Thermo‐stable 2‐(arylimino)benzylidene‐9‐arylimino‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro cyclohepta[b]pyridyliron(II) precatalysts toward ethylene polymerization and highly linear polyethylenes

A series of 2‐(arylimino)benzylidene‐9‐arylimino‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydrocyclohepta[b] pyridyliron(II) chlorides was synthesized and characterized using FT‐IR and elemental analysis, and the molecular structures of complexes Fe3 and Fe4 have been confirmed by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as a pseudo‐square‐pyramidal or distorted trigonal‐bipyramidal geometry around the iron core. On activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all iron precatalysts exhibited high activities toward ethylene polymerization with a marvelous thermo‐stability and long lifetime. The Fe4 /MAO system showed highest activity of 1.56 × 10⁷ gPE·mol^?1(Fe)·h^?1 at 70 °C, which is one of the highest activities toward ethylene polymerization by iron precatalysts. Even up to 80 °C, Fe3 /MAO system still persist high activity as 6.87 × 10⁶ g(PE)·mol^?1(Fe)·h^?1, demonstrating remarkable thermal stability for industrial polymerizations (80–100 °C). This was mainly attributing to the phenyl modification of the framework of the iron precatalysts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 830–842     

Synthesis,characterization, and ethylene (Co)polymerization behavior of trichlorotitanium 2‐(1‐(arylimino)propyl)quinolin‐8‐olates

A series of trichlorotitanium complexes containing 2‐(1‐(arylimino)propyl)quinolin‐8‐olates was synthesized by stoichiometric reaction of titanium tetrachloride with the corresponding potassium 2‐(1‐(arylimino)propyl)quinolin‐8‐olates and was fully characterized by elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study of representative complexes. All titanium complexes, when activated with methylaluminoxane, exhibited high catalytic activity toward ethylene polymerization [up to 1.15 × 10⁶ g mol^?1(Ti) h^?1] and ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization [up to 1.54 × 10⁶ g mol^?1 (Ti) h^?1]. The incorporation of comonomer was confirmed to amount up to 2.82 mol % of 1‐hexene or 1.94 mol % of 1‐octene, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

New chiral α‐diimine nickel(II) complexes bearing ortho‐sec‐phenethyl groups for ethylene polymerization

A series of new α‐diimine nickel(II) catalysts bearing bulky chiral sec‐phenethyl groups have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structure of representative chiral ligand, bis[N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐2,6‐di‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane rac‐1c and chiral complexes, {bis[N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐2‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐2,3‐butadiene}dibromidonickel rac‐2a and bis{bis[N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐2‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐2,3‐butadiene}dibromidonickel rac‐2b, were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Complex rac‐2c bearing two chiral sec‐phenethyl groups in the ortho‐aryl position and a methyl group in the para‐aryl position, activated by diethylaluminum chloride (DEAC), showed highly catalytic activity for the polymerization of ethylene [4.12 × 10⁶ g PE (mol Ni.h.bar)^?1], and produced highly branched polyethylenes under low ethylene pressure (branching degree: 104, 118 and 126 branches/1000 C at 20, 40 and 60°C, respectively). Chiral 20‐electron bis‐α‐diimine Ni(II) complex rac‐2b also exhibited high activity toward ethylene polymerization [1.71 × 10⁶ g PE (mol Ni · h · bar)^?1]. The type and amount of branches of the polyethylenes obtained were determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐temperature catalysts for the production of α‐olefins based on iron(II) and iron(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes modified by nitrilo group

Series of Fe(II) and Fe(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes without nitrilo groups 2–6 and with nitrilo groups 7–13 were synthesized. According to X‐ray analysis, the introduction of nitrilo groups in para‐ and ortho‐positions tends to result in shorter axial Fe? N bonds. Both types of complexes, 2–6 and 9–13 , afforded very productive catalysts for the production of α‐olefins with higher K values and better linearity of Schultz–Flory distribution α‐olefins than the parent methyl substituted Fe(II) complex 1 . Noticeably, the complexes functionalized with a para‐nitrilo group 9–13 tend to make α‐olefins with higher K values of the Schultz–Flory distribution, more ideal distributions, and less of the heavier insoluble fractions of α‐olefins than corresponding nonsymmetrically substituted complexes without para‐nitrilo groups 2–6 . Statistically significant correlations were obtained between % solids of total α‐olefins and the blocked solid angle fraction in the +z hemisphere ( = 51.3%, p = 0.012) and between catalyst productivity and total blocked solid angle fraction ( = 43.5%, p = 0.023). The modest values of show that, while steric effects are significant, they are not the sole factor determining catalyst performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 585–611, 2008     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a nickel(II) precatalyst bearing a β‐triketimine ligand and study of its ethylene polymerization performance using response surface methods

The reaction of N‐(4‐(mesitylamino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐ylidene)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzenamine ( 1 ) with n‐butyl lithium and then with N‐(2,4,6‐trimethyl‐phenyl)‐acetimidoyl chloride yields a new β‐triketimine ligand, N‐(4‐(mesitylamino)‐3‐(1‐(mesitylimino)ethyl)pent‐3‐en‐2‐ylidene)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzenamine, 2 . The addition of 2 to nickel (II) dibromide 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (NiBr₂(DME)) in the presence of [Na]⁺[3,5‐(CF₃)₄C₆H₃]₄B]^? (NaBAr'₄) gives a five‐coordinate dimeric complex [( 2 .NiBr)₂].2 [(BAr'₄)], 3 . The structure of 3 has been determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. This complex generates catalytically active species for the homopolymerization of ethylene in combination with methylaluminoxane to produce elastomeric, branched polyethylene. The effect of factors (temperature, pressure, and cocatalyst to catalyst molar ratio (CC)) on the polymerization process has been investigated using regression models of responses (catalyst activity, crystallinity, and weight‐average molecular weight of polymer (M_w)) and visualized via the response surface method (RSM). Activity and M_w responses show a second‐order variation with temperature and vary linearly with pressure. Conversely, crystallinity follows a second‐order model while varying temperature, pressure, and CC. Furthermore, a set of polymerization conditions for reaching desirable responses was predicted and then experimentally verified. The activities achieved challenge the best reported activities for Ni(II) catalysts with β‐connected imine ligand supports, but fall short of those for α‐diimines. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Ethylene polymerization by sterically and electronically modulated Ni(II) α‐diimine complexes

A series of highly active ethylene polymerization catalysts based on bidendate α‐diimine ligands coordinated to nickel are reported. The ligands are prepared via the condensation of bulky ortho‐substituted anilines bearing remote push–pull substituents with acenaphthenequinone, and the precatalysts are prepared via coordination of these ligands to (DME)NiBr₂ (DME = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane) to form complexes having general formula [ZN = C(An)‐C(An) = NZ]NiBr₂ [Z = (4‐NH₂‐3,5‐C₆H₂R₂)₂CH(4‐C₆H₄Y); An, acenaphthene quinone; R, Me, Et, iPr; Y = H, NO₂, OCH₃]. When activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or common alkyl aluminiums such as ethyl aluminium sesquichloride (EAS) all catalysts polymerize ethylene with activities exceeding 10⁷ g‐PE/ mol‐Ni h atm at 30 °C and atmospheric pressure. Among the cocatalysts used EAS records the best activity. Effects of remote substituents on ethylene polymerization activity are also investigated. The change in potential of metal center induced by remote substituents, as evidenced by cyclic voltammetric measurements, influences the polymerization activity. UV–visible spectroscopic data have specified the important role of cocatalyst in the stabilization of nickel‐based active species. A tentative interpretation based on the formation of active and dormant species has been discussed. The resulting polyethylene was characterized by high molecular weight and relatively broad molecular weight distribution, and their microstructure varied with the structure of catalyst and cocatalyst. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1066–1082, 2008     

A convenient synthesis of α,α′‐ homo‐ and α,α′‐hetero‐bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s by ring opening polymerization: The potentially valuable precursors for miktoarm star copolymers

Two new ring opening polymerization (ROP) initiators, namely, (3‐allyl‐2‐(allyloxy)phenyl)methanol and (3‐allyl‐2‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)phenyl)methanol each containing two reactive functionalities viz. allyl, allyloxy and allyl, propargyloxy, respectively, were synthesized from 3‐allylsalicyaldehyde as a starting material. Well defined α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s with molecular weights in the range 4200–9500 and 3600–10,900 g/mol and molecular weight distributions in the range 1.16–1.18 and 1.15–1.16, respectively, were synthesized by ROP of ε‐caprolactone employing these initiators. The presence of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone)s was confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI‐TOF analysis. The kinetic study of ROP of ε‐caprolactone with both the initiators revealed the pseudo first order kinetics with respect to ε‐caprolactone consumption and controlled behavior of polymerization reactions. The usefulness of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) was demonstrated by performing the thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to obtain (mPEG)₂‐PCL miktoarm star copolymer. α‐Allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) were utilized in orthogonal reactions i.e copper catalyzed alkyne‐azide click (CuAAC) with azido functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) followed by thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to synthesize PCL‐PNIPAAm‐mPEG miktoarm star terpolymer. The preliminary characterization of A₂B and ABC miktoarm star copolymers was carried out by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 844–860     

Synthesis of antibacterial and antifungal cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes with bis‐(1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocenyl)thiocarbohydrazone and bis‐(1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocenyl)carbohydrazone

The condensation reaction of 1,1′‐diacetylferrocene with thiocarbohydrazide and carbohydrazide to form bis‐(1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocenyl)thiocarbohydrazone and bis‐(1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocenyl)carbohydrazone has been studied. The compounds obtained have been further used as ligands for their ligand and antimicrobial properties with cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) metal ions. The compounds synthesized have been characterized by physical, spectral and analytical methods and have been screened for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtillis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi, and for antifungal activity against Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani and Candida glaberata using the agar well‐diffusion method. All the compounds synthesized have shown good affinity as antibacterial and antifungal agents, which increased in most of the cases on complexation with the metal ions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional CdII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands

The title coordination polymer, poly[[aqua(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dicadmium(II)] dihydrate], {[Cd₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)₂(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n, was crystallized from a mixture of 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylic acid (H₄bpta), 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (1,4‐bib) and cadmium nitrate in water–dimethylformamide. The crystal structure consists of two crystallographically independent Cd^II cations, with one of the Cd^II cations possessing a slightly distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The second Cd^II centre is coordinated by carboxylate O atoms and imidazole N atoms from two separate 1,4‐bib ligands, displaying a distorted octahedral CdN₂O₄ geometry. The completely deprotonated bpta⁴⁻ ligand, exhibiting a new coordination mode, bridges five Cd^II cations to form one‐dimensional chains viaμ₃‐η¹:η²:η¹:η² and μ₂‐η¹:η¹:η⁰:η⁰ modes, and these are further linked by 1,4‐bib ligands to form a three‐dimensional framework with a (4².6⁴)(4.6²)(4³.6⁵.7²) topology. The structure of the coordination polymer is reinforced by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between carboxylate O atoms, aqua ligands and crystallization water molecules. The solid‐state photoluminescence properties were investigated and the complex might be a candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

Synthesis of long‐chain‐branched polyethylene by ethylene homopolymerization with a novel nickel(II) α‐diimine catalyst

Long‐chain‐branched polyethylene with a broad or bimodal molecular weight distribution was synthesized by ethylene homopolymerization via a novel nickel(II) α‐diimine complex of 2,3‐bis(2‐phenylphenyl)butane diimine nickel dibromide ({[2‐C₆H₄(C₆H₅)]? N?C? (CH₃)C(CH₃)?N? [2‐C₆H₄(C₆H₅)]}NiBr₂) that possessed two stereoisomers in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane. The influences of the polymerization conditions, including the temperature and Al/Ni molar ratio, on the catalytic activity, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, degree of branching, and branch length of polyethylene, were investigated. The resultant products were confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and ¹³C NMR characterization to be composed of higher molecular weight polyethylene with only isolated long‐branched chains (longer than six carbons) or with methyl pendant groups and oligomers of linear α‐olefins. The long‐chain‐branched polyethylene was formed mainly through the copolymerization of ethylene growing chains and macromonomers of α‐olefins. The presence of methyl pendant groups in the polyethylene main chain implied a 2,1‐insertion of the macromonomers into [Ni]? H active species. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1325–1330, 2005     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene by bis(nitro‐substituted‐salicylaldiminate)nickel(II)/methylaluminoxane catalysts

The polymerization of norbornene has been investigated in the presence of different bis(salicylaldiminate)nickel(II) precursors activated by methylaluminoxane. These systems are highly active in affording nonstereoregular vinyl‐type polynorbornenes (PNBs) with high molecular weights. The productivity of the catalytic systems is strongly enhanced (up to 35,000 kg of PNB/mol of Ni × h) when electron‐withdrawing nitro groups are introduced on the phenol moiety. On the contrary, the presence of bulky alkyl groups on the N‐aryl moiety of the ligand does not substantially affect the activity or characteristics of the resulting PNBs. The catalytic performances are also markedly influenced by the reaction parameters, such as the nature of the solvent, the reaction time, and the monomer/Ni and Al/Ni molar ratios. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1514–1521, 2006     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands exhibiting photoluminescence

Ligands based on polycarboxylic acids are excellent building blocks for the construction of coordination polymers; they may bind to a variety of metal ions and form clusters, as well as extended chain or network structures. Among these building blocks, biphenyltetracarboxylic acids (H₄bpta) with C ₂ symmetry have recently attracted attention because of their variable bridging and multidentate chelating modes. The new luminescent three‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)]_n , was synthesized solvothermally and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure contains two crystallographically independent Zn^II cations. Both metal cations are located on twofold axes and display distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. Neighbouring Zn^II centres are bridged by carboxylate groups in the syn –anti mode to form one‐dimensional chains. Adjacent chains are linked through 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands to form a three‐dimensional network. In the solid state, the compound exhibits blue photoluminescence and represents a promising candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

Polymerization of ethylene using a series of binuclear and a mononuclear Ni (II)‐based catalysts

A novel series of homo‐, bi‐, and mononuclear Ni(II)‐based catalysts (BNC_n n = 1–4, MNC₄) were used for ethylene polymerization. The optimum conditions for the catalyst BNC₄ (the highest catalytic activity) was obtained at [Al]/[Ni]=2000/1, T_p = 42 °C, and t_p = 20 min that was 1073 g PE/mmol Ni h. In theoretical study, steric and electronic effects of substituents and diimine backbone led to prominent influence on the catalyst behavior. The highest M_V was resulted from polymerization using BNC₄; however, the highest unsaturation content was obtained from BNC₁. GPC analysis showed a broad MWD (PDI = 17.8). BNC₁ and BNC₂ in similar structures showed broad peaks in DSC thermogram, while BNC₃ and BNC₄ with more electronic effects showed a peak along with a wide shoulder. Monomer pressure increasing showed enhancing in activity of the BNC₄, meanwhile a peak with shoulder to a single peak in DSC thermogram and uniformity in morphology of the resulted polymer were observed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3000–3011     

Synthesis,crystal structure and infrared spectra of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with 4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[ethylene dioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol

Novel 4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[ethylenedioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol (H₂L) and its complexes [CuL] and {[CoL(THF)]₂(OAc)₂Co} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H‐NMR and X‐ray crystallography. [CuL] forms a mononuclear structure which may be stabilized by the intermolecular contacts between copper atom (Cu) and oxygen atom (O3) to form a head‐to‐tail dimer. In {[CoL(THF)]₂(OAc)₂Co}, two acetates coordinate to three cobalt ions through Co? O? C? O? Co bridges and four µ‐phenoxo oxygen atoms from two [CoL(THF)] units also coordinate to cobalt ions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,characterization, coordination and antibacterial properties of novel asymmetric 1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocene‐derived Schiff‐base ligands and their Co(II), Cu(II) Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes

Some new asymmetric 1,1 ′‐disubstituted ferrocene‐derived Schiff‐bases have been prepared and used as ligands in the preparation of their Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal chelates. These synthesized ligands and their metal chelates have been characterized by their physical, analytical and spectral data. These have also been used for screening against pathogenic bacterial species, e.g. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonae and have been found to be a novel class of organometallic‐based antibacterials. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two new cadmium(II) coordination polymers based on bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)alkane ligands and pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid

Assemblies of pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid and Cd^II in the presence of bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)butane or bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethane under ambient conditions yielded two new coordination polymers, namely poly[[tetraaqua[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)butane‐κ²N⁴:N^4′]bis(μ₂‐pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ³N¹,O²:O³)dicadmium(II)] dihydrate], {[Cd₂(C₆H₂N₂O₄)₂(C₈H₁₂N₆)(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O}_n, (I), and poly[[diaqua[μ₂‐1,2‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethane‐κ²N⁴:N^4′]bis(μ₃‐pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴N¹,O²:O³:O^3′)dicadmium(II)] dihydrate], {[Cd₂(C₆H₂N₂O₄)₂(C₆H₈N₆)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n, (II). Complex (I) displays an interesting two‐dimensional wave‐like structure and forms a distinct extended three‐dimensional supramolecular structure with the help of O—H...N and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Complex (II) has a three‐dimensional framework structure in which hydrogen bonds of the O—H...N and O—H...O types are found.     

Synthesis and characterization of aluminum(III) and tin(II) complexes supported by diiminophosphinate ligands and their application in ring‐opening polymerization catalysis of ε‐caprolactone

A series of Al(III) and Sn(II) diiminophosphinate complexes have been synthesized. Reaction of Ph(ArCH₂)P(?NBu^t)NHBu^t (Ar = Ph, 3 ; Ar = 8‐quinolyl, 4 ) with AlR₃ (R = Me, Et) gave aluminum complexes [R₂Al{(NBu^t)₂P(Ph)(CH₂Ar)}] (R = Me, Ar = Ph, 5 ; R = Me, Ar = 8‐quinolyl, 6 ; R = Et, Ar = Ph, 7 ; R = Et, Ar = quinolyl, 8 ). Lithiated 3 and 4 were treated with SnCl₂ to afford tin(II) complexes [ClSn{(NBu^t)₂P(Ph)(CH₂Ar)}] (Ar = Ph, 9 ; Ar = 8‐quinolyl, 10 ). Complex 9 was converted to [(Me₃Si)₂NSn{(NBu^t)₂P(Ph)(CH₂Ph)}] ( 11 ) by treatment with LiN(SiMe₃)₂. Complex 11 was also obtained by reaction of 3 with [Sn{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂]. Complex 9 reacted with [LiOC₆H₄Bu^t‐4] to yield [4‐Bu^tC₆H₄OSn{(NBu^t)₂P(Ph)(CH₂Ph)}] ( 12 ). Compounds 3–12 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures of complexes 6 , 10 , and 11 were further characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. The catalytic activity of complexes 5–8 , 11 , and 12 toward the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) was studied. In the presence of BzOH, the complexes catalyzed the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐CL in the activity order of 5 > 7 ≈ 8 > 6 ? 11 > 12 , giving polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. The kinetic studies showed a first‐order dependency on the monomer concentration in each case. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4621–4631, 2006     

Novel nickel (II) complexes chelating β‐diketiminate ligands: synthesis and simultaneous polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene

Two novel nickel (II) complexes, CH{C(CF₃)NAr}₂NiBr ( 1 , Ar = 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ and 2 , 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃), were synthesized by the reaction of the lithium salt of fluorinated β‐diketiminate backbone ligands with (1,2‐dimethoxyethane) nickel (II) bromide [(DME)NiBr₂]. The solid‐state structure of nickel (II) complex 2 as a dimer reveals four‐coordination and a tetrahedral geometry with bromide bridged by single crystal X‐ray measurement. Both complexes catalyze simultaneous polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene when activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). It was found that the reaction temperature has a pronounced effect on the activity of ethylene polymerization and the molecular weight of obtained polyethylene. In addition, the nickel catalytic systems predominantly produce linear polyethylene with unsaturated end groups. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and characterization of SBA‐15 supported iron(II)‐bisimine pyridine catalyst for ethylene polymerization

2,6‐Diacetylpyridinebis (2,6‐diisopropylani) iron dichloride, a late‐transition metal catalyst for olefin polymerization, was supported on SBA‐15 successfully and the property of the supported catalyst was carefully studied. Ethylene polymerization was systematically investigated in the presence of MAO under various conditions employing this type of catalyst system. In general, after support, a decrease in the catalytic activity was observed and higher molecular weight and fibrous morphology of polyethylene were obtained. The “extrusion polymerization” phenomenon was observed in ethylene polymerization by using the supported catalyst system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4830–4837, 2004     

Pb(II) and Mn(II) Coordination Compounds Involving 5,5′‐(1,4‐Phenylene)bis(1H‐tetrazole):Synthesis,Characterization, and Effect on Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

Two coordination compounds [Pb₄(BDT)₃(OH)₂(H₂O)₄]·H₂O ( 1 ) and [Mn(H₂O)₆]·(HBDT)₂·2H₂O ( 2 ) [H₂BDT?5,5′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bis(1H‐tetrazole)] had been hydrothermally synthesized. 1 and 2 had been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, IR, elemental and thermal analyses. Structural analysis reveals that 1 exhibits 2D layer structure extended through BDT with two different coordination modes rings in transverse and vertical. 2 consists of [Mn(H₂O)₆]²⁺, free HBDT and water. In addition, 1 and 2 were explored as luminescent materials and additives to promote the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate by differential scanning calorimetry.