Introduction of reactive functionality by the incorporation of divinylbiphenyl in ethylene copolymerization with styrene or 1‐hexene using aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocenes and MAO catalysts

An efficient introduction of vinyl group into poly (ethylene‐co‐styrene) or poly(ethylene‐co?1‐hexene) has been achieved by the incorporation of 3,3′‐divinylbiphenyl (DVBP) in terpolymerization of ethylene, styrene, or 1‐hexene with DVBP using aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocenes, Cp′TiCl₂(O?2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) [Cp′ = Cp*, ^tBuC₅H₄, 1,2,4‐Me₃C₅H₂], in the presence of MAO cocatalyst, affording high‐molecular‐weight polymers with unimodal distributions. Efficient comonomer incorporations have been achieved by these catalysts, and the content of each comonomer could be varied by its initial concentration charged. The postpolymerization of styrene was initiated from the vinyl group remained in the side chain by treatment with n‐BuLi. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2581–2587     

Factors affecting product distributions in ethylene/styrene copolymerization by (aryloxo)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium complexes‐MAO catalyst systems

Ethylene/styrene copolymerizations using Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) [Cp′ = Cp* (C₅Me₅, 1 ), 1,2,4‐Me₃C₅H₂ ( 2 ), tert‐BuC₅H₄ ( 3 )]‐MAO catalyst systems were explored under various conditions. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibited both high catalytic activities (activity: 504–6810 kg‐polymer/mol‐Ti h) and efficient styrene incorporations at 25, 40°C (ethylene 6 atm), affording relatively high molecular weight poly (ethylene‐co‐styrene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions as well as with uniform styrene distributions (M_w = 6.12–13.6 × 10⁴, M_w/M_n = 1.50–1.71, styrene 31.7–51.9 mol %). By‐productions of syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) were observed, when the copolymerizations by 1 – 3 ‐MAO catalyst systems were performed at 55, 70 °C (ethylene 6 atm, SPS 9.0–68.9 wt %); the ratios of the copolymer/SPS were affected by the polymerization temperature, the [styrene]/[ethylene] feed molar ratios in the reaction mixture, and by both the cyclopentadienyl fragment (Cp′) and anionic ancillary donor ligand (L) in Cp′TiCl₂(L) (L = Cl, O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ or N=C^tBu₂) employed. Co‐presence of the catalytically‐active species for both the copolymerization and the homopolymerization was thus suggested even in the presence of ethylene; the ratios were influenced by various factors (catalyst precursors, temperature, styrene/ethylene feed molar ratio, etc.). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4162–4174, 2008     

Olefin polymerization with Me4Cp–Amido complexes with electron‐withdrawing groups

A series of Me₄Cp–amido complexes {[η⁵:η¹‐(Me₄C₅)SiMe₂NR]TiCl₂; R = t‐Bu, 1 ; C₆H₅, 2 ; C₆F₅, 3 ; SO₂Ph, 4 ; or SO₂Me, 5 } were prepared and investigated for olefin polymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). X‐ray crystallography of complexes 3 and 4 revealed very long Ti N bonds relative to the bonds of 1 . These complexes were employed for ethylene–styrene copolymerizations, styrene homopolymerizations, and propylene homopolymerizations in the presence of MAO. The productivities of the catalysts derived from 3 – 5 were much lower than the productivity of the catalyst derived from 1 for the propylene polymerizations and ethylene–styrene copolymerizations, whereas the styrene polymerization activities were much higher for the catalysts derived from 3 – 5 than for the catalyst derived from 1 . The polymerization behavior of the catalysts derived from the metallocenes 3 – 5 were more reminiscent of monocyclopentadienyl titanocene Cp′TiX₃/MAO catalysts than of CpATiX₂/MAO catalysts such as 1 containing alkylamido ligands. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4649–4660, 2000     

Vinyl homo/copolymerization of norbornene and ethylene using sterically enhanced 1,2‐bis(arylimino)acenaphthene–palladium precatalysts

A family of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis(imino)acenaphthene‐palladium methyl chloride complexes [1‐[2,6‐{(C₆H₅)₂CH}₂‐ 4‐{C(CH₃)₃}‐C₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]PdMeCl (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂Ph Pd1 , 2,6‐Et₂Ph Pd2 , 2,6‐ⁱPr₂Ph Pd3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃Ph Pd4 , 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MePh Pd5 ) have been prepared and fully characterized by ¹H/¹³C NMR, FTIR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. X‐ray diffraction analysis of Pd2 complex revealed a square planar geometry. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, all the palladium complexes displayed high activities for norbornene (NBE) homo‐polymerization producing insoluble polymer. For the copolymerization of NBE with ethylene, Pd4 complex exhibited good activities with high incorporation of ethylene (up to 59.2–77.4%) and the resultant copolymer showed high molecular weights as maximum as 150.5 kg mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 922–930     

Efficient ethylene/norbornene copolymerization by half‐titanocenes containing imidazolin‐2‐iminato ligands and MAO catalyst systems

Ethylene copolymerizations with norbornene (NBE) using half‐titanocenes containing imidazolin‐2‐iminato ligands, Cp′TiCl₂[1,3‐R₂(CHN)₂C?N] [Cp′ = Cp ( 1 ), ^tBuC₅H₄ ( 2 ); R = ^tBu ( a ), 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ ( b )], have been explored in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Complex 1a exhibited remarkable catalytic activity with better NBE incorporation, affording high‐molecular‐weight copolymers with uniform molecular weight distributions, whereas the tert‐BuC₅H₄ analog ( 2a ) showed low activity, and the resultant polymer prepared by the Cp‐2,6‐diisopropylphenyl analog ( 1b ) possessed broad molecular weight distribution. The microstructure analysis of the poly(ethylene‐co‐NBE)s prepared by 1a suggests the formation of random copolymers including two and three NBE repeating units. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2575–2580     

Efficient introduction of aromatic vinyl group by incorporation of divinylbiphenyl,p‐divinylbenzene in syndiospecific styrene polymerization using aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocene catalysts

An efficient introduction of aromatic vinyl group into syndiotactic polystyrene has been achieved by incorporation of 3,3′‐divinylbiphenyl, p‐divinylbenzene (DVB) in syndiospecific styrene polymerization using aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocenes, Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Cp′ = ^tBuC₅H₄, 1,2,4‐Me₃C₅H₂), in the presence of MAO. The resultant polymers possessed high molecular weights with uniform molecular weight distributions, and the DVB contents could be varied by the initial feed molar ratios (6–23 mol %) without decrease in the M_n values. The syndiotactic stereo‐regularity and presence of the vinyl groups were confirmed by NMR spectra. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1902–1907     

Efficient terpolymerization of ethylene and styrene with α‐olefins by aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocene‐based catalysts and cocatalyst systems

Aryloxo‐modified half‐titanocenes, Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) [Cp′ = Cp* ( 1 ), ^tBuC₅H₄ ( 2 )], catalyze terpolymerization of ethylene and styrene with α‐olefin (1‐hexene and 1‐decene) efficiently in the presence of cocatalyst, affording high‐molecular‐weight polymers with unimodal distributions (compositions). Efficient comonomer incorporations have been achieved by these catalysts. The content of each comonomer (α‐olefin, styrene, etc.) could be controlled by varying the comonomer concentration charged, and resonances ascribed to styrene and α‐olefin repeated insertion were negligible. The terpolymerization with p‐methylstyrene (p‐MS) in place of styrene also proceeded in the presence of [PhN(H)Me₂][B(C₆F₅)₄] and AlⁱBu₃ cocatalyst, and p‐MS was incorporated in an efficient matter, affording high‐molecular‐weight polymers with uniform molecular weight distributions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2565–2574     

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.     

Direct synthesis of linear low‐density polyethylene of ethylene/1‐hexene from ethylene with a tandem catalytic system in a single reactor

Tandem catalysis offers a promising synthetic route to the production of linear low‐density polyethylene. This article reports the use of homogeneous tandem catalytic systems for the synthesis of ethylene/1‐hexene copolymers from ethylene stock as the sole monomer. The reported catalytic systems employ the tandem action between an ethylene trimerization catalyst, (η⁵‐C₅H₄CMe₂C₆H₅)TiCl₃ ( 1 )/modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), and a copolymerization metallocene catalyst, [(η⁵‐C₅Me₄)SiMe₂(^tBuN)]TiCl₂ ( 2 )/MMAO or rac‐Me₂Si(2‐MeBenz[e]Ind)₂ZrCl₂ ( 3 )/MMAO. During the reaction, 1 /MMAO in situ generates 1‐hexene with high activity and high selectivity, and simultaneously 2 /MMAO or 3 /MMAO copolymerizes ethylene with the produced 1‐hexene to generate butyl‐branched polyethylene. We have demonstrated that, by the simple manipulation of the catalyst molar ratio and polymerization conditions, a series of branched polyethylenes with melting temperatures of 60–128 °C, crystallinities of 5.4–53%, and hexene percentages of 0.3–14.2 can be efficiently produced. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4327–4336, 2004     

Homo‐ and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene with bis(β‐diketiminato) titanium complexes activated with methylaluminoxane

Homo‐ and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene were investigated with bis(β‐diketiminato) titanium complexes [ArNC(CR₃)CHC(CR₃)NAr]₂TiCl₂ (R = F, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl 2a; R = F, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl 2b ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl 2c ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl 2d) in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influence of steric and electric effects of complexes on catalytic activity was evaluated. With MAO as cocatalyst, complexes 2a–d are moderately active catalysts for ethylene polymerization producing high‐molecular weight polyethylenes bearing linear structures, but low active catalysts for norbornene polymerization. Moreover, 2a – d are also active ethylene–norbornene (E–N) copolymerization catalysts. The incorporation of norbornene in the E–N copolymer could be controlled by varying the charged norbornene. ¹³C NMR analyses showed the microstructures of the E–N copolymers were predominantly alternated and isolated norbornene units in copolymer, dyad, and triad sequences of norbornene were detected in the E–N copolymers with high incorporated content of norbornene. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 93–101, 2008     

Ethylene‐Norbornene Terpolymerization with 5‐Vinyl‐2‐norbornene Using Single‐Site Catalysts

The incorporation of 5‐vinyl‐2‐norbornene (VNB) into ethylene‐norbornene copolymer was investigated with catalysts [Ph₂C(Fluo)(Cp)]ZrCl₂ ( 1 ), rac‐[Et(Ind)₂]ZrCl₂ ( 2 ), and [Me₂Si(Me₄Cp)^tBuN]TiCl₂ ( 3 ) in the presence of MAO by terpolymerizing different amounts of 5‐vinyl‐2‐norbornene with constant amounts of ethylene and norbornene at 60°C. The highest cycloolefin incorporations and highest activity in terpolymerizations were achieved with 1 . The distribution of the monomers in the terpolymer chain was determined by NMR spectroscopy. As confirmed by XRD and DSC analysis, catalysts 1 and 3 produced amorphous terpolymer, whereas 2 yielded terpolymer with crystalline fragments of long ethylene sequences. When compared with poly‐(ethylene‐co‐norbornene), VNB increased both the glass transition temperatures and molar masses of terpolymers produced with the constrained geometry catalyst whereas decreased those for the metallocenes.     

Exceptionally high molecular weight linear polyethylene by using N,N,N′‐Co catalysts appended with a N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group

The bis(arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐NO₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group, have been synthesized by two successive condensation reactions from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine. Their subsequent treatment with anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride gave the corresponding N,N,N′‐CoCl₂ chelates, Co1 – Co5 , in excellent yield. All five complexes have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of Co1 and Co3 have been determined and help to emphasize the differences in steric properties imposed by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; distorted square pyramidal geometries are adopted by each complex. Upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), precatalyts Co1 – Co5 collectively exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with 2,6‐dimethyl‐substituted Co1 the most active (up to 1.1 × 10⁷ g (PE) mol^?1 (Co) h^?1); the MAO systems were generally more productive. Linear polyethylenes of exceptionally high molecular weight (M_w up to 1.3 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) were obtained in all cases with the range in dispersities exhibited using MAO as co‐catalyst noticeably narrower than with MMAO [M_w/M_n: 3.55–4.77 ( Co1 – Co5 /MAO) vs. 2.85–12.85 ( Co1 – Co5 /MMAO)]. Significantly, the molecular weights of the polymers generated using this class of cobalt catalyst are higher than any literature values reported to date using related N,N,N‐bis (arylimino)pyridine‐cobalt catalysts.     

Bis(β‐diketiminato) lanthanide amides: synthesis,structure and catalysis for the polymerization of l‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone

Treatment of the chlorides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnCl (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph = [(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)CHC(Me)N(C₆H₅)]^?) with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) afforded the monoamides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Y ( 1 ), Yb ( 2 )) in good yields. Anhydrous LnCl₃ reacted with 2 equiv. of NaL^2,6‐iPr2_Ph in THF, followed by treatment with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃), giving the analogues (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Sm ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )). Two monoamido complexes stabilized by two L^2‐Me ligands, (L^2‐Me)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (L^2‐Me = [N(2‐MeC₆H₄)C(Me)]₂CH)^?; Ln = Y ( 5 ), Yb ( 6 )), were also synthesized by the latter route. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 were fully characterized, including X‐ray crystal structure analyses. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 are isostructural. The central metal in each complex is ligated by two β‐diketiminato ligands and one amido group in a distorted trigonal bipyramid. All the complexes were found to be highly active in the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide (L‐LA) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) to give polymers with relatively narrow molar mass distributions. The activity depends on both the central metal and the ligand (Yb < Y < Sm ≈ Nd and L^2‐Me < L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph). Remarkably, the binary 3/benzyl alcohol (BnOH) system exhibited a striking ‘immortal’ nature and proved able to quantitatively convert 5000 equiv. of L‐LA with up to 100 equiv. of BnOH per metal initiator. All the resulting PLAs showed monomodal, narrow distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.06 ? 1.08), with molar mass (M_n) decreasing proportionally with an increasing amount of BnOH. The binary 4/BnOH system also exhibited an ‘immortal’ nature in the polymerization of ε‐CL in toluene. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct Synthesis of Titanium Complexes with Chelating cis‐9,10‐Dihydrophenanthrenediamide Ligands through Sequential C?C Bond‐Forming Reactions from o‐Metalated Arylimines

A series of new titanium(IV) complexes with o‐metalated arylimine and/or cis‐9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenediamide ligands, [o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)TiCl₃] (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 3 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 3 b ), tBu ( 3 c )), [cis‐9,10‐PhenH₂(NR)₂TiCl₂] (PhenH₂=9,10‐dihydrophenanthrene; R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 4 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 4 b ), tBu ( 4 c )), [{cis‐9,10‐PhenH₂(NR)₂}{o‐C₆H₄(HC?NR)}TiCl] (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 5 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 5 b ), tBu ( 5 c )), have been synthesised from the reactions of TiCl₄ with o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)Li (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, tBu). Complexes 4 and 5 were formed unexpectedly from the reactions of TiCl₄ with two or three equivalents of the corresponding o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)Li followed by sequential intramolecular C? C bond‐forming reductive elimination and oxidative coupling reactions. Attempts to isolate the intermediates, [{o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)}₂TiCl₂] ( 2 ), were unsuccessful. All complexes were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular structures of 3 a , 4 a – c , 5 a , and 5 c were determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Homo‐ and Copolymerization of Butadiene Catalyzed by an Bis(imino)pyridyl Vanadium Complex

Summary: The bis(imino)pyridyl vanadium(III ) complex [VCl₃{2,6‐bis[(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂(C₅H₃N)}] activated with different aluminium cocatalysts (AlEt₂Cl, Al₂Et₃Cl₃, MAO) promotes chemoselective 1,4‐polymerization of butadiene with activity values higher than classical vanadium‐chloride‐based catalysts. The polymer structure depends on the nature of the cocatalyst employed. The MAO‐activated complex was also found to be active in ethylene‐butadiene copolymerization, producing copolymers with up to 45 mol‐% of trans‐1,4‐butadiene. Crystalline polyethylene and trans‐1,4‐poly(butadiene) segments were detected in these copolymers by DSC and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.

     

Copolymerization of 2‐butene and ethylene with catalysts based on titanium and zirconium complexes

The polymerization of 2‐butene and its copolymerization with ethylene have been investigated using four kinds of dichlorobis(β‐diketonato)titanium complexes, [ArN(CH₂)₃NAr]TiCl₂ (Ar = 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) and typical metallocene catalysts. The obtained copolymers display lower melting points than those produced of homopolyethylene under the same polymerization conditions. ¹³C NMR analysis indicates that 9.3 mol‐% of 2‐butene units were incorporated into the polymer chains with Ti(BFA)₂Cl₂‐MAO as the catalyst system. With the trans‐2‐butene a higher copolymerization rate was observed than with cis‐2‐butene. A highly regioselective catalyst system for propene polymerization, [ArN(CH₂)₃NAr]TiCl₂ complex using a mixture of triisobutylaluminium and Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ as cocatalyst, was found to copolymerize a mixture of 1‐butene and trans‐2‐butene with ethylene up to 3.1 mol‐%. Monomer isomerization‐polymerization proceeds with typical metallocene catalysts to produce copolymers consisting of ethylene and 1‐butene.     

Imino‐indolate half‐titanocene chlorides: Synthesis and their ethylene (co‐)polymerization

A series of imino‐indolate half‐titanocene chlorides, Cp′Ti(L)Cl₂ ( C1 – C7 : Cp′ = C₅H₅, MeC₅H₄, C₅Me₅, L = imino‐indolate ligand), were synthesized by the reaction of Cp′TiCl₃ with sodium imino‐indolates. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, the molecular structures of two representative complexes C4 and C6 were confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. On activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes showed good catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization (up to 7.68 × 10⁶ g/mol(Ti)·h) and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization (up to 8.32 × 10⁶ g/mol(Ti)·h), producing polyolefins with high molecular weights (for polyethylene up to 1808 kg/mol, and for poly(ethylen‐co‐1‐hexene) up to 3290 kg/mol). Half‐titanocenes containing ligands with alkyl substituents showed higher catalytic activities, whereas the half‐titanocenes bearing methyl substituents on the cyclopentadienyl groups showed lower productivities, but produced polymers with higher molecular weights. Moreover, the copolymerization of ethylene and methyl 10‐undecenoate was demonstrated using the C1 /MAO catalytic system. The functionalized polyolefins obtained contained about 1 mol % of methyl 10‐undecenoate units and were fully characterized by several techniques such as FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DSC, TGA and GPC analyses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 357–372, 2009     

Atmospheric reactivity of ethylene catalyzed by β‐diketiminato Ni(II)/methylaluminoxane system

Atmospheric ethylene reactions were studied with backbone fluorinated β‐diketiminato Ni(II) complexes CH{C(CF₃)NAr}₂NiBr (1, Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, and 2 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The catalytic systems exhibit the characteristics of catalyzing simultaneously polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene, indicating different active species involved in the reaction system. In an effort to investigate the alkylation species involved in the β‐diketiminato nickel (II)/MAO system, the reaction of 1 with methylaluminoxane were studied. With ¹⁹F{¹H NMR} spectra, two sets of new signals different from 1 were presented. Two alkylation products were proposed precursors of active species for producing oligomer and polymer of ethylene in the β‐diketiminato Ni(II)/MAO system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nickel (II) complexes supported by a fluorinated β‐diketiminate backbone ligand: synthesis,catalytic activity toward norbornene polymerization,and the oxygenated species

The reaction of the lithium salt of backbone fluorinated β‐diketiminate ligands, ArNC(CF₃)CHC(CF₃) NArLi, with trans‐[NiCl(Ph)(PPh₃)₂] gives nickel (II) complexes, ArNC(CF₃)CHC(CF₃)NAr(Ph) (PPh₃)Ni (Ar = 2, 6‐Me₂C₆H₃: 1 ; 2, 6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃: 2 ). When activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO), both complexes polymerize norbornene rapidly via a vinyl‐type polymerization mechanism. Treatment of nickel complex 1 with oxygen gives rise to intramolecular aerobic hydroxylation. The oxygenated species 3 was characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copolymerization behavior of titanium imidazolin‐2‐iminato complexes

Monocyclopentadienyl titanium imidazolin‐2‐iminato complexes [Cp′Ti(L)X₂] 1a (Cp′ = cyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl), 1b (X = CH₃); 2 (Cp′ = cyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl); 3 (Cp′ = tert‐butylcyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl), upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were active for the polymerization of ethylene and propylene and the copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐hexene. Catalysts derived from imidazolin‐2‐iminato tropidinyl titanium complex 4 = [(Trop)Ti(L)Cl₂] (Trop = tropidinyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide) were much less active. Narrow polydispersities were observed for ethylene and propylene polymerization, but the copolymerization of ethylene/hexene led to bimodal molecular weight distributions. The productivity of catalysts derived from the dialkyl complex 1b activated with [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] or B(C₆F₅)₃ were less active for ethylene/hexene copolymerization but yielded ethylene/hexene copolymers of narrower molecular weight distributions than those derived from 1a/MAO. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6064–6070, 2008