Agostic interactions types

Abstract. This paper presents results from quantum molecular dynamics Simula tions applied to catalytic reactions, focusing on ethylene polymerization by metallocene catalysts. The entire reaction path could be monitored, showing the full molecular dynamics of the reaction. Detailed information on, e.g., the importance of the so-called agostic interaction could be obtained. Also presented are results of static simulations of the Car-Parrinello type, applied to orthorhombic crystalline polyethylene. These simulations for the first time led to a first principles value for the ultimate Young s modulus of a synthetic polymer with demonstrated basis set convergence, taking into account the full three-dimensional structure of the crystal. 

Organonickel derivatives also offer cases of the -coordination of the substituted hydrotrisfpyrazol- l-yl)borate ligand. For the palladium and platinum complexes, the M(II) M(IV) (M = Pd, Pt) transformation is facile. Organopalla-dium chemistry offers anew type of agostic interactions, C—H - - - Pd, where the C—H bond belongs to one of the pyrazolate rings. Cyclopalladation of various pyrazol-l-ylborates and -methanes does not modify their structure. 

In the latter case, complementary donor-acceptor interactions of lc—>2c type (e.g., nM— Oah ) can augment the 2c—s-lc (e.g., Cah iim ) interactions described in the previous section. Such complementary pairs of oppositely directed interactions are intrinsically favored compared with single (uni-directional) donor-acceptor interactions, which lead to unfavorable charge separation. Hence, stronger agostic interactions leading to full metal insertion (4.98b) will tend to be associated with transition-metal atoms having favorable donor (nM) and acceptor (nM ) capacity. 

Lactams Lactams represent a special type of C=N system due to the tautomerization between the lactam (keto amine) and lactim (hydroxyimine) forms. The lactim form is much more favored for cyclic than for non-cyclic amides of carbocyclic acids. In the reaction of complex 2b with N-methyl-e-caprolactam, a simple ligand exchange reaction occurs and complex 87 can be isolated. With P-propiolactam, the alkenyl-amido complex 88 is formed, which indicates an agostic interaction. The reaction of complex 1 with e-caprolactam gives, after elimination of the alkyne and of molecular hydrogen, complex 89 with a deproto-nated lactam in a r]2-amidate bonding fashion [47]. 

Alkylidene complexes are of two types. The ones in which the metal is in a low oxidation state, like the chromium complex shown in Fig. 2.4, are often referred to as Fischer carbenes. The other type of alkylidene complexes has the metal ion in a high oxidation state. The tantalum complex is one such example. For both the types of alkylidene complexes direct experimental evidence of the presence of double bonds between the metal and the carbon atom comes from X-ray measurements. Alkylidene complexes are also formed by a-hydride elimination. An interaction between the metal and the a-hydrogen atom of the alkyl group that only weakens the C-H bond but does not break it completely is called an agostic interaction (see Fig. 2.5). An important reaction of alkylidene complexes with alkenes is the formation of a metallocycle. 

Figure 6.8 Stereospecific propylene insertion in a metallocene catalyst of the type 6.22. For clarity the coordination of Zr to the second indene ring (broken line) is not shown, (a) Preferred orientation of the growing polymer chain. Note the trans orientation of the methyl group (above the plane of paper) and (below the plane of paper), (b) Rotation along the Zr—C bond may make and CH3 cis to each other, (c) Agostic interaction that prevents rotation around the Zr—C bond and keeps and CH3 away from each other.

In hypersilyl sodium and potassium both, infra- and intermolecular M "H-C agostic interactions occur, leading to short M -C distances. Interactions of this type were found in many other alkali metal compounds - a survey is given in reference [5]. In the hypersilyl lithiiun dimers only short znframolecular M--H-C contacts are observed (M "C 239, 245 pm), combined with a significant lengthening of the involved Si-C bonds (191 pm) and a pronounced tilting of the hypersilyl ligands (Fig. 3). 

The dissociation of the dimer [Cp 2Y(/i-H)]2 to the Cp 2YH monomer is an important process in the reactions of the dimer with alkenes. The kinetics and formation of yttrium alkyl complexes from [Cp 2Y(//-I I)]2 and alkenes have been investigated.587 In situ prepared dimeric bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)yttrium hydride reacted rapidly with 3,3-dimethyl-l,4-pentadiene in methylcylohexane-r/ at — 78 °C and formed a bright yellow solution of the t/°-yttrium(m)pentenyl chelate complex Cp 2Y[7/,7/2-CI I2CI I2CMc2CI I=CH2] in 98% yield (Scheme 130). This pentenyl chelate complex was also prepared in toluene-// in 84% yield. The chelate complex was stable for about 2 weeks at — 78 °C but decomposed after a few hours at —50 °C. The complex was characterized without isolation by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy at —100 °C such complexes can be regarded as models for the coordination of alkenes to lanthanide and isoelectronic grouop 4 polymerization catalysts.588 Agostic interactions in yttrium alkyls of the type... 

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