Synthesis and X-ray structure of a borohydrido metallocene of neodymium and its use as pre-catalyst in Nd/Mg dual-component ethylene and isoprene polymerisations
摘要:
Cp(2)(*)Zd(BH4)(THF) (1) (Cp* - C5Me5) has been readily obtained in one step from Nd(BH4)(3)(THF)(3) and fully characterised by H-1 NMR, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Its X-ray structure displays a neutral monomeric complex, bearing one slightly distorted terminal BH4 group. Associated to nBuEtMg (1) affords a highly active catalyst for ethylene polymerisation, the first one prepared from a borohydrido organolanthanide pre-catalyst. In the same experimental conditions, the catalytic behaviour of 1 is similar to that of previously described Cp(2)(*)zNdCl(2)Li(Et2O)(2) (2). The 1/nBuEtMg system is not deactivated even in the presence of large excesses of THF. In contrast to its chloro homologue 2, the addition of 1 equiv. of nBuEtMg to 1 affords a catalyst for a trans-selective polymerisation of isoprene. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.