Ortho-linked polyphenols, quaterphenol L(OH)(4), and moderately hindered te
rphenol L-Ph(OH)(3) are developed as new multidentate polyaryloxide ligands
for transition-metal chemistry. The polyphenols are synthesized using orth
o-metalation and metal-catalyzed cross-coupling methodologies; the syntheti
c routes allow for facile electronic and steric modification of the basic l
igand design. The Ti(IV) coordination chemistry of these ligands reveals a
diverse collection of bridged structures: dimeric [Ti(mu-PhLO3)((OPr)-Pr-i)
](2) (P2(l)/n, a = 12.2699(5) Angstrom, b = 1 1.7957(5) Angstrom, c = 21.23
8(1) Angstrom, beta = 94.551(1)degrees, Z = 2, T = 170(2) K), dimeric [Ti-2
(mu-(LO3)-L-Ph)(2)(mu-Cl)(Cl)(THF)] (P (1) over bar, a = 11.212(1) Angstrom
, b = 14.165(1) Angstrom, c = 22.447(2) Angstrom, alpha = 90.440(4)degrees,
beta = 93.345(4)degrees, gamma = 111.164(4)degrees, Z = 2, T= 170(2) K), a
nd trimeric [Ti-3(mu,mu'-LO4)(mu-(OPr)-Pr-i)(2)((OPr)-Pr-i)(6)] (P(2)l/n, a
= 11.1022(5) Angstrom, b = 18.7015(9) Angstrom, c = 24.409(1) Angstrom, be
ta = 95.369(2)degrees, Z = 4, T = 170(2) K). The reaction of TiCl3(THF)(3)
with [(LO3)-L-Ph](3-) results in oxidation of Ti(III) to Ti(IV) and formati
on of the oxo dimer [Ti((LO3)-L-Ph)(THF)](2)(mu-O) (P (1) over bar, a = 10.
8649(6) Angstrom, b = 12.1882(7) Angstrom, c = 14.3349(9) Angstrom, alpha =
65.602(3)degrees, beta = 84.390(3)degrees, gamma = 86.582(3)degrees, Z = 1
, T = 200(2) K); the oxo group presumably originates from the THF solvent.
The titanium centers in these environments are either 5- or 6-coordinate, w
ith distorted square pyramidal/trigonal bipyramidal and distorted octahedra
l geometries, respectively; the polyphenoxide chelate ligands are capable o
f bridging multiple oxophilic titanium sites.