Cyclopolymerization of 1,6-Heptadienes Catalyzed by Iron and Cobalt Complexes: Synthesis of Polymers with Trans- or Cis-Fused 1,2-Cyclopentanediyl Groups Depending on the Catalyst

Alicyclic polyesters from a bicyclic 1,3-dioxane-4-one

Ring-opening polymerisation of cyclopentyl-decorated dioxaneone rings accesses fully alicyclic polyesters through elimination of formaldehyde.

Synthesis of an optically active polymer containing a planar phthalimide backbone by asymmetric polymerization

Herein we present the precise design and synthesis of a novel polymer backbone that induces a helical structure through asymmetric polymerization reactions of a phthalimide-based monomer catalyzed by a planar-chiral cyclopentadienyl–ruthenium complex.

Living Cyclocopolymerization through Alternating Insertion of Isocyanide and Allene via Controlling the Reactivity of the Propagation Species: Detailed Mechanistic Investigation

Living cyclocopolymerization through the alternating insertion of an isocyanide and allene into palladium-carbon bond was developed based on the controlling the reactivity of the propagation species using bidentate ligands. We revealed that the rate of the presented cyclocopolymerization was depended on the ligands of Pd-initiator. When the palladium-methyl complexes having appropriate cis-chelating ligand, such as 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), were used as initiator, the cyclocopolymerization of bifunctional aryl isocyanides (1) that contain both isocyano and allenyl moieties polymerized to afford poly(quinolylene-2,3-methylene)s with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distributions. The resulting polymer was characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR analyses, which clearly showed that the terminal moiety of the polymer formed well-defined organopalladium complex as the resting state for the polymerization, which could undergo further polymerization; not only cyclocopolymerization with 1 but also homopolymerization of simple aryl isocyanide. In the analysis of the cyclocopolymerization mechanism, we conclusively demonstrated that the insertion reaction of isocyanide is the rate-determination step in the cyclocopolymerization, which proceeds via a five-coordinate intermediate with a geometrical change. The cis-chelating ligand controls the site interchange reaction, which dominates the reactivity of propagation species.

Cyclopolymerizations: Synthetic Tools for the Precision Synthesis of Macromolecular Architectures

Monomers possessing two functionalities suitable for polymerization are often designed and utilized in syntheses directed to the formation of cross-linked macromolecules. In this review, we give an account of recent developments related to the use of such monomers in cyclopolymerization processes, in order to form linear, soluble macromolecules. These processes can be activated by means of radical, ionic, or transition-metal mediated chain-growth polymerization mechanisms, to achieve cyclic moieties of variable ring size which are embedded within the polymer backbone, driving and tuning peculiar physical properties of the resulting macromolecules. The two functionalities are covalently linked by a "tether", which can be appropriately designed in order to "imprint" elements of chemical information into the polymer backbone during the synthesis and, in some cases, be removed by postpolymerization reactions. The two functionalities can possess identical or even very different reactivities toward the polymerization mechanism involved; in the latter case, consequences and outcomes related to the sequence-controlled, precision synthesis of macromolecules have been demonstrated. Recent advances in new initiating systems and polymerization catalysts enabled the precision syntheses of polymers with regulated cyclic structures by highly regio- and/or stereoselective cyclopolymerization. Cyclopolymerizations involving double cyclization, ring-opening, or isomerization have been also developed, generating unique repeating structures, which can hardly be obtained by conventional polymerization methods.

DFT study on 1,7-octadiene polymerization catalyzed by a non-bridged half-titanocene system

For (η⁵-C₅Me₅)TiCl₂(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)/MAO system, the selectivity of repeated insertion and intramolecular cyclization of 1,7-octadiene were explored in detail by DFT method.

Cobalt-Catalysed Asymmetric Hydrovinylation of 1,3-Dienes

In the presence of bidentate 1,n-bis-diphenylphosphinoalkane-CoCl2 complexes {Cl2Co[P~P]} and Me3Al or methylaluminoxane, acyclic (E)-1,3-dienes react with ethylene (1 atmosphere) to give excellent yields of hydrovinylation products. The regioselectivity (1,4- or 1,2-addition) and the alkene configuration (E- or Z-) of the resulting product depend on the nature of the ligand and temperature at which the reaction is carried out. Cobalt(II)-complexes of 1,1-diphenylphosphinomethane and similar ligands with narrow bite angles give mostly 1,2-addition, retaining the E-geometry of the original diene. Complexes of most other ligands at low temperature (-40 °C) give almost exclusively a single branched product, (Z)-3-alkylhexa-1,4-diene, which arises from a 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction. A minor product is the linear adduct, a 5-alkyl-hexa-1,4-diene, also arising from a 1,4-addition of ethylene. As the temperature is increased, a higher proportion of the major 1,4-adduct appears as the (E)-isomer. The unexpectedly high selectivity seen in the Co-catalysed reaction as compared to the corresponding Ni-catalysed reaction can be rationalized by invoking the intermediacy of an η4-[(diene)[P~P]CoH]+-complex and its subsequent reactions. The enhanced reactivity of terminal E-1,3-dienes over the corresponding Z-dienes can also be explained on the basis of the ease of formation of this η4-complex in the former case. The lack of reactivity of the X2Co(dppb) (X = Cl, Br) complexes in the presence of Zn/ZnI2 makes the Me3Al-mediated reaction different from the previously reported hydroalkenylation of dienes. Electron-rich phospholanes, bis-oxazolines and N-heterocyclic carbenes appear to be poor ligands for the Co(II)-catalysed hydrovinylation of 1,3-dienes. An extensive survey of chiral ligands reveals that complexes of DIOP, BDDP and Josiphos ligands are quite effective for these reactions even at -45 °C and enantioselectivities in the range of 90-99 % ee can be realized for a variety of 1,3-dienes. Cobalt(II)-complex of an electron-deficient Josiphos ligand is especially active, requiring only <1 mol% catalyst to effect the reactions.

Investigation of the electronic ground states for a reduced pyridine(diimine) uranium series: evidence for a ligand tetraanion stabilized by a uranium dimer

The electronic structures of a series of highly reduced uranium complexes bearing the redox-active pyridine(diimine) ligand, (Mes)PDI(Me) ((Mes)PDI(Me) = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3-C6H2-N═CMe)2C5H3N) have been investigated. The complexes, ((Mes)PDI(Me))UI3(THF) (1), ((Mes)PDI(Me))UI2(THF)2 (2), [((Mes)PDI(Me))UI]2 (3), and [((Mes)PDI(Me))U(THF)]2 (4), were examined using electronic and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, magnetometry, and computational analyses. Taken together, these studies suggest that all members of the series contain uranium(IV) centers with 5f (2) configurations and reduced ligand frameworks, specifically [(Mes)PDI(Me)](•/-), [(Mes)PDI(Me)](2-), [(Mes)PDI(Me)](3-) and [(Mes)PDI(Me)](4-), respectively. In the cases of 2, 3, and 4 no unpaired spin density was found on the ligands, indicating a singlet diradical ligand in monomeric 2 and ligand electron spin-pairing through dimerization in 3 and 4. Interaction energies, representing enthalpies of dimerization, of -116.0 and -144.4 kcal mol(-1) were calculated using DFT for the monomers of 3 and 4, respectively, showing there is a large stabilization gained by dimerization through uranium-arene bonds. Highlighted in these studies is compound 4, bearing a previously unobserved pyridine(diimine) tetraanion, that was uniquely stabilized by backbonding between uranium cations and the η(5)-pyridyl ring.

Double cyclizative polymerization of trienes catalyzed by Pd complexes. Combined ring-forming and chain-walking reactions of the growing end

Diimine Pd complexes catalyze polymerization of 1,6,13-heptadecatrienes to produce the polymers with two functionalized trans-1,2-cyclopentylene groups and ethylene or pentamethylene spacers between them.

Stereoengineering of poly(1,3-methylenecyclohexane) via two-state living coordination polymerization of 1,6-heptadiene

External control over the rate of dynamic methyl group exchange between configurationally stable active species and configurationally unstable dormant species with respect to chain-growth propagation within a highly stereoselective and regiospecific living coordination polymerization of 1,6-heptadiene has been used to generate a spectrum of different physical forms of poly(1,3-methylenecyclohexane) (PMCH) in which the stereochemical microstructure has been systematically varied between two limiting forms. The application of this strategy to manipulate the bulk properties of PMCH and the solid-state microphase behavior of well-defined PMCH-b-poly(1-hexene) block copolymers is further demonstrated.

Asymmetric hydrovinylation of unactivated linear 1,3-dienes

Monosubstituted acyclic (E)-1,3-dienes undergo efficient hydrovinylation giving (Z)-3-alkylhexa-1,4-dienes upon treatment with catalytic amounts of bidentate phosphine-CoCl(2) complexes {[P~P](CoCl(2))} and Me(3)Al in an atmosphere of ethylene. The regioselectivity of the reaction (i.e., 1,4- or 1,2-addition) depends on the nature of the ligand and temperature at which the reaction is carried out. Complexes derived from (RR)-DIOP and (SS)-BDDP at -45 degrees C give very high enantioselectivities for several prototypical 1,3-dienes. In sharp contrast to the corresponding Ni(II)-catalyzed hydrovinylation, 1-aryl-substituted 1,3-dienes give almost exclusively achiral linear 1,4-addition products, unless the 2-position is also substituted. Solid-state structures of the precatalysts are presented.