<i>ansa</i>-Bis(fluorenyl)neodymium Catalysts for Cyclocopolymerization of Ethylene with Butadiene

Abstract

Metallocene borohydride complexes {(Me2Si(C13H8)2)Nd(μ-BH4)[(μ-BH4)Li(THF)]}2 (1) and (Me2Si(2,7-tBu2C13H6)2)Nd(BH4)(μ-BH4)Li(ether)3 (2) were prepared by reaction of the dilithium salts of silylene-bridged bis(fluorenyl) ligands with the borohydride precursor Nd(BH4)3(THF)3. The solid state structures of dimeric 1 and monomeric 2 ate complexes were established by X-ray diffraction studies. We showed that these complexes used in combination with (nBu)(nOct)Mg are highly efficient for cyclocopolymerization of ethylene with butadiene leading to a new class of elastomers. Catalyst 1/(nBu)(nOct)Mg provided elastomers with a polyethylene skeleton incorporating unsaturated groups (trans double bond and pendant vinyl units) and 1,2-cyclohexane rings. These rings are formed via an intramolecular cyclization which occurs with a high trans selectivity. The investigation of catalyst 2/(nBu)(nOct)Mg has revealed that the tertio-butyl substitution in positions 2 and 7 of fluorenyl ligands influenced the microstructure of copolymers since in addition to 1,2-cyclohexane rings, 1,4-cyclohexane rings were formed. This original microstructure was characterized using 2D NMR 1H−1H and 1H−13C with direct and long-range correlations. Mechanisms of stereoselective formation of trans-1,2-cyclohexane and trans-1,4-cyclohexane rings were fully investigated.