Ring opening polymerization of d,l-lactide and ε-caprolactone catalysed by (pyrazol-1-yl)copper(ii) carboxylate complexes

1,2-Bis{(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methyl}benzene (L) reacts with [Cu(OAc)₂] and C₆H₅COOH, 4-OH-C₆H₄COOH, 2-Cl-C₆H₄COOH and (3,5-NO₂)₂-C₆H₃COOH to afford the copper complexes [Cu₂(C₆H₅COO)₄(L)₂] (1), [Cu₂(4-OH-C₆H₄COO)₄(L)₂] (2), [Cu₂(2-Cl-C₆H₄COO)₄(L)₂]_n (3) and [Cu{(3,5-NO₂)₂-C₆H₃COO}₂L]_n (4) which are characterised by IR, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and X-ray crystallography. The structural data revealed two geometries that are adopted by the complexes: (i) paddle wheel in 1, 2·7H₂O, 3 and (ii) regular chains in 3 and 4. Magnetic studies show strong antiferromagnetic couplings in the paddle wheel complexes and a weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the monometallic chain one. Catalysis studies performed with these complexes (1–4) showed that they initiate ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) under solvent-free conditions and d,l-lactide in toluene at elevated temperatures. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(d,l-lactide) (PLA) obtained from the polymerization reactions are of low molecular weights (858 for PCL and 602 Da for PLA for initiator 1) and polydispersity indices (typically 2.16 for PCL and 1.64 for PLA with 1 as the initiator). End group analysis of the polymers, determined by MALDI-ToF MS, indicates that the polymers have benzoate, hydroxyl, methoxy and cyclic end groups.

We report the synthesis, structure and complete characterization of four new pyrazolyl carboxylate-based copper(ii) complexes that catalyze the ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone under solvent-free conditions and of d,l-lactide in toluene.

Fischer Carbene Complexes of Iridium(I) for Application in Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation

New examples of the very rare class of iridium(I) Fischer carbene complexes (FCCs) are reported from the facile transmetalation from group 6 FCCs. Postcomplexation modification of either the carbene ligand or the ancillary coligands results in a tunable Ir^I metal center, for unprecedented application as a (pre)catalyst in a benchmark transfer hydrogenation reaction. The introduction of an aminocarbene ligand with a pendant N-donor moiety capable of hemilabile coordination yielded the best catalytic results with turnover frequencies reaching 445 h^–1 and requiring 0.1 mol % catalyst and 0.5 mol % base loading, respectively.

A benchmark transfer hydrogenation is catalyzed by an iridium(I) acyclic aminocarbene of the Fischer type with a pendant N donor.

Conformational analysis and potential anticancer activity of [Pt(phen)(L1-κS)2] studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction and variable temperature 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy

Conformers of [Pt(phen)(L1-κS)₂] observed in solution as a result of π-stacking interactions between the unusual κS-coordinated N,N-diethyl-N′-1-naphthoylthioureato ligands and 1,10-phenanthroline.

The Synthesis of Copper(II) Salicylaldiminato Complexes and their Catalytic Activity in the Hydroxylation of Phenol

The synthesis of copper(II) salicylaldiminato complexes and their application in the catalytic hydroxylation of phenol is reported. Tetracoordinated copper complexes (Cu(Ln)2) were obtained by reacting the N-phenylsalicylaldimine ligands (HL1 -HL7) with copper acetate in a 2 : 1 mole ratio. The reaction of N-(2,6-diisopropyl)phenyl-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine (HL7) with copper acetate in a 1 : 1 mole ratio afforded a dinuclear complex, which was not obtained with the other ligand systems. All complexes were characterized using FT-IR and elemental analysis. X-Ray crystal structures of complexes 2, 5 and 8 have also been obtained. The catalytic activity of these complexes was evaluated in the hydroxylation of phenol using oxygen and hydrogen peroxide as co-oxidants in aqueous media in the pH range 3 - 6. All complexes studied were found to be active for the hydroxylation process over the pH range studied with higher selectivity for catechol formation.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of 3,5-Di-Tert-Butylpyrazole and 3,5-Di-Substituted-Butylpyrazol-1-Ylethanol

A high-yield, solvent-free approach to the synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles is reported. Four compounds, (3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazole, (2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol, 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol, 2-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol were readily prepared by solvent-free condensation of the appropriate dike-tone and the respective hydrazine. The crystal structures of the three pyrazolyl-ethanols are typical of N-substituted pyrazoles. All three pyrazolyl compounds show interesting inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. For the 3,5-dimethyl compound the molecules form discrete hydrogen bonded dimers within a unit cell, while for the others the hydrogen bonding is in a head-to-tail arrangement resulting in the formation of chains.