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Warren E Piers

Publications and source records attributed to Warren E Piers.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Synthesis and characterization of cationic tungsten(V) methylidynes.

Cationic tungsten(V) methylidynes [L4W(X)[triple bond]CH]+[B(C6F5)4]- [L = PMe3, 0.5dmpe (dmpe = Me2PCH2CH2PMe2), X = Cl, OSO2CF3] have been prepared in high yield by a one-electron oxidation of the neutral tungsten(IV) methylidynes L4W(X)[triple bond]CH with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]-. The ease and reversibility of the one-electron oxidation of L4W(X)[triple bond]CH were demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry in tetrahydrofuran (E1/2 is approximately -0.68 to -0.91 V vs Fc). The paramagnetic d1 (S = 1/2) complexes were characterized in solution by electron spin resonance (g = 2.023-2.048, quintets due to coupling to 31P) and NMR spectroscopy and Evans magnetic susceptibility measurements (mu = 2.0-2.1 muB). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction showed that the cationic methylidynes are structurally similar to the neutral precursor methylidynes. In addition, the neutral (PMe3)4W(Cl)[triple bond]CH was deprotonated with a strong base at the trimethylphosphine ligand to afford (PMe3)3(Me2PCH2)W[triple bond]CH, a tungsten(IV) methylidyne complex that features a (dimethylphosphino)methyl ligand.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2007

Arene complexes of beta-diketiminato supported organoscandium cations: mechanism of arene exchange and alkyne insertion in solvent separated ion pairs.

A family of isolable solvent separated organoscandium methyl cations stabilized by beta-diketiminato ligands (Ar)NC(CH3)CHC(CH3)N(Ar) (Ar=2,6-iPr-C6H3, LMe) has been prepared by reaction of LMeScR2 with [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] in the presence of an arene solvent. Arenes such as bromobenzene, benzene, toluene, para-xylene and mesitylene bind the scandium center in an eta6-bonding mode, yielding cations 1 a-e. Their solution and solid-state structures have been explored using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Mechanistic studies on arene exchange reactions and the insertion of diphenylacetylene indicate that these processes occur via arene intermediates of lower hapticity, followed by binding of the incoming reagent. Which of the two steps is rate limiting depends on the arene being displaced and/or the nature of the incoming substrate. The experiments present a unified view of these mechanisms, which have relevance to propagation processes in olefin polymerizations mediated by such cations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Triphenylene analogues with B2N2C2 cores: synthesis, structure, redox behavior, and photophysical properties.

A series of alkyl (1-3), aryl (6), and benzo-annulated (4, 5) heteroaromatic triphenylene analogues with B(2)N(2)C(2) cores have been synthesized via chelation of pyridazine derivatives using difunctional Lewis acidic diborabiphenyl precursors. In contrast to triphenylene, NICS(1) calculations on 1 suggested high aromaticities for the central (-11.3 ppm) and outer borabenzene rings (-7.7 ppm), along with nonaromatic behavior for the pyridazine ring (-0.7 ppm). Crystal structure analyses supported this analysis. When the a- and c-faces of the pyridazine moiety were free of substitution (1, 3), planar structures resulted, but upon substitution, a twisted B(2)N(2)C(2) core was observed due to steric repulsion of neighboring hydrogen atoms (e.g., 5). The increase of steric bulk from H (1) to (i)Pr (3) in the planar species was found to result in a dimeric, head-to-tail herringbone packing motif, held together by close intermolecular B...N interactions of 3.39 Angstrom. One-electron reduction by Cp(2)Co was found to afford the radical anions of 3 and 5, which were characterized by broad, featureless singlets in the EPR spectra; [3](.)(-)[Cp(2)Co](+) was characterized by X-ray crystallography. While the planar structures (1-4) were observed to possess weak fluorescence (Phi(F) = 0.02-0.08) with either yellow-orange (ca. 555 nm) or green emission (521 nm), the twisted structures (5, 6) were found to be nonfluorescent.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

1-Borabarrelene derivatives via Diels-Alder additions to borabenzenes.

[reaction: see text] Borabenzene reacts with strong dienophiles such as dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate or benzyne to afford substituted borabarrelenes and borabenzobarrelene, respectively. The resultant Diels-Alder adducts display high stability due to increased Lewis acidity at boron.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Competitive ArC-H and ArC-X (X = Cl, Br) activation in halobenzenes at cationic titanium centers.

The titanium methyl cation [Cp*((tBu3P=N)TiCH3]+ [B(C6F5)4]- reacts rapidly with H2 to give the analogous cationic hydride [Cp*((tBu3P=N)TiH(THF)n]+ [B(C6F5)4]- (n = 0, 1), which can be trapped and isolated as its THF adduct 1 x THF (n = 1). When generated in the presence of chloro or bromobenzene, 1 undergoes C-X activation or ortho-C-H activation, depending on the amount of dihydrogen present in the reaction medium. At approximately 4 atm of H2, C-X activation is preferred, giving the halocations [Cp*((tBu3P= N)TiX]+ [B(C6F5)4]- (2X) and C6H6/biphenyl mixtures. At lower pressures of H2 (>1 atm), the beta-halophenyl cations [Cp*((tBu3P=N)Ti(2-X-C6H4)]+ [B(C6F5)4]- (3X) are the products isolated. In the absence of H2, these compounds are quite thermally stable, but undergo beta-halogen elimination upon moderate heating, to give 2X (approximately 20%) and compounds 4X which are the result of reaction between 2X and benzyne via addition of the benzyne C-C triple bond across the Ti-N bond of the phosphinimide ligand. Thus, three separate bond activation processes are operative in this system: direct C-X activation, ortho-C-H activation, and indirect C-X activation via beta-halogen elimination. Mechanistic studies on all three processes have been done and support a radical pathway for direct C-X cleavage, sigma-bond metathesis of the ortho-C-H bond of eta(1)-coordinated C6H5X, and beta-halogen elimination from base-free compound 3X.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Copolymerization of ethylene with polar monomers: chain propagation and side reactions. A DFT theoretical study using zwitterionic Ni(II) and Pd(II) catalysts.

Calculations utilizing anionic substituted derivates of the cationic N(wedge)N--Ni(II) and Pd(II) diimine Brookhart complex have been carried out on the barriers of ethylene and acrylonitrile insertion into a M- methyl, propyl and CH(CN)Et bond for M = Ni, Pd. The possibility of side reactions such as chelate formation with the polar functionality and oligomerization of the active species after acrylonitrile insertion are explored. The diimine ring system N--N = -NR' 'CR(1)CR(2)NR' ' with R' ' = 2,6-C(6)H(3)(i-Pr)(2) and R(1),R(2) = Me was functionalized by adding one or two anionic groups (BF(3)(-), etc.) in place of i-Pr on the aryl rings or by replacing one Me diimine backbone group (R(1)) with BH(3)(-). The objective of this investigation is computationally to design catalysts for ethylene/acrylonitrile copolymerization that have activities that are comparable to that of the cationic Ni(II) diimine or at least the Pd(II) diimine Brookhart system for ethylene homopolymerization. Complexes that might meet this objective are discussed.

Acrylonitrile↗
PubMed2005

Borinium, borenium, and boronium ions: synthesis, reactivity, and applications.

Boron cations are elusive and highly electrophilic species that play a key role in the chemistry of boron. Despite early interest in the chemistry of boron cations, until recently they have largely remained chemical curiosities. However, hints at harnessing their potential as potent electrophiles have begun to appear and developments in weakly coordinating anion technology suggest that this is an area of research that is ripe for exploration. It has been nearly 20 years since the last major review on boron cations; herein we summarize the progress in the area since that time.

Boron Compounds↗
PubMed2005

7:8,9:10-dibenzo-1,2,3,4-tetrafluoro- triphenylene: synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of a novel [5]helicene.

A simple and efficient synthesis and crystallographic analysis of the partially fluorinated 7:8,9:10-dibenzo-1,2,3,4-tetrafluorotriphenylene, 1, in 59% yield is reported. Compound 1 is a blue luminescent [5]helicene in both solution and the solid state. It spontaneously forms enantiomorphous single crystals from racemic samples and exhibits slipped, face-to-face F...C(pi) contacts within the stacks of molecules.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed2005

Direct observation of a 14-electron ruthenacyclobutane relevant to olefin metathesis.

The 14-electron ruthenium phosphonium alkylidene complex [(IH2Mes)Cl2Ru=CH(PCy3)][B(C6F5)4], 1b, a highly active olefin metathesis catalyst, reacts with stoichiometric quantities of ethylene at -50 degrees C in CD2Cl2 to generate the ruthenacyclobutane complex [(IH2Mes)Cl2RuCH2CH2CH2], 2, and [CH2=CH(PCy3)][B(C6F5)4] in quantitative yield by NMR spectroscopy. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies on 2 and 2-13C3 are consistent with a symmetrical C2v structure, providing the first experimental information concerning this crucial intermediate in ruthenium-mediated olefin metathesis. At -50 degrees C, exchange with free ethylene takes place on the chemical time scale. Complex 2 decomposes in solution upon warming to room temperature, generating propene and unknown ruthenium product(s).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Insertion of acrylonitrile into palladium methyl bonds in neutral and anionic Pd(II) complexes.

The reactions of a series of Pd(II) methyl compounds of general formula LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), where L is a bulky phenoxydiazene or phenoxyaldimine ligand with the polar olefin acrylonitrile (AN), are reported. The compounds react with an excess of AN to give the products of 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond, yielding dimers and/or trimers which feature bridging alpha-cyano groups. The reactions were studied by low temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy, revealing an initial formation of compounds featuring N-bound AN, which isomerized to an (unobserved) pi-bound species that rapidly underwent 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond. Intermediate oligomeric complexes retaining a Pd-Me function were observed at low [AN] in these reactions. Under pseudo first-order conditions, k(obs) values of 8.5 x 10(-5) to 2.68 x 10(-3) M(-1) (-22 degrees C to 10 degrees C, 100 equiv of AN) and activation parameters of DeltaH++ = 14.4(5) kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS++ = -19(5) eu were obtained in one case. Comparison of the overall rates of insertion between two LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), differing in the overall charge on the supporting ligand L, showed that the complex bearing a negatively charged ligand reacts with AN twice as fast as one with no anionic charge. The rates of insertion in both of these complexes are significantly faster than reported rates for analogous reactions in cationic Pd(II) derivatives, indicating that increasing the negative charge on the complex enhances the rate of AN insertion. These results provide fundamental mechanistic insights into a crucial reaction for incorporation of polar comonomers into alpha olefins via a coordination polymerization mechanism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Aqueous suspension polymerization of isobutene initiated by 1,2-C6F4[B(C6F5)2]2.

Lewis acidic, chelating diborane 1 forms stable oxonium acids 2 in the presence of excess MeOH or water. Diborane 1 is shown to be an effective co-initiator for the suspension polymerization of isobutene in aqueous media at sufficiently low temperatures. Poly(isobutene) or butyl rubber is obtained at moderate to high conversion and with Mw < 200 K and PDI approximately 2 under these conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Isolation and characterization of a monomeric cationic titanium hydride.

Methyl cations 1-Cp and 1-Cp*, stabilized by the tri-tert-butylphophinimine ligand and either C5H5 or C5Me5, were generated from the neutral dimethyl precursors and [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]-. Reaction of these compounds with H2 resulted in contrasting reactions. For 1-Cp, hydrogenolysis of the Ti-CH3 group led to rapid reduction to Ti(III) and production of a cationic Ti(III) dimer, 2, presumably formed upon loss of H2 from a transiently generated Ti(IV) hydride. Compound 2 was characterized crystallographically and via its cleavage with donor solvents such as THF to form the monomeric [Cp(L)Ti(THF)2]+[B(C6F5)4]-, 3. In contrast, 1-Cp* reacted rapidly with H2 to form a cationic Ti(IV) hydride species, 4, which was resistant to reduction. While only moderately stable in solution under H2, a stable, isolable THF adduct preciptitated upon addition of THF, giving 4.THF, which was fully characterized, including via X-ray crystallography. Naked hydride 4 was very reactive toward haloarene solvents such as bromobenzene, giving the cationic bromide [Cp*(L)TiBr]+[B(C6F5)4]-, 5, which was fully characterized as its THF adduct 5.THF. The contrasting behavior of 1-Cp and 1-Cp* is a result of the greater steric protection and electron donation provided by the Cp* ligand relative to the Cp donor.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Isobutene polymerization using a chelating diborane co-initiator.

Lewis acidic diborane 1 (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 3244-3245) is highly effective for both proton- and cationogen-initiated isobutene polymerization in hydrocarbon media at low temperature. Reactions of diborane 1 with cumyl chloride and cumyl methyl ether were studied by variable-temperature 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. At low temperatures stable ion pairs 2a and 2b are formed; at higher temperatures these ion-pairs form phenyl-1,3,3-trimethylindan (3) with concomitant release of HCl to form 1 in the case of 2a or degradation of the anion (2b). Reaction between Ph3C-Cl and diborane 1 resulted in the generation of an ion-pair 4 consisting of the Ph3C cation very weakly associated with the chelated, mu-Cl counteranion as revealed by X-ray crystallography.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Weaker Lewis acid, better catalytic activity: dual mechanisms in perfluoroarylborane-catalyzed allylstannation reactions.

[reaction: see text] PhB(C(6)F(5))(2) exhibits much higher activity as a Lewis acid catalyst for the allylstannation of aromatic aldehydes than the stronger Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3). This anomalous enhancement of catalytic activity for the weaker LA is shown to be partly due to decreased thermodynamic stability of ion pair 2b relative to 2a in the product-forming step of the reaction. A mechanistic path where the borane serves as the true LA catalyst is more important for the weakly Lewis acidic borane.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Cationic organoscandium beta-diketiminato chemistry: arene exchange kinetics in solvent separated ion pairs.

Abstraction of methide from the beta-diketiminato supported organoscandium complex [L1ScMe2]2 using the trityl borate activator [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in arene solvents gives solvent separated ion pairs in which the arene (C6H5Br, 1a; C6H6, 1b; C7H8, 1c; 1,3,5-Me3C6H3, 1d) is coordinated to the cationic scandium center in an eta6 bonding mode. L1 incorporates methyl groups in the 2,4 positions of the ligand backbone and bulky 2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups on the nitrogen atoms. The relative binding strength of the arenes is C6H5Br < C6H6 < 1,3,5-Me3C6H3 < C7H8. Ion pairs 1a and 1c have been characterized crystallographically, and the C6H5Br derivative is notable for its eta6 bonding mode in preference to the more common eta1 bonding mode via the halogen atom. The kinetics of displacement of mesitylene by toluene (1d --> 1c) yield activation parameters of DeltaH = 21.4(6) kcal mol-1 and DeltaS = 6(1) cal mol-1 K-1. In combination with the observed lack of dependence of [toluene] on the rate of displacement, these data suggest a mechanism involving partial dissociation of the coordinated arene, followed by attack of the incoming arene. This chemistry has relevance to the role of these solvent separated ion pairs in olefin polymerization processes and presents a rare opportunity for the detailed study of these ephemeral species.

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