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. 2005 Jul 14;10(6):653–658. doi: 10.3390/10060653

Reactions of Cp2MCl2 (M=Ti or Zr) with Imine-Oxime Ligands. Formation of Metallacycles

Om Prakash Pandey 1,*, Soumitra Kumar Sengupta 1, Chandra Mohan Tripathi 1
PMCID: PMC6147708  PMID: 18007335

Abstract

The reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) dichloride with a series of imine-oxime ligands (LH2), derived by condensing benzil-α-monoxime and  2-phenylenediamine, 4-phenylenediamine, 4-methyl-2-phenylenediamine, 2,6-diamino-pyridine, have been studied in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran in the presence of base and metallocycles of the [Cp2M(L)] (M=Ti or Zr) type have been isolated. Tentative structures have been proposed for the products based on elemental analysis, electrical conductance and spectral (electronic, IR and 1H-NMR) data. Proton NMR spectra indicate that on the NMR time scale there is rapid rotation of the cyclopentadienyl ring around the metal-ring axis at 25ºC. Studies were conducted to assess the growth inhibiting potential of the complexes synthesized and the ligands against various bacterial strains.

Keywords: Titanium(IV), zirconium(IV), imine-oxime, IR, PMR, antibacterial activity

Introduction

Derivatives of the bent metallocene complexes of Group IV metals have attracted increasing attention because they are applied in a variety of asymmetric catalytic and stoichiometric reactions [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Perhaps the most important application of these complexes is in the isotactic polymerization of propylene. The introduction of modifications to the classical ligands is a very effective way of varying the physical and chemical properties of the parent metallocenes over a very wide range in order to incorporate novel reactivity and optimize existing properties [1]. In continuation of our earlier studies [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16] on the coordination behaviour of new type of ligands towards Cp2MCl2, we report here the reactions of Cp2MCl2 (M=Ti or Zr) with imine ligands 1 derived from benzil-α-monoxime.

graphic file with name molecules-10-00653-i001.jpg

Results and Discussion

A systematic study of the reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/zirconium (IV) dichloride with imine-oxime ligands (molar ratio 1:1) in anhydrous THF in the presence of triethylamine may be represented by the following equation:

graphic file with name molecules-10-00653-i002.jpg

Colours, elemental analysis and molar conductivities are listed in Table 1. Complexes are soluble in dimethylformamide dimethyl sulphoxide, nitrobenzene and tetrahydrofuran. The molar conductances of the complexes in DMF are in the 5-12 ohm-1cm2mol-1 range, which are well below the range observed for univalent electrolytes in this solvent. The electronic spectra of the complexes show a broad band in at ca. 450 nm which can be assigned to a charge-transfer, a result in accord with them (n-1)d0ns0 electronic configuration. The ligands show three absorption maxima at ca. 220, 270 and 520 nm which are assigned to n → π* or π → π* transitions associated with imine and phenyl functions of the ligands. In their respective complexes, these bands shift slightly to higher frequencies.

Table 1.

Characterization data of titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV) complexes

Reactants
(molar ratio)
Time (h) Product;
Yield (%)
Colour Found (calcd.) %
C H N M
Cp2TiCl2+L1H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
10 [Cp2Ti(L1)],
68
Yellow 75.4
(75.6)
4.8
(4.9)
7.8
(8.0)
6.8
(6.8)
Cp2ZrCl2+L1H2+Et3
N(1 : 1 : 2)
12 [Cp2Zr(L1)],
65
Dark brown 71.0
(71.2)
4.4
(4.6)
7.3
(7.5)
12.2
(12.3)
Cp2TiCl2+L2H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
10 [Cp2Ti(L2)],
70
Dark brown 75.3
(75.6)
4.6
(4.9)
7.8
(8.0)
6.8
(6.8)
Cp2ZrCl2+L2H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
12 [Cp2Zr(L2)],
60
Yellowish brown 71.0
(71.2)
4.4
(4.6)
7.4
(7.5)
12.1
(12.3)
Cp2TiCl2+L3H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
12 [Cp2Ti(L3)],
68
cream 75.5
(75.8)
5.0
(5.1)
7.6
(7.9)
6.6
(6.7)
Cp2ZrCl2+L3H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
14 [Cp2Zr(L3)],
60
Light brown 71.4
(71.5)
4.8
(4.9)
7.3
(7.4)
12.0
(12.0)
Cp2TiCl2+L4H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
15 [Cp2Ti(L4)],
62
Light brown 73.6
(73.8)
4.6
(4.7)
9.8
(10.0)
6.7
(6.8)
Cp2ZrCl2+L4H2+Et3N
(1 : 1 : 2)
15 [Cp2Zr(L4)],
58
Dark brown 69.3
(69.5)
4.4
(4.5)
9.2
(9.4)
12.3
(12.3)
Where,
  • L1H2 = ligand derived from benzil-α-monoxime and 2-phenylenedianine
  • L2H2 = ligand derived from benzil-α-monoxime and 4-phenylenedianine
  • L3H2 = ligand derived from benzil-α-monoxime and 4-methyl-2-phenylenedianine
  • L4H2 = ligand derived from benzil-α-monoxime and 2,6-diaminopyridine

The IR spectral bands most useful for determining the coordination mode for the ligands and complexes are listed in Table 2. Absorption bands occurring at ca. 3000 cm-1 for υ(C-H), ca. 1425 cm‑1 for υ(C-C) and ca. 1025 cm-1 for υ(C-H) in all the complexes are assigned to the cyclopenta- dienyl group and indicate that these groups are π-bonded to metal [8]. The IR spectra of ligands exhibit a broad, medium intensity band around 3200 cm-1, which is assigned [17] to υ(O-H) of the oxime group. However, in complexes this band disappears indicating the formation of bond between metal and oxygen. This is also confirmed by the appearance of band at ca. 445 – 430 cm-1, assignable [18] to υ(M-O). The strong and medium intensity bands around 1620-1610 cm-1 and 1580-1570 cm-1 in the spectra of ligands are assigned [19] to υ(C=N) and υ(C=N) (oxime), respectively, which remains almost at the same position in the complexes, indicating that C=N groups are not involved in bond formation. The ligand L4H2 and its corresponding titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) complexes show weak bands at ca. 1560, 610 and 400 cm-1 assignable [20] to pyridine ring deformation bands.

Table 2.

IR (cm-1) and 1H-NMR (δ, ppm) data of titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV) complexes

Complex IR 1H NMR Aromatic ring
η5-C5H5 υ(C=N) υ(N-O) υ(M-O) η5-C5H5
[Cp2Ti(L1)] 3000s, 1420m, 1025m 1620s, 1585m 1230m 440m 6.80s 7.65-7.82m
[Cp2Zr(L1)] 3000s, 1425m, 1020m 1610s, 1580m 1225m 430m 6.68s 7.50-7.80m
[Cp2Ti(L2)] 3010s, 1410m, 1020m 1615s, 1575m 1235m 445m 6.85s 7.70-7.85m
[Cp2Zr(L2)] 3015s, 1420m, 1015m 1620s, 1570m 1220m 440m 6.72s 7.40-7.65m
[Cp2Ti(L3)] 3000s, 1430m, 1025m 1610s, 1575m 1230m 435m 6.78s 7.60-7.78m
[Cp2Zr(L3)] 3010s, 1420m, 1030m 1620s, 1570m 1225m 430m 6.70s 7.42-7.58m
[Cp2Ti(L4)] 2990s, 1415m, 1025m 1625s, 1585m 1240m 440m 6.75s 7.60-7.80m
8.20-8.35m
[Cp2Zr(L4)] 3000s, 1410m, 1025m 1610s, 1575m 1235m 430m 6.65s 7.45-7.70m
8.10-8.25m

The 1H-NMR spectra of the ligands and complexes (Table 2) have been recorded in deuterated dimethyl sulphoxide. The line intensities were determined by planimetric integration. The complexes show signals at δ 6.65-6.85, which may be assigned to the cyclopentadienyl ring protons and indicate the rapid rotation of the ring about the metal-ring axis. A signal in all ligands at ca. δ 8.20-8.40 may be assigned to the proton of oxime group. In complexes this signal disappears, indicating the displacement of the oxime group hydrogen. The multiplet at ca. 7.40-7.85 may be due to the aromatic ring protons. The ligand L3H2 and its corresponding complexes show a signal at ca. δ 2.0 due to the CH3 group. Thus on the basis of elemental analysis, conductance and spectral data, the following general structure 2 is proposed for the complexes.

graphic file with name molecules-10-00653-i003.jpg

The antibacterial activity of the complexes together with the parent ligands has been screened against Gram positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram negative Escherichia coli by the paper disk plate method [21] at 1000 ppm conc. The inhibition zone (mm) around each disk was measured after 24h and the results of these studies are listed in Table 3. The results lead to the following conclusions:

  • (a)

    The complexes are slightly more toxic than the parent ligands.

  • (b)

    Then titanium complexes show better activity than zirconium complexes.

  • (c)

    The best activity was recorded with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium (IV) derivatives with ligand L4H2 i.e. derived from 2,6-diaminopyridine.

Table 3.

– Antibacterial activity of imine – oxime ligands and their corresponding titanium(IV)/ zirconium(IV) complexes

Compound Diameter of inhibition zone (mm)
B. Subtilis E-coli
L1H2
[Cp2Ti(L1)]
[Cp2Zr(L1)]
6
14
10
8
15
10
L2H2
[Cp2Ti(L2)]
[Cp2Zr(L2)]
5
10
8
5
10
7
L3H2
[Cp2Ti(L3)]
[Cp2Zr(L3)]
12
16
14
10
15
12
L4H2
[Cp2Ti(L4)]
[Cp2Zr(L4)]
12
16
14
12
18
15
Ampicillin 35 35

Experimental

General

All reactions were carried out under strictly anhydrous conditions. THF was dried by heating under reflux over sodium wire. Et3N was purified by published method [22]. Bis(cyclopentadienyl)-titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) dichloride were prepared by heating CpNa with the appropriate metal chloride in a N2 atmosphere [23]. Elemental analysis and physical measurements were made as noted earlier [7]. The ligands were prepared as reported in the literature [24].

Reactions of Cp2MCl2 (M=Ti or Zr) with ligands

To a solution of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) dichloride (20 mmol) in dry THF (ca. 40 mL) was added the appropriate ligand (20 mmol). To the resulting clear solution, Et3N (40 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for ca. 10-15 h at room temperature. Precipitated Et3N·HCl was removed by filtration and the volume of the solution was reduced to ca. 15 mL under reduced pressure. Light petroleum (b.p 60-80ºC) (10 mL) was then added. The coloured precipitate, thus obtained, was thoroughly washed with Et2O and recrystallized from 1:1 THF-Et2O. The details and important physical characteristics of new compounds are listed in Table 1.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to UGC, New Delhi, for financial assistance

Footnotes

Sample availability: Available from the authors

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