Abstract
Ph.D.
This thesis deals with the synthesis of nitrogen-donor compounds and their reaction with metal ions. The first type of nitrogen-donor compounds are the unconjugated diimines (N,N´-bis(diphenylmethylene)ethylenediamine (L1) and (N,N´-bis(diphenylmethylene)propylenediamine (L2). Compounds L1 and L2 were reacted with [NiBr2(DME)] or [NiCl2·6H2O] to form complexes (2.1a), (2.2a), (2.3a) and (2.4a). These nickel complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. When the complexes were left in chloroform for prolonged periods, hydrolysis of the diimine ligand took place, leading to the formation of nickel complexes 2.1b, 2.2b, 2.3b and 2.4b. The identity of the hydrolysed nickel complexes 2.1b and 2.2b was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex 2.1b crystallised in the P21/n space group, whilst 2.2b crystallised in the P-1 space group.
Compounds L1 and L2 were also reacted with [PdClMe(MeCN)2] to form the palladium complexes (3.1) and (3.2). The palladium complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Attempts to recrystallize 3.1 from a dichloromethane solution led to the formation of 3.1a. Both complexes 3.1a and 3.2 crystallised in the P21/n space group. Complexes 3.1 and 3.2 were tested as catalysts for the Heck coupling reaction of iodobenzene with methyl acrylate or butyl acrylate at 80 C. The products from the coupling reactions were characterized by GC and NMR spectroscopy. These complexes were found to be highly active with 100% conversions observed in some instances.
The second type of ligands that were prepared are the benzoylpyrazolyl compounds, (3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)phenylmethanone (C1), (3,5-ditertiarybutylpyrazol-1-yl)phenylmethanone (C2), (3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-o-toluoylmethanone (C3), (3,5-ditertiarybutylpyrazol-1-yl)-o-toluoylmethanone (C4), (2-chlorophenyl)-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methanone (C5), (2-chlorophenyl)-(3,5-ditertiarybutylpyrazol-1-yl)methanone (C6), (2-flourophenyl)-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methanone (C7), (2-flourophenyl)-(3,5-ditertiarybutylpyrazol-1-yl)methanone (C8). These compounds were fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Compounds C1, C3, C5 and C7 were reacted with [NiBr2(DME)] to form nickel complexes (4.31-4.34). These nickel complexes were found to be insoluble in all common organic solvents and hence were characterized only by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Compounds C1-C8 were also reacted with [PdCl2(MeCN)2] to form palladium complexes (4.35-4.42). Complexes 4.35-4.42 were characterized using NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and in selected cases single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex 4.39 crystallised in the C2/n space group and complex 4.42 crystallised in the P21/n space group. Attempts to recrystallize 4.37a led to the formation of 4.37b, which contains both 3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-o-toluoylmethanone and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole as ligands. Complex 4.37b was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex 4.37b crystallised in the Pbca space group. The formation of 4.37b is attributed to hydrolysis of 3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-o-toluoylmethanone ligand in 4.37a due to the presence of adventitious water in the solvent.
The palladium complexes (4.35-4.42) were tested as catalysts for the Heck coupling reaction of iodobenzene with butyl acrylate and also for the Suzuki coupling reaction of iodobenzene with phenylboronic acid or 4-chlorophenylboronic acid. In these reactions, complexes 4.35-4.42 were found to be highly active at 120 C. The pyrazolyl nickel and palladium complexes were further tested as catalysts in ethylene oligomerization reactions using EtAlCl2 as the co-catalyst. The nickel complexes were found to be the most active reaching TONs of 10.8105 g mol-1 h-1. The palladium analogues only gave TONs of up to 3.9105 g mol-1 h-1. The oligomers were characterized by GC and NMR spectroscopy and were found to be in the C10-C16 range, with C16 the most abundant olefin.