Phosphine-functionalized amidinate ligated rare-earth metal complexes for highly 3,4-selective living polymerization of 1,3-conjugated dienes

A series of rare-earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes have been prepared via protonolysis reactions of tris(aminobenzyl) complexes (Ln(CH2C6H4N(Me)2-o)3) with phosphine-functionalized amidinated ligands (DippNCN(CH2)nPPh2, n = 2 (L1-H) and n = 3 (L2-H)). The X-ray diffraction of P2-Sc (DippNCN(CH2)3PPh2Sc(CH2C6H4N(Me)2-o)2) showed the un-coordination of the diphenylphosphine group due to the inherent saturation of the central metal ion. In conjunction with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4], all the rare-earth metal complexes showed a high catalytic activity for the polymerization of 1,3-conjugated dienes (isoprene, β-myrcene and β-farnesene), affording highly 3,4-regular polymers (up to 100% 3,4-) with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. After the abstraction of the alkyl moiety –CH2C6H4N(Me)2-o of P1-Sc by [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4], the species with the coordination of the diphenylphosphine group to the central metal probably formed, as shown in the 31P NMR spectra and DFT calculation results, and it might serve as the true active species in the 3,4-selective polymerization of 1,3-conjugated dienes.