Four C_1-symmetric ansa-metallocene complexes, C_2H_4(Ind)(2,7-~tBu_2-Flu)ZrCl_2(4), C_2H_4(3-Bn-Ind)(2,7-~tBu_2-Flu)ZrCl_2(5),C_2H_4(3-Bn-Ind)(3,6-~tBu_2-Flu)ZrCl_2(6), and C_2H_4(3-Bn-Ind)(2,7-~tBu_2-Flu)HfCl_2(7), were synthesized and characterized. The structures of complexes 4, 5, and 7 were further determined via X-ray diffraction studies. Upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane(MMAO) or Al^iBu_3/[Ph_3C][B(C_6F_5)_4](TIBA/TrB), most of these complexes showed high efficiency in catalyzing propylene oligomerization/polymerization to afford products dominantly with allyl terminals via selective β-methyl transfer(β-Me transfer). The introduction of 3-benzyl group on the indenyl ring of the complexes was found to be crucial in enabling highly selective β-Me transfer during the polymerization process, leading to selectivities up to 89% obtained by zirconocene complexes 5 and 6, and up to 91% obtained by hafnocene complex 7. Detailed chain-end analysis by ~1H-NMR, ^(13)C-NMR, and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy revealed that the allyl chain-ends of the polymeric products resulted from a selective β-Me transfer process after two successively primary insertions of the monomer. Further studies concerning the dependence of chain release selectivity as well as the molecular weight of products on monomer concentration suggested that both β-Me transfer(major) and β-hydrogen transfer(β-H transfer)(minor) mediated by 5/MMAO and 6/MMAO systems may mainly operate in a bimolecular pathway.
NTrifluoromethyl and cyclopropyl substituted 2-isoxazolines were synthesized via a DBU-promoted domino reaction of β-trifluoromethyl-/β-cyclopropyl-substituted enones with hydroxylamine. The domino reaction consists of a Michael addition and the followed cyclization. A wide range of 3-substituted 5-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-2-isoxazolines were obtained in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. The method could also apply to other trifluoromethyl-substituted enones.
