Subtle effects control the polymerisation mechanism in α-diimine iron catalysts

Abstract

α-diimine iron complexes have been suggested to catalyse polymerisationvia two distinct pathways, depending on the spin state of the iron complex. Here, we study a typical complex of this family, ^R′′[N,N]FeCl₂, with [N,N] = Cy–NCR′′–CR′′N–Cy (Cy = cyclohexyl, R′′ = PhF (para-fluorophenyl), PhOMe (para-methoxyphenyl), PhNMe₂ (para-dimethylaminophenyl). With R′′ = PhF, PhOMe, polymerisation proceeds as a catalytic chain transfer (CCT) mechanism, with R′′ = PhNMe₂, the polymerisation follows an atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) pathway. Contrary to previous suggestions, we show that the spin-states of the complexes involved are not affected by the R′′ group. Instead, the different behaviour arises from a subtle interplay between the electron-withdrawing or donating character of the reasonably distant phenyl substituent and the iron centre, and small but crucial differences in the reorganisation energies affected during the reactions.