Reaction of Ketene Dithioacetals with Pyrazolylcarbohydrazide： Synthesis and Biological Activities of Ethyl 5-Amino-1-（5＇-methyl-1 ＇-t-butyl-4＇-pyrazolyl）carbonyl-3-methylthio-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate

The title compound, C16H23N5O3S, ethyl 5-amino-1-(5‘-methyl-1‘-t-butyl-4‘-pyrazolyl)carbonyl-3-methylthio-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (5) has been synthesized by the treatment of ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-dimethylthioacrylate with 1-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydrazinocarbonylpyrazole (4) in refluxed ethanol. The possible mechanism of the above reaction was also discussed. The results of biological test show that the title compound has fungicidal and plant growth regulation activities.     

A divergent synthesis of dihydropyridazinones,N‐substituted dihydropyrazoles,and O‐substituted pyrazoles

Dihydropyridazinones 4a , 4b , N‐substituted dihydropyrazoles 5b , 5c , 5d , and O‐substituted pyrazoles 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d have been synthesized starting from spirocyclopropanepyrazole derivative 2 . Treatment of 2 with α‐chloro esters, e.g., methyl chloroacetate, ethyl chloroacetate, isopropyl chloroacetate, and tert‐butyl chloroacetate, in potassium carbonate/sodium iodide system caused ring opening and subsequent C‐ or N‐attack nucleophilic substitution to give the corresponding dihydropyridazinones 4a , 4b and N‐substituted dihydropyrazoles 5b , 5c , 5d . On the other hand, in the absence of sodium iodide, O‐substituted pyrazoles 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d were obtained from 2 via an O‐attack nucleophilic substitution. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

Synthesis and biological activities of quinolone analogues: Pyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4‐one

Quinolone analogues I‐VI with pyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline ring system were synthesized form the (l‐alkylhydrzino)quinoxalina N‐oxides 1 via oxidation of pyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalines 2,3,5,7 , quinoxalino[2,3‐c]cinnolines 4 , and 1,2‐dizepino[3,4‐b]quinoxalines 6 . The biological activities of quinolone analogues IVa (N₁‐methyl‐C₃‐methyl), Va (N₁‐methyl‐C₃‐ethyl), and VI (N₁‐methyl‐C₃‐H) were superior to those of quinolone analogues I (N₁‐ethyl‐C₃‐carboxyl), 26b (N₁‐ethyl‐C₃‐carboxylate), and IIIc,d [N₁‐alkyl‐C₃‐(CH₂)₃COOC₂H₅].     

Hydrogen‐bonding patterns in three substituted N‐benzyl‐N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)acetamides

The molecules of N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐2‐chloro‐N‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)acetamide, C₂₃H₂₆ClN₃O₂, are linked into a chain of edge‐fused centrosymmetric rings by a combination of one C—H...O hydrogen bond and one C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bond. In N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐2‐chloro‐N‐(4‐chlorobenzyl)acetamide, C₂₂H₂₃Cl₂N₃O, a combination of one C—H...O hydrogen bond and two C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, which utilize different aryl rings as the acceptors, link the molecules into sheets. The molecules of S‐[N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐N‐(4‐methylbenzyl)carbamoyl]methyl O‐ethyl carbonodithioate, C₂₆H₃₁N₃O₂S₂, are also linked into sheets, now by a combination of two C—H...O hydrogen bonds, both of which utilize the amide O atom as the acceptor, and two C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, which utilize different aryl groups as the acceptors.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines containing 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl

In a search for new insect growth regulators with unusual biological properties and different activity spectrum, we thought that the preservation of the bioactive unit and the introduction of 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl in N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐dibenzoylhydrazine would enhance their larvicidal activities to a significant degree. Therefore, we designed and synthesized N′‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐[2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl]‐N‐benzoylhydrazine and analogs by two procedures. These novel compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and ¹H NMR. At the same time, N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines were prepared by a new method, and some reactions involved were studied. The preliminary results indicate that some compounds have inhibitory effects against plant pathogenetic bacteria such as early blight of tomato. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Simple and Convenient Strategy for the Synthesis of Novel Ten,Twelve, and Fourteen‐membered Phosphorus Macrocyclic Compounds

Synthesis of the title compounds 4(a – i) was accomplished through a two‐step process. The synthetic route involves the cyclization of equimolar quantities of 2,2′‐methylene(methyl)bis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐phenol) ( 1 ) with tris‐(2‐chloro‐ethyl) phosphite ( 2a ), tris‐(2‐bromo‐ethyl) phosphine ( 2b ), and tris‐bromo methyl phosphine ( 2c ) in the presence of sodium hydride in dry tetrahydrofuran at 45–50°C. They were further converted to the corresponding oxides, sulfides, and selenides under N₂ atmosphere by reacting them with hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, and selenium, respectively ( 4a – c , 4d – f, and 4g – i ). But the compounds 6a , b were prepared by the direct cyclocondensation of equimolar quantities of 1 with (2‐chloro‐ethyl)‐phosphonic acid dibromomethyl ester ( 5a ) and (2‐chloro‐ethyl)‐phosphonic acid bis(2‐bromo‐ethyl) ester ( 5b ) in the presence of sodium hydride in dry tetrahydrofuran at 45–50°C in moderate yields. All the newly synthesized compounds 4 ( a – i ) and 6 ( a – b ) exhibited moderate in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

A Roadmap to Uranium Ionic Liquids: Anti‐Crystal Engineering

In the search for uranium‐based ionic liquids, tris(N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato)uranylates have been synthesized as salts of the 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (C₄mim) cation. As dithiocarbamate ligands binding to the UO₂²⁺ unit, tetra‐, penta‐, hexa‐, and heptamethylenedithiocarbamates, N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate, N‐methyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamate, N‐ethyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamate, and N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamate have been explored. X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction allowed unambiguous structural characterization of all compounds except N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamate, which is obtained as a glassy material only. In addition, powder X‐ray diffraction as well as vibrational and UV/Vis spectroscopy, supported by computational methods, were used to characterize the products. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to investigate the phase‐transition behavior depending on the N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato ligand with the aim to establish structure–property relationships regarding the ionic liquid formation capability. Compounds with the least symmetric N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato ligand and hence the least symmetric anions, tris(N‐methyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, tris(N‐ethyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, and tris(N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, lead to the formation of (room‐temperature) ionic liquids, which confirms that low‐symmetry ions are indeed suitable to suppress crystallization. These materials combine low melting points, stable complex formation, and hydrophobicity and are therefore excellent candidates for nuclear fuel purification and recovery.     

Single‐drop microextraction followed by in‐syringe derivatization and GC‐MS detection for the determination of parabens in water and cosmetic products

A single‐drop microextraction (SDME) method followed by in‐syringe derivatization and GC‐MS determination has been developed for analysis of five parabens, including methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n‐propyl and n‐butyl paraben in water samples and cosmetic products. N,O‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) was used as derivatization reagent. Derivatization reaction was performed inside the syringe barrel using 0.4 μL of BSA. Parameters that affect the derivatization yield such as temperature and time of the reaction were studied. In addition, experimental SDME parameters such as selection of organic solvent, addition of salt, extraction time and extraction temperature were investigated and optimized. The RSD of the method for aqueous samples varied from 8.1 to 13%. The LODs ranged from 0.001 (n‐butyl paraben) to 0.015 (methyl paraben) μg/L, and the enrichment factors were between 23 and 150.     

A mixed‐valence diacetate‐bridged MnII–MnIII complex incorporating a bridging phenolate ligand

The synthesis and characterization of a new unsymmetrical dinucleating N,O‐donor ligand, 2‐[N,N‐bis­(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amino­methyl]‐6‐[N‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐oxidobenzyl)‐N‐(2‐pyridyl­amino)­aminomethyl]‐4‐methyl­phenol (H₂Ldtb), as well as the X‐ray crystal structure of its corresponding mixed‐valence diacetate‐bridged manganese complex, di‐μ‐acetato‐μ‐{2‐[N,N‐bis­(2‐pyridylmethyl)amino­methyl]‐6‐[N‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐oxidobenzyl)‐N‐(2‐pyridyl­amino)­aminomethyl]‐4‐methylphenolato}dimanganese(II,III) tetra­phenyl­borate, [Mn^IIMn^III(C₄₂H₄₉N₅O₂)(C₂H₃O₂)₂](C₂₄H₂₀B), are reported. The complex may be regarded as an inter­esting structural model for the mixed‐valence Mn^II–Mn^III state of manganese catalase.     

Favoured conformations of methyl isopropyl,ethyl isopropyl,methyl tert‐butyl,and ethyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate

The conformations of organic compounds determined in the solid state are important because they can be compared with those in solution and/or from theoretical calculations. In this work, the crystal and molecular structures of four closely related diesters, namely methyl isopropyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₅H₂₅O₄P, ethyl isopropyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₆H₂₇O₄P, methyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₆H₂₇O₄P, and ethyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₇H₂₉O₄P, have been analysed as a preliminary step for such comparative studies. As a result of extensive electronic delocalization, as well as intra‐ and intermolecular interactions, a remarkably similar pattern of preferred conformations in the crystal structures results, viz. a syn–anti conformation of the acyl groups with respect to the P atom, with the bulkier alkoxy groups oriented towards the P atom. The crystal structures are controlled by nonconventional hydrogen‐bonding and intramolecular interactions between cationoid P and acyl and alkoxy O atoms in syn positions.     

Two enamines derived from 1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐methylpyrazol‐5‐ones

The first two crystal structures of en­amines derived from 1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolones, namely 1‐(n‐hexyl)‐3‐methyl‐4‐[1‐(phenyl­amino)­propyl­idene]‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one, C₁₉H₂₇N₃O, (I), and N,N′‐bis{1‐[1‐(n‐hexyl)‐3‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐2‐pyrazolin‐4‐yl­idene]­ethyl}hexane‐1,6‐di­amine, C₃₀H₅₂N₆O₂, (II), are reported. The mol­ecule of (II) lies about an inversion centre. Both (I) and (II) are stabilized by intramolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. This confirms previous results based on spectroscopic evidence alone.     

Preparation and characterization of N‐methyl‐substituted polyurethane

We prepared N‐methyl‐substituted polyurethanes with different substitution degrees from sodium hydride, methyl p‐toluene sulfonate, and polyether–polyurethane containing poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4‐butanediol. The chemical structures were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR. To investigate the effects of the N‐substitution degree on the morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical properties, we used differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and a universal testing machine. As the substitution degree increased, the new free (1708 cm^?1) and bonded (1650 cm^?1) carbonyl peaks increased. There was no bonded carbonyl peak in fully substituted polyurethane because the urethane groups had no hydrogen. At a small substitution degree, we observed a slight increase in the glass‐transition temperature and decrease in the endotherms of soft‐segment and hard‐segment domains due to the decrease in the hard‐segment domain and the increase in the urethane groups in the soft‐segment domain. The hard‐segment domain decreased and then disappeared as the N‐methyl substitution degree increased. These changes in the morphology resulted (1) in decreased modulus and tensile strength for the films because of the decrease in physical crosslinking points and (2) improved thermal stability as the substitution degree increased. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4077–4083, 2002     

cis‐(6RS,13RS)‐3,3,10,10‐Tetra­methyl‐6,13‐diphenyl‐1,8‐dioxa‐4,11‐diaza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐2,5,9,12‐tetra­one and two of its precursors

The title macrocycle, C₂₆H₃₀N₂O₆, (VI), was obtained by `direct amide cyclization' from the linear precursor 3‐hydr­oxy‐N‐[1‐methyl‐1‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl­carbamoyl)ethyl]‐2‐phenylpropanamide, the N‐methyl­anilide of rac‐2‐methyl‐2‐[(3‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl­propanoyl)­amino]­propanoic acid, C₁₃H₁₇NO₄, (IV). The reaction proceeds via the inter­mediate rac‐2‐(2‐hydroxy‐1‐phenyl­ethyl)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1,3‐oxazol‐5(4H)‐one, C₁₃H₁₅NO₃, (V), which was synthesized independently and whose structure was also established. Unlike all previously described analogues, the title macrocycle has the cis‐diphenyl configuration. The 14‐membered ring has a distorted rect­angular diamond‐based [3434] configuration and inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a three‐dimensional framework. The propanoic acid precursor forms a complex series of inter­molecular hydrogen bonds, each of which involves pairwise association of mol­ecules and which together result in the formation of extended two‐dimensional sheets. The oxazole inter­mediate forms centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers in the solid state.     

Charge‐transfer complexes of N‐methyl‐, N‐iso­propyl‐, N‐butyl‐ and N‐iso­butyl­carbazole with 3,5‐di­nitro­benzoic acid

In the title four compounds, C₁₃H₁₁N·C₇H₄N₂O₆, (I), C₁₅H₁₅N·C₇H₄N₂O₆, (II), C₁₆H₁₇N·C₇H₄N₂O₆, (III), and C₁₆H₁₇N·C₇H₄N₂O₆, (IV), the donor and acceptor mol­ecules are stacked alternately to form one‐dimensional columns. In (I), the N‐methyl group of the donor is nearly eclipsed with respect to one of the nitro groups of the neighboring acceptor in a column, whereas the N‐iso­propyl, N‐butyl and N‐iso­butyl groups are in anti positions with respect to one of the nitro groups of the neighboring acceptor in compounds (II)–(IV).     

Six closely related 4,6‐disubstituted 2‐amino‐5‐formylpyrimidines: different ring conformations,polarized electronic structures,and hydrogen‐bonded assembly in zero,one, two and three dimensions

In each of ethyl N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (I), N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinamide, C₁₄H₁₆N₆O₂, (II), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₇H₂₁N₅O₃, (III), the pyrimidine ring is effectively planar, but in each of methyl N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (IV), ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₈H₂₃N₅O₃, (V), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐[2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)pyrimidin‐4‐yl]propionate, C₁₅H₂₃N₅O₃, (VI), the pyrimidine ring is folded into a boat conformation. The bond lengths in each of (I)–(VI) provide evidence for significant polarization of the electronic structure. The molecules of (I) are linked by paired N—H...N hydrogen bonds to form isolated dimeric aggregates, and those of (III) are linked by a combination of N—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge‐fused rings. In the structure of (IV), molecules are linked into sheets by means of two hydrogen bonds, both of N—H...O type, in the structure of (V) by three hydrogen bonds, two of N—H...N type and one of C—H...O type, and in the structure of (VI) by four hydrogen bonds, all of N—H...O type. Molecules of (II) are linked into a three‐dimensional framework structure by a combination of three N—H...O hydrogen bonds and one C—H...O hydrogen bond.     

Protecting‐Group‐Free Total Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids by Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of o‐Halobenzaldimine with an Alkyne as the Key Step

An efficient short total synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids including oxyavicine, oxynitidine, and oxysanguinarine is described. Thus, N‐methyl‐o‐bromobenzaldimines 1 b – d undergo regioselective cyclization with 4‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yn‐1‐ol ( 2 b ) in the presence of [Ni(cod)₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). In situ oxidation of the resultant isoquinolinium salts gives isoquinolinone derivatives 5 b – d with benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl substitution at the C₃ atom and a (CH₂)₂OH group at the C₄ atom. Later, oxidation of the alcohol group in 5 b – d to the aldehyde moiety followed by acid‐catalyzed cyclization and dehydration completes the total syntheses to give oxyavicine, oxynitidine, and oxysanguinarine in 67, 65, and 60 % yields, respectively. The synthesis requires four steps from o‐bromobenzaldehyde derivatives. Transformations of these alkaloids to the other alkaloids in this family are also discussed herein.     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate and access to PTMC‐PLA block copolymers mediated by well‐defined N‐heterocyclic carbene zinc alkoxides

Four novel Zinc–NHC alkyl/alkoxide/chloride complexes ( 4 , 5 , 9 and 9′ ) were readily prepared and fully characterized, including X‐ray diffraction crystallography for 5 and 9′ . The reaction of N‐methyl‐N′‐butyl imidazolium chloride ( 3.HCl ) with ZnEt₂ (2 equiv.) afforded the corresponding [(C_NHC)ZnCl(Et)] complex ( 4 ) via a protonolysis reaction, as deduced from NMR data. The alcoholysis of 4 with BnOH led to quantitative formation of the dinuclear Zn(II) alkoxide species [(C_NHC)ZnCl(OBn)]₂ ( 5 ), as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The NMR data are in agreement with species 5 retaining its dimeric structure in solution at room temperature. The protonolysis reaction of N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐N′‐ethyl methyl ether imidazolium chloride ( 8.HCl ) with ZnEt₂ (2 equiv.) yielded the [(C_NHC)ZnCl(Et)] species 9 . The latter was found to be reactive with CH₂Cl₂ in solution and to cleanly convert to the corresponding Zn(II) dichloride [(C_NHC)ZnCl₂]₂ ( 9′ ), whose molecular structure was also elucidated using X‐ray diffractometry. Unlike Zn(II)–NHC alkoxide species 1 and 2 , which contain a NHC flanked with an additional N‐functional group (i.e. thioether and ether, respectively), the Zn(II) alkoxide species 5 incorporates a monodentate NHC ligand. The Zn(II) complexes 1 , 2 and 5 were tested in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All three species are effective initiators for the controlled ROP of trimethylene carbonate, resulting in the production of narrow disperse PTMC material. Initiator 1 (incorporating a thioether moiety) was found to perform best in the ROP of TMC. Notably, the latter also readily undergoes the sequential ROP of TMC and rac‐LA in the presence of a chain‐transfer agent, leading to well‐defined and high‐molecular‐weight PTMC/PLA block copolymers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N-烷基壳聚糖的合成及其溶致液晶行为

合成了一系列具有不同取代基(甲基、乙基、丙基、丁基)的壳聚糖衍生物——N 烷基壳聚糖,通过控制反应物摩尔比获得了一系列不同取代度的产物.不同取代基及不同取代度的衍生物均具有溶致液晶性,考察了同一碳链不同取代度和相近取代度不同碳链长度的衍生物对其液晶临界行为的影响.结果表明：同一碳链长度时,取代度对临界浓度的影响不大;而当取代度相近时,随着碳链长度增加,临界浓度也随之增大.此结果与Onsager和Flory的刚性棒理论相符.粉末X射线衍射实验进一步证实了这一结果.     

Reactions of nitroarenes with secondary and tertiary carbanions bearing both a leaving group and electron‐withdrawing group: An approach to dihydronaphth[2,1‐c]isoxazole N‐oxides and dihydroisoxazolo[4,3‐f]quinoline N‐oxides

2‐Nitronaphthalene (1) and 6‐nitroquinoline (2) underwent direct cyclocondensation with secondary and tertiary carbanions derived from a methylene and methine group bearing both a leaving group and electron‐withdrawing group (e.g., methyl chloroacetate, ethyl chloroacetate, chloroacetonitrile, methyl 2‐chloropropionate, ethyl 2‐chloropropionate and 2‐chloropropionitrile) in the sodium hydride/N,N‐dimethylformamide system at low temperature, giving the corresponding dihydronaphth[2,1‐c]isoxazole N‐oxides 3 and dihy‐droisoxazolo[4,3‐f]quinoline N‐oxides 4 . On the other hand, nitroarenes 1 and 2 reacted with secondary carbanions in the sodium hydride/tetrahydrofuran system to yield the corresponding conventional vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) products 5 and 6 .     

Producing highly linear polyethylenes by using t‐butyl‐functionalized 2,6‐bis(imino)pyridylchromium(III) chlorides

A new family of t‐butyl substituted chromium(III) chloride complexes ( Cr1 – Cr6 ), bearing 2‐(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)‐6‐(1‐(arylimino)ethyl)pyridine (aryl = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Cr1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Cr2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Cr3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Cr4 and 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ Cr5 ) or 2,6‐bis(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)pyridine ( Cr6 ), has been synthesized by the reaction of CrCl₃·6H₂O in good yield with the corresponding ligands ( L1 – L6 ), respectively. The molecular structures of Cr2 and Cr6 were characterized by X‐ray diffraction highlighted a distorted octahedral geometry with the coordinated N,N,N ligand and three bonded chlorides around the metal center. On activation with modified methylaluminoxane or triisobutyl aluminum, most of the chromium precatalysts exhibit good activities toward ethylene polymerization and produce linear polyethylenes with high‐molecular weight. In addition, an in‐depth catalytic evaluation of Cr2 was conducted to investigate how cocatalyst type and amount, reaction temperature, and run time affect the catalytic activities and polymer properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1049–1058