanthanide atom is five-coordinated by two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms from two aminophenoxy ligands and one nitrogen atom from N(SiMe3)2 group to form a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, whereas in complexes 5-8, the central lanthanide atom is six-coordinated by oxygen atoms, and nitrogen atoms from the aminophenoxy ligands to form a distorted octahedron. It was found that complexes 1-10 are highly efficient initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC), affording the polymers with high molecular weights, and the homoleptic heterobimetallic lanthanide complexes showed apparently high activity.

Recyclable Single-Component Rare-Earth Metal Catalysts for Cycloaddition of CO2 and Epoxides at Atmospheric Pressure

Ionic rare-earth metal complexes 1-4 bearing an imidazolium cation were synthesized, which, as single-component catalysts, showed good activity in catalyzing cyclic carbonate synthesis from epoxides and CO2. In the presence of 0.2 mol % catalyst, monosubstituted epoxides bearing different functional groups were converted into cyclic carbonates in 60-97% yields under atmospheric pressure. In addition, bulky/internal epoxides with low reactivity yielded cyclic carbonates in 40-95% yields. More importantly, the readily available samarium complex 2 was reused for six successive cycles without any significant loss in its catalytic activity. This is the first recyclable rare-earth metal-based catalyst in cyclic carbonate synthesis.

Synthesis, structure and catalytic behavior of ytterbium complexes bearing a phenoxy(quinolinyl)amide ligand

Abstract Two ytterbium complexes stabilized by phenoxy(quinolinyl)amide ligand 3,5-But2-2-OC6H2CH2N-8-C9H6N (L) were synthesized and characterized. Reaction of anhydrous YbCl3 with 1 equiv. of LLi2 in THF gave the ytterbium chloride [LYbCl(THF)]2 (1) in 73% yield. A further reaction of complex 1 with equimolar of NaN(SiMe3)2 in THF afforded the unexpected heterobimetallic “ate”-complex L2YbNa(THF)2 (2) via a ligand redistribution reaction. Complex 2 could also be prepared in high isolated yield by the reaction of anhydrous YbCl3 with 2 equiv. of LNa2 generated in situ. Both complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that complex 2 was an effective catalyst for the addition reaction of aromatic amines to carbodiimides.

Synthesis and characterization of bis(amidate) rare-earth metal amides and their application in catalytic addition of amines to carbodiimides

Two new bis(amidate) lanthanide amides {LLn[N(SiMe3)2]·THF}2 (H2L = N,N′-(cyclohexane-1,2-diyl)-bis(4-tert-butylbenzamide); Ln = Sm(4), Yb(5)), which were prepared by the treatment of the bridged amide proligand H2L with Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 in tetrahydrofuran, had been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analyses. Both complexes 4 and 5 and the three known isomorphs {LRE[N(SiMe3)2]·THF}2 (RE = La(1), Nd(2), Y(3)) were successfully employed in the addition of amines to carbodiimides for the first time and were found to be efficient catalysts in the transformation at 60 °C under solvent-free conditions. The Nd-based catalyst 2 showed the highest reactivity and provided various guanidines with good functional group tolerance in high to excellent yields.

Intramolecular hydroamination reactions catalyzed by zirconium complexes bearing bridged bis(phenolato) ligands

Zirconium complexes stabilized by piperazidine- and imidazolidine-bridged bis(phenolato) ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their activities in catalyzing intramolecular hydroamination reactions have been tested and compared, which reveals the significant role that the ancillary ligands play in influencing catalytic activities. Cationic species derived from zirconium dibenzyl complexes showed good activities in catalyzing intramolecular hydroamination reactions of both primary and secondary amines, and afforded the respective N-heterocycles in 85% to 99% yields. Moreover, this catalytic system also catalyzed sequential cyclization of primary aminodienes, and generated bicyclic tertiary amines in 94–99% yields.

Neutral and Cationic Zirconium Complexes Bearing Multidentate Aminophenolato Ligands for Hydrophosphination Reactions of Alkenes and Heterocumulenes

Zirconium complexes supported by multidentate aminophenolato ligands were synthesized and characterized. The catalytic activities of neutral zirconium complexes and their cationic derivatives in the hydrophosphination of alkenes as well as heterocumulenes have been investigated and compared. Neutral complex 1 bearing a multidentate amino mono(phenolato) ligand exhibited high activity in hydrophosphination of simple alkenes, and anti-Markovnikov products were obtained in 37-94% yields at room temperature. Cationic species generated in situ from complex 3 stabilized by a bis(phenolato) ligand were found to be more active for hydrophosphination of heterocumulenes, i.e., carbodiimides and isocyanates, and gave phosphaguanidines and phosphaureas in 67-93% yields. The Lewis acidity and coordination space of metal centers are modified through changes in the ligand structure, which is found to significantly influence catalytic activity. These complexes are among the most active group 4 metal-based catalysts for hydrophosphination reactions.