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An OCO-pincer supported tungsten(VI) alkylidyne exhibits diverse reactivity depending on the identity of the oxidizing agent and the stoichiometry of the reaction. Oxidation reactions are studied with azo, nitroso, and oxo compounds. Benzo(c)cinnoline facilitates migratory insertion of the alkylidyne carbon in the pincer backbone forming a tethered tungsten (VI) alkylidene complex. Analogous azobenzene activates a Csingle bondC bond in the tert—butyl group of the alkylidyne and results in a tungsten di-imido complex. Nitrosobenzene and pyridine N-oxide undergo oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions and result in tungsten oxo complexes. Reactions with nitrosobenzene are sensitive to stoichiometry; Csingle bondC bond activation is observed in stoichiometric reactions, while only OAT occurs with excess nitrosobenzene. 

Tethered tungsten‐alkylidenes bearing azoimido ligands (M≡N_γ‐N_β=N_αR) are synthesized, characterized, and tested as initiators for ring expansion metathesis polymerization (REMP). While these ligands are typically unstable and prone to dinitrogen loss, this work demonstrates that tethered alkylidene complexes bearing azoimido ligands are stable enough to be REMP initiators. Moreover, they are more efficient, long‐lived, and stereoselective than their corresponding imido derivatives (M≡NR). Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis of the azoimido complexes provides insight into their unusual stability.

 

Reactions between tungsten alkylidyne [tBuOCO]W≡CtBu(THF)2 1 and sulfur containing small molecules are reported. Complex 1 reacts with CS2 to produce intermediate η2 bound CS2 complex [O2C(tBuC═)W(η2-(S,C)-CS2)(THF)] 8. Heating complex 8 provides a mixture of a monomeric tungsten sulfido complex 9 and a dimeric complex 10 in a 4:1 ratio, respectively. Heating the mixture does not perturb the ratio. Addition of excess THF in a solution of 9 and 10 (4:1) converts 10 to 9 (>96%) with concomitant loss of (CS)x. Both 9 and 10 can be selectively crystallized from the mixture. An alternative synthesis of exclusively monomeric 9 involves the reaction between 1 and PhNCS. Demonstrating ring expansion metathesis polymerization (REMP), tethered tungsten alkylidene 8 polymerizes norbornene to produce cis-selective syndiotactic cyclic polynorbornene (c-poly(NBE)). 

Presented is the synthesis of cyclic polyacetylenes from alkynes and a study probing the functional group tolerance of catalyst 1. The synthesized polymers were characterized by employing GPC, NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The cyclic polyacetylenes spontaneously degrade, leading to the formation of lower molecular weight linear analogues. The degradation rate varied significantly based on the monomer substituents. These discoveries collectively reveal the functional group limits of catalyst 1 and the subsequent stability of the synthesized polymers, thus opening new avenues for advanced polymer design and applications. 

Reactions between imines and tungsten alkylidyne complexes are studied.

 

Described here is a direct entry to two examples of 3d transition metal catalysts that are active for the cyclic polymerization of phenylacetylene, namely, [(BDI)M{κ²‐C,C‐(Me₃SiC₃SiMe₃)}] (2‐M) (BDI=[ArNC(CH₃)]₂CH⁻, Ar=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃;M=Ti, V). Catalysts are prepared in one step by the treatment of [(BDI)MCl₂] (1‐M,M=Ti,V) with 1,3‐dilithioallene [Li₂(Me₃SiC₃SiMe₃)]. Complexes2‐Mhave been spectroscopically and structurally characterized and the polymers that are catalytically formed from phenylacetylene were verified to have a cyclic topology based on a combination of size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) and intrinsic viscosity studies. Two‐electron oxidation of2‐Vwith nitrous oxide (N₂O) cleanly yields a [V^V] alkylidene‐alkynyl oxo complex [(BDI)V(=O){κ¹‐C‐(=C(SiMe₃)CC(SiMe₃))}] (3), which lends support for how this scaffold in2‐Mmight be operating in the polymerization of the terminal alkyne. This work demonstrates how alkylidynes can be circumvented using 1,3‐dianionic allene as a segue into M−C multiple bonds.

 

Tacticity is critical to polymer properties. The influence of solvent on tacticity in the catalytic synthesis of cyclic polynorbornene (c-PNB) is reported. In toluene cis,syndiotactic c-PNB forms; in THF, cis,syn/iso c-PNB forms.