Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Arylene‐Silylene‐Vinylene Polymers

Stereoregular trans‐arylene‐silylene‐vinylene polymers of M_w=13100–34800 and PDI=1.6–2.9 of the general formulas CH₂CH [ SiMe₂C₆H₄‐SiMe₂CHCH ] ( 16, 17, 18 ) and CH₂CH [ (R)CHCHC₆H₄CHCH ] (where R= Me₂Si‐p C₆H₄‐ SiMe₂ ,  Me₂Si‐m C₆H₄SiMe₂ and  Me₂SiC₆H₄C₆H₄SiMe₂ ) ( 19, 20, 21 ) have been effectively synthesized via silylative coupling (SC) homopolycondensation of bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)arenes ( 10, 12, 14 ) and cross‐polycondensation of 4‐(vinyldimethylsilyl)styrene ( 11 ) as well as cross‐copolycondensation of bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)arenes ( 10, 12 and 14 ) with 1,4‐divinylbenzene ( 9 ) catalyzed by [RuH(Cl)(CO)(PCy₃)₂] ( 7 ). Such highly stereoregular products cannot be synthesized via ADMET polycondensation or ring opening metathesis ROM or polyaddition of hydridosilanes to acetylenes.     

Metallkomplexe mit biologisch wichtigen Liganden. CXXIII. Darstellung von Isophthaloyl‐ und Terephthaloyl‐di‐[(β,γ,δ)‐amino‐α‐aminocarboxylat]‐verbrückten zweikernigen Ruthenium‐, Rhodium‐ und Iridium‐Halbsandwich‐Komplexen

The reaction of the Cu(II) bis N,O‐chelate‐complexes of L‐2,4‐diaminobutyric acid, L‐ornithine and L‐lysine {Cu[H₂N–CH(COO)(CH₂)_nNH₃]₂}²⁺(Cl^–)₂ (n = 2–4) with terephthaloyl dichloride or isophthaloyl dichloride gives the polymeric complexes {‐OC–C₆H₄–CO–NH–(CH₂)_n–CH(nh₂)(COO)Cu(OOC)(NH₂)CH–CH₂)_n–NH‐}_x 1 – 5 . From these the metal can be removed by precipitation of Cu(II) with H₂S. The liberated ω,ω′‐N,N′‐diterephthaloyl (or iso‐phthaloyl)‐diaminoacids 6 – 10 react with [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂, [Ru(C₆Me₆)Cl₂]₂, [Cp*RhCl₂]₂ or [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ to the ligand bridged bis‐amino acidate complexes [L_n(Cl)M–(OOC)(NH₂)CH–(CH₂)_nNH–CO]₂–C₆H₄ 11 – 14 .     

Synthesis of 6‐amino acid substituted 4,6,7,12‐tetrahydro‐4‐oxoindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizines

In the presence of Na₂CO₃ (1S,3S)‐ and (1R,3S)‐1‐(2,2‐dimethoxyethyl)‐2‐(1,3‐dioxobutyl)‐3‐(1,3‐dioxo‐butyl)oxymethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydrocarboline ( 1 ) were transformed into (1S,3S)‐ and (1R,3S)‐1‐(2,2‐dimethoxyethyl)‐2‐(1,3‐dioxobutyl)‐3‐hydroxymethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydrocarboline ( 2 ), which were cyclized to (6S)‐3‐acetyl‐6‐hydroxymethyl‐4,6,7,12‐tetrahydro‐4‐oxoindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizine ( 4 ), via(6S,12bS)‐ and (6S,12bR)‐3‐acetyl‐2‐hydroxyl‐6‐hydroxymethyl‐1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydro‐4‐oxoindolo[2,3‐a]quinoline ( 3 ). (6S)‐ 4 was coupled with Boc‐Gly, Boc‐L‐Asp(β‐benzyl ester), or Boc‐L‐Gln to give 6‐amino acid substituted (6S)‐3‐acetyl‐4,6,7,12‐tetrahydro‐4‐oxoindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizines 5a , 5b , or 5c , respectively. After the removal of Boc from (6S)‐ 5a (6S)‐3‐acetyl‐6‐glycyl‐4,6,7,12‐tetrahydro‐4‐oxoindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizine ( 6 ) was obtained. The anticancer activities of (6S)‐ 5 and (6S)‐ 6 in vitro were tested.     

Enhanced Hydrogenation Activity and Recycling of Cationic Rhodium Diphosphine Complexes through the Use of Highly Fluorous and Weakly‐Coordinating Tetraphenylborate Anions

The effect of the nature of the anion on the performance of ionic rhodium catalysts has received little attention. Herein it is shown that the use of highly fluorous tetraphenylborate anions can enhance catalyst activity in both conventional and fluorous media. For hydrogenation catalysts of the type [Rh(COD)(dppb)][X] {COD=1,5‐cis,cis‐cyclooctadiene; dppb=1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane; X=BF₄⁻ ( 1a ), [BPh₄]⁻ ( 1b ), [B{C₆H₄(SiMe₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1c ), [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 1d ), [B{C₆H₄(SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1e ), [B{C₆H₄(C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1f ) and [B{C₆H₃(C₆F₁₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 1 g )} the activity towards the hydrogenation of 1‐octene in acetone increased in the order 1c < 1b < 1e < 1a < 1d ~ 1f < 1g with 1g being twice as active as the commonly applied 1a . Despite the fluorophilic character introduced by the substituted tetraarylborate anions, the presence of some perfluoroalkyl‐substituents in the cation was still required for achieving high partition coefficients. Therefore, [Rh(COD)(Ar₂PCH₂CH₂PAr₂)][X] {Ar=C₆H₄(SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)‐4, X=[B{C₆H₃(C₆F₁₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 3f ); Ar=C₆H₄(SiMe(CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)₂)‐4 and X=[B{C₆H₄(C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 2g )} were prepared, which were active in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene, 2g even more so than 3f . Both these highly fluorous catalysts could be recycled with 99% efficiency through fluorous biphasic separation, whereas the corresponding BF₄⁻ complex of 2g ( 2a ) did not show any affinity for the fluorous phase.     

Immobilized Me2Si(C5Me4)(N‐tBu)TiCl2/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 hybrid metallocene catalyst system for the production of poly(ethylene‐co‐hexene) with pseudo‐bimodal molecular weight and inverse comonomer distribution

Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂, (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂, and Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂/(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ catalyst systems were successfully immobilized on silica and applied to ethylene/hexene copolymerization. In the presence of 20 mL of hexene and 25 mg of butyloctyl magnesium in 400 mL of isobutane at 40 bar of ethylene, Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂ immobilized catalyst afforded poly(ethylene‐co‐hexene) with high molecular weight ([η] = 12.41) and high comonomer content (%C₆ = 2.8%), while (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂‐immobilized catalyst afforded polymers with relatively low molecular weight ([η] = 2.58) with low comonomer content (%C₆ = 0.9%). Immobilized Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂/(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ hybrid catalyst exhibited high and stable polymerization activity with time, affording polymers with pseudo‐bimodal molecular weight distribution and clear inverse comonomer distribution (low comonomer content for low molecular weight polymer fraction and vice versa). The polymerization characteristics and rate profiles suggest that individual catalysts in the hybrid catalyst system are independent of each other. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:131–139, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Ruthenium Catalysts for Controlled Mono‐ and Bis‐Allylation of Active Methylene Compounds with Aliphatic Allylic Substrates

The allylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and malononitrile with aliphatic allylic substrates is achieved under mild conditions in the presence of new ruthenium catalysts. The ruthenium complex [Ru(C₅Me₅)(2‐quinolinecarboxylato)(CH₂CHCH‐n‐Pr)] [BF₄] as a precatalyst, allows the synthesis of mono‐allylated branched derivatives. On the other hand, the parent complex [Ru(C₅Me₅)(MeCN)₃] [PF₆] as a precatalyst, straightforwardly favours the bis‐allylation of the procarbonucleophiles leading to bis‐allylated bis‐linear products. The involvement of the two precatalysts provides a sequential synthesis of unsymmetrical mixed linear‐branched bis‐allylated derivatives.     

Block copolymerizations of higher 1‐olefins with traditional polar monomers using metallocene‐type single component lanthanide initiators

Block copolymerizations of 1‐pentene or 1‐hexene with methyl methacrylate or ε‐caprolactone were explored using [Me₂Si(2‐SiMe₃‐4‐t‐BuMe₂SiC₅H₂)₂YH]₂ ( 1 ) or [Me₂Si(2‐SiMe₃‐4‐t‐BuC₅H₂)₂SmH]₂ ( 2 ) as an initiator in toluene or in neat mixtures by the successive additions of monomers in this order. Random copolymerizations of 1‐pentene with 1‐hexene, and random copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐hexene were also performed using 1 as an initiator. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Alternating copolymerization and terpolymerization of vinyl‐substituted phenolic antioxidants with propene and carbon monoxide by a palladium(II)‐based catalyst: polyketones containing intramolecular stabilizers

The copolymerization and terpolymerization reactions of the vinyl‐substituted phenolic stabilizers, 6‐tert‐butyl‐2‐(1,1‐dimethylhept‐6‐enyl)‐4‐methylphenol, o‐allylphenol, 4‐methylstyrene‐2,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol and 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐allylphenol, with propene and carbon monoxide, by using the solvent‐stabilized palladium(II ) phosphine complex [Pd(dppp)(NCCH₃)₂](BF₄)₂ (dppp, 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) as a catalyst precursor and methanol as a co‐catalyst, is described. The influence of functional α‐olefins/CO units, distributed statistically along the propene/carbon monoxide (P/CO) copolymer backbone, on the molecular weight, glass transition temperature (T_g), elastic behavior and stability of the high‐molecular‐weight P/CO copolymer has been investigated. Loss of both elasticity and transparency were observed upon incorporating o‐allylphenol as a termonomer. The terpolymers, which contain phenolic stabilizers, were shown to be more stable when compared to the stabilizer‐free polyketones. In contrast to the propene/carbon monoxide copolymer, no degradation was observed for the 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐allylphenol/P/CO terpolymer; instead, the molar masses increased. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ethylene/1‐octadecene copolymerization using [η5:η1‐C5Me4‐4‐R1‐6‐R‐C6H2O]TiCl2 catalysts

Copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐octadecene was studied using [η⁵:η¹‐C₅Me₄‐4‐R₁‐6‐R‐C₆H₂O]TiCl₂ [R₁ = ^tBu (1), H (2, 3, 4); R = ^tBu (1, 2), Me (3), Ph (4)] as catalysts in the presence of Al(i‐Bu)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. The effect of the concentration of comonomer in the feed and Al/Ti molar ratio on the catalytic activity and molecular weight of the resultant copolymer were investigated. The substituents on the phenyl ring of the ligand affect considerably both the catalytic activity and comonomer incorporation. The 1 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system exhibits the highest catalytic activity and produces copolymers with the highest molecular weight, while the 2 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system gives copolymers with the highest comonomer incorporation under similar conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction between α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes and Nitrones Catalyzed by Well‐Defined Iridium or Rhodium Catalysts

Reaction of the complexes (S_M,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M{(R)‐Prophos}(H₂O)](SbF₆)₂ (M=Rh, Ir) with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes diastereoselectively gave complexes (S_M,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M{(R)‐Prophos}(enal)](SbF₆)₂ which have been fully characterized, including an X‐ray molecular structure determination of the complex (S_Rh,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Rh{(R)‐Prophos}(trans‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal)](SbF₆)₂. These enal complexes efficiently catalyze the enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the nitrones N‐benzylideneaniline N‐oxide and 3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline N‐oxide to the corresponding enals. Reactions occur with excellent regioselectivity, perfect endo selectivity and with enantiomeric excesses up to 94 %. The absolute configuration of the adduct 5‐methyl‐2,3‐diphenylisoxazolidine‐4‐carboxaldehyde was determined through its (R)‐(−)‐α‐methylbenzylamine derivative.     

Ethylene polymerization by alkylidene‐bridged asymmetric dinuclear titanocene/MAO systems

Two asymmetric alkylidene‐bridged dinuclear titanocenium complexes (CpTiCl₂)₂(η⁵‐η⁵‐C₉H₆(CH₂)_nC₅H₄), 1 (n = 3) and 2 (n = 4) have been prepared by treating two equivalents of CpTiCl₃ with the corresponding dilithium salts of the ligands C₉H₇(CH₂)_nC₅H₅ (n = 3, 4). Additionally, Ti(η⁵:η⁵‐n‐BuC₅H₄C₅H₅)Cl₂ (3) and Ti(η⁵:η⁵‐n‐BuC₉H₆C₅H₅)Cl₂ (4) were synthesized as corresponding mononuclear complexes. All complexes were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Homogenous ethylene polymerization catalyzation using those complexes has been conducted in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences of reaction parameters, such as [MAO]/[Cat] molar ratio, catalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, temperature, and time have been studied in detail. The results showed that the catalytic activities of both dinuclear titanocenes were higher than those of the corresponding mononuclear titanocenes. Although the two dinuclear complexes were different in only one [CH₂] unit, the catalytic activity of 2 was about 50% higher than that of 1; however, the molecular weight of polyethylene (PE) obtained by 2 was lower than that obtained from 1. The molecular weight distribution of PE produced by these dinuclear complexes reached 6.9 and 7.3, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3317–3323, 2006     

ansa‐Zirconocenes with Bridge‐tethered Donors: Synthesis and Application as Catalysts in Solution Polymerization of Ethylene

Four new donor‐functionalized ansa‐zirconocenes have been synthesized from the XMeSiCp₂ZrCl₂ and X₂SiCp₂ZrCl₂ general formula (where X = (CH₂)₃OEt, C₈H₄SCH₂OMe, and CH₂(2‐MeO‐3‐Me‐C₆H₃)). In each of these metallocenes, alkoxy groups are linked by a three‐carbon chain to the silicon atom. To study the influence of the functionalized side chains, these metallocenes were activated with methylalumoxane (MAO) and utilized in solution polymerization of ethylene. The molecular weight distributions of the polymers formed show a bimodal shape which can be described as a superposition of two Schultz‐Flory distributions, synonymous to at least two different catalytic species. Unimodal polymers with M_w/M_n = 2 were formed with the Me₂SiCp₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system, indicating that the unusual bimodal molecular weight distributions are due to the functionalized side chains tethered to the Si‐bridge.     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by in situ formed yttrium trisalicylaldimine complexes,and their study by density functional theory

A series of yttrium trisalicylaldimine complexes formed in situ by the reaction of trialkyl complex [Y(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂] (THF is tetrahydrofuran) with three equivalent salicylaldimines were used as initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone. Electronic and steric effects of the salicylaldimine ligand played important roles on the catalytic properties of the yttrium complexes. The yttrium trisalicylaldimine complex Y( L7 )₃ ( L7 = (S)‐2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐[(1‐phenylethylimino)methyl]phenol) most effectively initiated controlled ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare poly(ε‐caprolactone)s with high molecular weights and moderate molecular weight distributions. Obtained by density functional theory calculations, the optimized geometries of the four different active centers with four salicylaldimine ligands explained the experimental results. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Highly Efficient and Enantioselective Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N‐Arylimines

A catalytic method employing the cationic iridium‐(S_c,R_p)‐DuanPhos [(1R,1′R,2S,2′S)‐2,2′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′,3,3′‐tetrahydro‐1H,1′H‐1,1′‐biisophosphindole] complex and BARF {tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate} counterion effectively catalyzes the enantioselective hydrogenation of acyclic N‐arylimines with high turnover numbers (up to 10,000 TON) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee), achieving the practical synthesis of chiral secondary amines.     

Synthesis,structure, and catalytic activity of benzyl thorium metallocenes

Treatment of the chloride metallocene [η⁵-1,3-(Me₃C)₂C₅H₃]₂ThCl₂ or [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂ThCl₂ with 2 equiv of PhCH₂K in diethyl ether at room temperature gives, after recrystallization from a benzene solution, the benzyl metallocenes [η⁵-1,3-(Me₃C)₂C₅H₃]₂Th(CH₂Ph)₂ (1) and [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂Th(CH₂Ph)₂ (2), respectively, in good yields. Complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses, and X-ray diffraction analyses. They are active catalysts for the polymerization of rac-lactide, leading to the atactic polylactides with high molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Synthesis, σ Receptor Affinity,and Pharmacological Evaluation of 5‐Phenylsulfanyl‐ and 5‐Benzyl‐Substituted Tetrahydro‐2‐benzazepines

In accordance with a novel strategy for generating the 2‐benzazepine scaffold by connecting C6–C1 and C3–N building blocks, a set of 5‐phenylsulfanyl‐ and 5‐benzyl‐substituted tetrahydro‐2‐benzazepines was synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated. Key steps of the synthesis were the Heck reaction, the Stetter reaction, a reductive cyclization, and the introduction of diverse N substituents at the end of the synthesis. High σ₁ affinity was achieved for 2‐benzazepines with linear or branched alk(en)yl residues containing at least an n‐butyl substructure. The butyl‐ and 4‐fluorobenzyl‐substituted derivatives, (±)‐5‐benzyl‐2‐butyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐2‐benzazepine ( 19 b ) and (±)‐5‐benzyl‐2‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐2‐benzazepine ( 19 m ), show high selectivity over more than 50 other relevant targets, including the σ₂ subtype and various binding sites of the N‐methyl‐D ‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor. In the Irwin screen, 19 b and 19 m showed clean profiles without inducing considerable side effects. Compounds 19 b and 19 m did not reveal significant analgesic and cognition‐enhancing activity. Compound 19 m did not have any antidepressant‐like effects in mice.     

Synthesis,cationic polymerization and curing reaction with epoxy resin of 3,9‐di(p‐methoxybenzyl)‐1,5,7,11‐tetra‐oxaspiro(5,5)undecane

A new spiro ortho carbonate, 3,9‐di(p‐methoxybenzyl)‐1,5,7,11‐tetra‐oxaspiro(5,5)undecane was prepared by the reaction of 2‐methoxybenzyl‐1,3‐propanediol with di(n‐butyl)tin oxide, following with carbon disulfide. Its cationic polymerization was carried out in dichloromethane using BF₃‐OEt₂ as catalyst. The [¹H], [¹³C]NMR and IR data as well as elementary analysis of the polymers obtained indicated that it underwent double ring‐opening polymerization. The polymerization mechanism is discussed. The curing reaction of bisphenol A type epoxy resin in the presence of the monomer and a curing agent was investigated. DSC measurements were used to follow the curing process. In the case of boron trifluoride‐o‐phenylenediamine (BF₃‐OPDA) as curing agent, two peaks were found on the DSC curves, one of which was attributed to the polymerization of the epoxy group, and the other to the copolymerization of the monomer with the isolated epoxy groups or homopolymerization. However, when BF₃‐H₂NEt was used as curing agent, only one peak was present. IR measurement of the modified epoxy resin with various weight ratios of epoxy resin/monomer was performed in the presence of BF₃‐H₂NEt as curing agent. The results demonstrate that the conversion of epoxy group increases as the content of monomer increases. The curing process and the structure of the epoxy resin network are discussed. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of highly functionalized polystyrene and poly(4‐methylstyrene) macroinitiators with tert‐butyl acrylate

Two monodisperse graft copolymers, poly(4‐methylstyrene)‐graft‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) [number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 37,500, weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) = 1.12] and polystyrene‐graft‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (M_n = 72,800, M_w/M_n = 1.12), were prepared by the atom transfer radical polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate catalyzed with Cu(I) halides. As macroinitiators, poly{(4‐methylstyrene)‐co‐[(4‐bromomethyl)styrene]} and poly{styrene‐co‐[4‐(1‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl)styrene]}, carrying 40% of the bromoalkyl functionalities along the chain, were used. The dependencies of molecular parameters on monomer conversion fulfilled the criteria for controlled polymerizations. In contrast, the dependencies of monomer conversion versus time were nonideal; possible causes were examined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2930–2936, 2002     

Investigation of Dynamic Intra‐ and Intermolecular Processes within a Tether‐Length Dependent Series of Group 4 Bimetallic Initiators for Stereomodulated Degenerative Transfer Living Ziegler–Natta Propene Polymerization

The series of bimetallic complexes, [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Zr(Me)₂]₂ [N(t‐Bu)C(Me)N (CH₂)_n NC(Me)N(t‐Bu)] 3 (n=8), 4 (n=6), and 5 (n=4) were prepared in high yield through a simple, one‐pot synthesis involving 2 equiv. of in situ generated (η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Zr(Me)₃ and the corresponding bis‐carbodiimide, (t‐Bu)NCN (CH₂)_n NCN(t‐Bu). Compounds 3 – 5 were found to be highly isoselective for the living Ziegler–Natta polymerization of propene upon 100% activation using 2 equiv. of the borate co‐initiator, [PhNHMe₂] [B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 2 ), with the degree of stereoselectivity decreasing slightly as the two metal centers are brought closer together [cf., 3 (σ=0.92)> 4 (σ=0.91)> 5 (σ=0.89)]. Under conditions of sub‐stoichiometric activation by 2 , all three bimetallic initiators, 3 – 5 , were found to engage in degenerative transfer living Ziegler–Natta polymerization involving rapid and reversible methyl group transfer between active, (cationic) and dormant, (neutral) methyl, polymeryl zirconium centers. Under these conditions, the frequency of mr triad stereoerror incorporation into the polypropene (PP) microstructure decreases as the two metal centers are brought closer together as a result of increasing barriers for metal‐centered epimerization within the neutral metal site due to correspondingly greater non‐bonded steric interactions vis‐à‐vis mononuclear 1 .     

Mechanistic in situ High‐Pressure NMR Studies of Benzene Hydrogenation by Supramolecular Cluster Catalysis with [(η6‐C6H6)(η6‐C6Me6)2Ru3(μ3‐O)(μ2‐OH)(μ2‐H)2][BF4]

In situ high‐pressure NMR spectroscopy of the hydrogenation of benzene to give cyclohexane, catalysed by the cluster cation [(η⁶‐C₆H₆) (η⁶‐C₆Me₆)₂Ru₃(μ₃‐O)(μ₂‐OH)(μ₂‐H)₂]⁺ 2 , supports a mechanism involving a supramolecular host‐guest complex of the substrate molecule in the hydrophobic pocket of the intact cluster molecule.