End-group-confined chain walking within a group 4 living polyolefin and well-defined cationic zirconium alkyl...

Living polymers derived from the polymerization of 1-butene using the cationic zirconium initiator, {Cp*ZrMe[N(Et)C(Me)-N(tBu)]}[B(C6F5)4] (Cp* = eta5-C5Me5) (1), have been shown to undergo end-group-confined chain walking that is competitive with direct beta-hydride elimination and chain release at -10 degrees C. The well-defined complexes, {Cp*Zr(iBu)[N(Et)C(Me)N(tBu)]}[B(C6F5)4] (2) and {Cp*Zr(2-ethylbutyl)[N(Et)C(Me)N(tBu)]}[B(C6F5)4] (3), were prepared, and each was found to possess a strong beta-hydrogen agostic interaction that is absent in the living polymer. The isotopically single- and double-labeled derivatives, {Cp*Zr(2-d-2-methylpropyl)[N(Et)C(Me)N(tBu)]}[B(C6F5)4] (2') and {Cp*Zr(1-13C-2-d-2-methylpropyl)[N(Et)C(Me)N(tBu)]}[B(C6F5)4] (2' '), were also prepared and found to undergo isotopic label scrambling at 0 degrees C. For 2' ', the observation that after scrambling each deuterium label is located on a 13C-labeled carbon atom is consistent with the Busico mechanism for chain-end epimerization rather than the Resconi mechanism. Decomposition of 3 yielded olefinic products also consistent with chain walking prior to beta-hydride elimination and chain release. Finally, the unexpected decrease in stability of the living polymer relative to that of the model complexes reveals the importance of subtle differences in steric and electronic factors in controlling beta-hydride elimination and chain release.