Gold(I) bis(acetylide) complexes [PPN][AuR(2)] (1-3) where PPN = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium) and R = ethisterone (1); 1-ethynylcyclopentanol (2); 1-ethynylcyclohexanol (3) have been prepared. The reaction of 1 with [Cu(MeCN)(4)][PF(6)] in a 1:1 or 3:2 ratio provides the octanuclear complex [Au(4)Cu(4)(ethisterone)(8)] (4) or pentanuclear complex [PPN][Au(3)Cu(2)(ethisterone)(6)] (5). Complexes 2 and 3 react with [Cu(MeCN)(4)][PF(6)] to form only pentanuclear Au(I)/Cu(I) complexes [PPN][Au(3)Cu(2)(1-ethynylcyclopentanol)(6)] (6) and [PPN][Au(3)Cu(2)(1-ethynylcyclohexanol)(6)] (7). X-ray crystallographic studies of 1-3 reveal nontraditional hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups and the acetylide units of adjacent molecules. Complexes 6 and 7 each form polymorphs in which the structures (6 a,b and 7 a,b,c) differ by Au...Au, Au...Cu, and Cu-C distances. The polymorphs exhibit different emission energies with colors ranging from blue to yellow in the solid state. In solution, pentanuclear clusters 5-7 emit with lambda(max) = 570-580 nm and Phi = 0.05-0.19. Complex 4 emits at 496 nm in CH(2)Cl(2) with a quantum yield of 0.65. Complex 5 exists in equilibrium with 1 and 4 in the presence of methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, or water. This equilibrium has been probed by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and luminescence experiments. DFT calculations have been performed to analyze the orbitals involved in the electronic transitions of 4, 6, and 7.

The reactions of vinyl chloride (VC) with representative late metal, single-site olefin dimerization and polymerization catalysts have been investigated. VC coordinates more weakly than ethylene or propylene to the simple catalyst (Me(2)bipy)PdMe(+) (Me(2)bipy = 4,4'-Me(2)-2,2'-bipyridine). Insertion rates of (Me(2)bipy)Pd(Me)(olefin)(+) species vary in the order VC > ethylene > propylene. The VC complexes (Me(2)bipy)Pd(Me)(VC)(+) and (alpha-diimine)Pd(Me)(VC)(+) (alpha-diimine = (2,6-(i)Pr(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))N[double bond]CMeCMe[double bond]N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))) undergo net 1,2 VC insertion and beta-Cl elimination to yield Pd[bond]Cl species and propylene. Analogous chemistry occurs for (pyridine-bisimine)MCl(2)/MAO catalysts (M = Fe, Co; pyridine-bisimine = 2,6-[(2,6-(i)Pr(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))N[double bond]CMe](2)-pyridine) and for neutral (sal)Ni(Ph)PPh(3) and (P[bond]O)Ni(Ph)PPh(3) catalysts (sal = 2-[C(H)[double bond]N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))]-6-Ph-phenoxide; P[bond]O = [Ph(2)PC(SO(3)Na)[double bond]C(p-tol)O]), although the initial metal alkyl VC adducts were not detected in these cases. These results show that the L(n)MCH(2)CHClR species formed by VC insertion into the active species of late metal olefin polymerization catalysts undergo rapid beta-Cl elimination which precludes VC polymerization. Termination of chain growth by beta-Cl elimination is the most significant obstacle to metal-catalyzed insertion polymerization of VC.

The reactions of three types of group 4 metal olefin polymerization catalysts, (C(5)R(5))(2)ZrX(2)/activator, (C(5)Me(5))TiX(3)/MAO (MAO = methylalumoxane), and (C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(t)Bu)MX(2)/activator (M = Ti, Zr), with vinyl chloride (VC) and VC/propylene mixtures have been investigated. Two general pathways are observed: (i) radical polymerization of VC initiated by radicals derived from the catalyst and (ii) net 1,2 VC insertion into L(n)MR(+) species followed by beta-Cl elimination. rac-(EBI)ZrMe(mu-Me)B(C(6)F(5))(3) (EBI = 1,2-ethylenebis(indenyl)) reacts with 2 equiv of VC to yield oligopropylene, rac-(EBI)ZrCl(2), and B(C(6)F(5))(3). This reaction proceeds by net 1,2 VC insertion into rac-(EBI)ZrMe(+) followed by fast beta-Cl elimination to yield [rac-(EBI)ZrCl][MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)] and propylene. Methylation of rac-(EBI)ZrCl(+) by MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)(-) enables a second VC insertion/beta-Cl elimination to occur. The evolved propylene is oligomerized by rac-(EBI)ZrR(+) as it is formed. At high Al/Zr ratios, rac-(EBI)ZrMe(2)/MAO catalytically converts VC to oligopropylene by 1,2 VC insertion into rac-(EBI)ZrMe(+), beta-Cl elimination, and realkylation of rac-(EBI)ZrCl(+) by MAO; this process is stoichiometric in Al-Me groups. The evolved propylene is oligomerized by rac-(EBI)ZrR(+). Oligopropylene end group analysis shows that the predominant chain transfer mechanism is VC insertion/beta-Cl elimination/realkylation. In the presence of trace levels of O(2), rac-(EBI)ZrMe(2)/MAO polymerizes VC to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by a radical mechanism initiated by radicals generated by autoxidation of Zr-R and/or Al-R species. CpTiX(3)/MAO (Cp = C(5)Me(5); X = OMe, Cl) initiates radical polymerization of VC in CH(2)Cl(2) solvent at low Al/Ti ratios under anaerobic conditions; in this case, the source of initiating radicals is unknown. Radical VC polymerization can be identified by the presence of terminal and internal allylic chloride units and other "radical defects" in the PVC which arise from the characteristic chemistry of PCH(2)CHCl(*) macroradicals. However, this test must be used with caution, since the defect units can be consumed by postpolymerization reactions with MAO. (C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(t)Bu)MMe(2)/[Ph(3)C]][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] catalysts (M = Ti, Zr) react with VC by net 1,2 insertion/beta-Cl elimination, yielding [(C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(t)Bu)MCl][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] species which can be trapped as (C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(t)Bu)MCl(2) by addition of a chloride source. The reaction of rac-(EBI)ZrMe(2)/MAO or [(C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(t)Bu)ZrMe][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] with propylene/VC mixtures yields polypropylene containing both allylic and vinylidene unsaturated chain ends rather than strictly vinylidene chain ends, as observed in propylene homopolymerization. These results show that the VC insertion of L(n)M(CH(2)CHMe)(n)R(+) species is also followed by beta-Cl elimination, which terminates chain growth and precludes propylene/VC copolymerization. Termination of chain growth by beta-Cl elimination is the most significant obstacle to meta...

The addition of P(O)-H bonds to alkenes has been accomplished using microwave irradiation in the absence of added solvent and catalyst. In addition to single addition reactions, tandem hydrophosphinylation reactions with alkynes afforded unsymmetrical species such as phosphine oxide-phosphinates. [reaction: see text]