Synthesis, characterization and application of nitrile-ligated zinc(II) complexes incorporating (fluoroalkoxy)aluminates

Nitrile-ligated zinc(II) complexes incorporating aluminum-based weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) have been successfully prepared and fully characterized. An X-ray crystal structure proves both the octahedral symmetry of the zinc(II) cation having six nitrile ligands and the non-coordinating nature of the anion. Similar to complexes bearing boran-based WCAs, the compounds described here can be applied to polymerize isobutylene at room temperature resulting in polyisobutylene with a high content of exo double bonds. Nitrile-ligated Zn^II complexes with two Al-based weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure proves the non-coordinating nature of the anions. Synthesis of the compounds is straightforward and high yielding. An application is the room-temperature polymerization of isobutylene resulting in polyisobutylene with high exo double bond content.