title: Spacially confined M2 centers (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) on a sterically bulky binucleating support: synthesis, structures and ethylene oligomerization studies.
abstract: Two new bulky aryl-bridged pyridyl-imine compartmental (pro)ligands, 2,6-{(2,6-i-Pr(2)C6H3)N=C(Me)C5H3N}2C6H3Y (Y = H L1, OH L2-H), have been prepared in moderate to good overall yields via a Stille-type cross-coupling approach. The molecular structure of L2-H reveals a transoid configuration within the pyridyl-imine units with a hydrogen-bonding interaction maintaining the phenol coplanar with one of the adjacent pyridine rings. The interaction of 2 equiv of MX2 with L1 in n-BuOH at 110 degrees C gives the binuclear complexes, [(L1)M2X4] (M = Fe, X = Cl (1a); M = Co, X = Cl (1b); M = Ni, X = Br (1c); M = Zn, X = Cl (1d)), in which the metal centers adopt distorted tetrahedral geometries and occupy the two pyridyl-imine cavities in L1. In contrast, deprotonation of L2-H occurs upon reaction with 2 equiv of MX2 to afford the phenolate-bridged species [(L2)M2(mu-X)X2] (M = Fe, X = Cl (2a); M = Co, X = Cl (2b); M = Ni, X = Br (2c); M = Zn, X = Cl (2d)). 1H NMR studies of diamagnetic 1d and 2d reveal that the limited rotation of the N-aryl groups in 1d is further impeded in 2d by steric interactions imparted by the two closely located N-aryl groups. Partial displacement of the bridging bromide in 2c results upon its treatment with acetonitrile to afford [(L2)Ni2Br3(NCMe)] [2c(MeCN)]; no such reaction occurs for 2a, 2b, or 2d. Upon activation with excess methylalumoxane (MAO), 1b, 1c, 2b, and 2c show some activity for alkene oligomerization forming low molecular-weight materials with methyl-branched products predominating for the nickel systems. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on L2-H, 1c, 2b, 2c, 2c(NCMe), and 2d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
authors.forename: Yohan D M
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Champouret
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Nodes
authors.forename: Kuldip
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Solan
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D015392:Chemistry, Inorganic / Q000379:methods*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008024:Ligands; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals; C036216:ethylene