A series of new yttrium complexes supported by the bulky enediamido dianionic ligand DAB(2-) (DAB(2-) = (2,6-C(6)H(3)iPr(2))NC(Me)=C(Me)N(2,6-C(6)H(3)iPr(2))(2-)), that is, {DAB}Y(THF)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)Li(THF)(2) (1), {DAB}Y(OtBu)(THF)(DME) (2), and {{DAB}Y(BH(4))(2)}{Li(DME)(3)} (3), was synthesized by salt metathesis. The complexes were isolated after recrystallization in 73, 66, and 52% yield, respectively, and characterized in solution by NMR and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In complex 1, the DAB(2-) ligand is bonded to the metal center via two covalent YN bonds, while in complexes 2 and 3 additional eta(2)-coordination of the C=C bond to the metal atom is observed, both in solution and in the solid state. The tert-butoxide and borohydride complexes 2 and 3 act as monoinitiators for the room temperature ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide and beta-butyrolactone, providing atactic polymers with controlled molecular weights and relatively narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n) = 1.15-1.82). Effectively immortal ROP of lactide with as many as 50 equiv of isopropanol per metal center was performed using complex 2 as the catalyst.

A series of new bis(guanidinate) alkoxide Group 3 metal complexes [Ln((Me3Si)2NC(NiPr)2)2(OR)] (R=OtBu, Ln=Y, Nd, Sm, Lu; R=OiPr, Ln=Y, Nd, Lu) has been synthesized. X-ray structural determinations revealed that bis(guanidinate) tert-butoxides are monomeric complexes. The isopropoxide complex [Y((Me3Si)2NC(NiPr)2)2(OiPr)] undergoes slow decomposition in solution, to afford the unusual dimeric amido complex [(Y((Me3Si)2NC(NiPr)2)2(mu-N(iPr)C triple chemical bond N))2]. Complexes [Ln((Me3Si)2NC(NiPr)2)2(OR)] (R=OtBu, Ln=Y, Nd, Sm, Lu; R=OiPr, Ln=Y, Nd, Lu) are active catalysts/initiators for the ROP of rac-lactide and rac-beta-butyrolactone under mild conditions. Most of those polymerizations proceed with a significant degree of control. Bis(guanidinate) alkoxides appear to be well suited for achieving immortal polymerization of lactide, through the introduction of large amounts of isopropanol as a chain-transfer agent. The synthesized complexes are able to promote the stereoselective ROP of rac-beta-butyrolactone to afford syndiotactic poly(hydrobutyrate) through a chain-end control mechanism, while they are surprisingly non-stereoselective for the ROP of lactide under strictly similar conditions.

The reactions of (dpp-bian)Mg(thf) 3 (1) {dpp-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene} with 0.5 molar equivalents of RS-SR (R = Bz, sBu, C(S)NMe 2 ) occur with a cleavage of the S-S bond to afford monosulfide complexes (dpp-bian)Mg(SBz)(dme) (2), (dpp-bian)Mg[S(sBu)]-(dme) (3), and (dpp-bian)Mg[SC(S)NMe 2 ](thf) (4). Compounds 2, 3, and 4 are paramagnetic due to the presence of dpp-bian radical-anions that are formed in the course of oneelectron transfer from the dpp-bian dianion in 1 to the sulfurcontaining substrate. Reduction of BzS-SBz with gallane (dpp-bian)Ga-Ga(dpp-bian) (5) gives a mononuclear Ga III