Coordination Chemistry and Applications of Nitrilotris(N-Methylenephenoxy)-Metal ComplexesPATAI'S Chemistry of Functional Groups

Nitrilotris(N-methylenephenols), commonly called triphenolamines (TPA), are highly modular, tetradentate molecules that effectively coordinate to transition metals and main group elements with podand topology. They form chiral complexes with intrinsically well-defined geometries (pentacoordinate trigonal bipyramidal, hexacoordinate octahedral, and, more rarely, trigonal monopyramidal geometries) controlled by the ligand. Nitrilotris(N-methylenephenoxy)–metal complexes have been found to be effective and robust catalysts in a series of important processes like polymerizations (titanium(IV), zirconium(VI), hafnium(VI), germanium(VI), and vanadium(V) complexes), oxygen transfer reactions (titanium(VI), vanadium(V), molybdenum(VI), and nickel(II) complexes), carbon–carbon bond formation (aluminium(III), and titanium(VI) complexes), carbon dioxide fixation (iron(III) complexes), and metathesis (Mo(VI) complexes).