The scandium terminal imido complex supported by a monoanionic tetradentate NNNN ligand, [LSc=N(DIPP)](L = [MeC(N(DIPP))CHC(Me)(NCH2CH2N(Me)CH2CH2NMe2]-, DIPP = 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3)(1), undergoes a C–N bond cleavage at elevated temperature to give a mononuclear scandium anilido intermediate 2a, which subsequently aggregates into a binuclear scandium anilido complex 2. The mononuclear intermediate 2a reacts with alkyne or imine to provide two scandium anilido complexes 3 and 4, which contain a dianionic tetradentate NNNC ligand or a dianionic tetradentate NNNN ligand. DFT calculations on the reaction mechanism of C–N bond cleavage in 1 were also performed.
Four lanthanum alkoxides stabilized by a carbon-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand were synthesized and their catalytic behavior for the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide was explored. Reactions of [(MBMP)LaCp(THF) 2 ] (MBMP 2 = 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenoxo)) with HOCH 2 Ph, HOCH 2 CF 3 , HOCH(CH 3 ) 2 , and HOCH 2 CH 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 , respectively, in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF gave the dimeric lanthanum alkoxo complexes [(MBMP)Ln(μ-OR)(THF) 2 ] 2 (OR = OCH 2 Ph(1), OCH 2 CF 3 (2), OCH(CH 3 ) 2 (3), OCH 2 CH 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 (4)]. These complexes were well characterized, and the definitive molecular structure of complex 1 was determined. It was found that complexes 1 to 4 are efficient initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide. The structure of the alkoxo groups has a significant effect on the catalytic behavior, and complex 2 can initiate L-lactide polymerization in a controlled manner.
Two ytterbium complexes stabilized by phenoxy(quinolinyl)amide ligand 3,5-Bu t 2 -2-OC 6 H 2 CH 2 N-8-C 9 H 6 N (L) were synthesized and characterized. Reaction of anhydrous YbCl 3 with 1 equiv. of LLi 2 in THF gave the ytterbium chloride [LYbCl(THF)] 2 (1) in 73% yield. A further reaction of complex 1 with equimolar of NaN(SiMe 3 ) 2 in THF afforded the unexpected heterobimetallic "ate"-complex L 2 YbNa(THF) 2 (2) via a ligand redistribution reaction. Complex 2 could also be prepared in high isolated yield by the reaction of anhydrous YbCl 3 with 2 equiv. of LNa 2 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.
Three homoleptic lanthanide complexes, [C6H5COCHC(CH3)N(p-ClC6H4)]3Ln(THF)n(n = 0, Ln = Yb(1); n = 0, Ln = Y(2); n = 1, Ln = Nd(3)), were synthesized by amine elimination reaction of Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 with 1-phenyl-3-N-(p-chlorophenylimino)-1-butanone. These complexes crystallize in triclinic, space group P1 with a = 9.805(3), b = 14.831(6), c = 16.075(6) A, α = 111.996(9), β = 91.570(7), γ = 93.744(6)°, V = 2159.4(13) A3, Z = 2, D3 c = 1.515 g/cm, F(000) = 986, μ(MoKα) = 2.396 mm-1, R = 0.0360 and wR = 0.0850 for 9548 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I) for complex 1; a = 9.861(5), b = 14.852(9), c = 16.111(9) A, α = 112.362(13), β = 91.949(11), γ = 93.678(14)°, V = 2173(2) A3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.377 g/cm3, F(000) = 924, μ(MoKα) = 1.570 mm-1, R = 0.0735 and wR = 0.1389 for 8015 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I) for complex 2; and a = 9.308(3), b = 15.357(3), c = 17.419(4) A, α = 66.493(13), β = 88.61(2), γ = 86.664(19)°, V = 2279.4(9) A3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.499 g/cm3, F(000) = 1046, μ(MoKα) = 1.364 mm-1, R = 0.0843 and wR = 0.2280 for 8433 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I) for complex 3. Each central metal in complexes 1 and 2 is six-coordinated by three nitrogen and three oxygen atoms from three β-ketoiminate ligands to give a distorted octahedral geometry, while the central metal in 3 is seven-coordinated by three nitrogen and three oxygen atoms from three β-ketoiminate ligands and one oxygen atom from the solvated THF molecule to complete a distorted monocapped trigonal prism.
