Anilinolysis of nitro‐substituted diphenyl ethers in acetonitrile: The effect of some ortho‐substituents on the mechanism of SNAr reactions

Rate data are reported for the reactions of a series of X‐phenyl 2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl ethers 1a–e [X = H, 4‐NO₂, 2‐NO₂, 2,4‐(NO₂)₂, or 2,6‐(NO₂)₂] with substituted anilines 2a–e [Y = H, 2‐CH₃, 2,4‐(CH₃)₂, 2,6‐(CH₃)₂, or N‐CH₃] in acetonitrile as solvent. For individual amine, kinetic data show that there is little steric hindrance to attack at the 1‐position of the parent molecules, even in the presence of di‐ortho substitution. With each substrate, however, there is evidence for significant steric interactions; such effects leading to rate retardation were very severe for 2,6‐dimethylaniline 2d (2,6‐(CH₃)₂) and N‐methylaniline 2e (Y = N‐CH₃), the deactivating effect of N‐CH₃ in most cases is slightly higher than that of 2,6‐(CH₃)₂. However, the reactions with 2e are base catalyzed whereas those of 2d are not. The corresponding reactions with aniline 2a (Y = H) and mono‐ortho methyl‐substituted aniline 2b (Y = CH₃) are wholly base catalyzed. Only with the dinitro substrates, an uncatalyzed reaction is observed and when X = 2,6‐(NO₂)₂ this pathway takes all the reaction flux. A rationale is provided for the dichotomy of amine effects observed in this investigation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 37–49, 2010     

Stereochemistry of the σ-Complex Intermediate in Sterically Hindered Electrophilic Aromatic Substitutions. (20th communication on diazo coupling reactions)

The kinetics of the diazo coupling reactions of diazotized sulfanilic acid with 9 derivatives of 2-naphthol, each containing a substituent in the 8-position, have been measured. The reactions proceed by general base catalysis. The rate constants (k₁) for the formation of the steady-state intermediate in the presence of varying concentrations of a base (pyridine) have been evaluated from rate measurements. Similarly the ratios k₂/k₁ (where k₂ is the rate constant for proton transfer from the steady-state intermediate to the base, and k_?1 is the rate constant for the dissociation of the intermediate) have been determined. The dependence of logk₁ on σ⁺_m and of the ratio k₂/k_?1 on a steric parameter R^f (defined in this paper) is interpreted as evidence for the steady-state intermediate existing as a benzodienone σ-complex with the sp³-bound hydrogen in a pseudo-equatorial position and the electrophile pseudo-axial. A sterically caused destabilisation of the intermediate can be excluded. The steric influence on the ratio k₂/k_?1 is therefore due to the steric influence on k₂ only. Diazo coupling of 8-(2′-pyridyl)-2-naphthol is subject to intramolecular base catalysis, as demonstrated by kinetic hydrogen isotope effects.     

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene with Cp*TiCl((OCH(R)CH2)2NAr)/MMAO

A series of titanium complexes Cp*TiCl((OCH(R)CH₂)₂NAr) (Cp* = C₅Me₅, R = H, Ar = Phenyl ( 2a) ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl ( 2b ); R = Me, Ar = Phenyl ( 2c )) was prepared by the reaction of corresponding N,N‐diethoxylaniline derivatives, with Cp*TiCl₃ in the presence of excessive triethylamine. All the titanium complexes display higher catalytic activities towards the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, and produce higher molecular weight polystyrenes with higher syndiotacticity and melting temperature than their mother complex Cp*TiCl₃. The catalyst activities and polymer yields as well as polymer properties are considerably affected by the steric and electronic effect of the tridentate ligands. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1562–1568, 2005     

Isospecific Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Intramolecular Rare‐Earth Metal Based Lewis Pairs†

A series of cationic rare‐earth aryloxide complexes, i.e., [LREOAr']⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^– (L = CH₃C(NAr)CHC(CH₃)(NCH(R)CH₂PPh₂); RE = Y, Lu; Ar' =2,6‐tBu₂‐C₆H₃, 2,6‐(PhCMe₂)₂‐4‐Me‐C₆H₂; Ar = 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃, 2,6‐(Ph₂CH)₂‐4‐iPr‐C₆H₂; R = H, CH₃, iPr, Ph), were prepared and applied to the Lewis pair polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). The stereoregularity of the resulting PMMA was significantly affected by the R substituent on the pendant arm of the tridentate NNP ligand, and was found to increase with increase in the steric hindrance of R. When using a Ph group as R, the Y complex produced a highly isotactic polymer with an mm value of 95% and a T_g of 54.6 ^oC. In contrast, the steric hindrance of the Ar and Ar' groups had no effect on the tacticity of the resulting polymer, presumably because these two substituents were situated such that they pointed outward from the cyclic intermediates. Kinetics studies demonstrated that the polymerization was a first‐order process with regard to the monomer concentration prior to catalyst deactivation. End group analysis indicated that the polymerization was accompanied by two possibly competing chain‐termination side reactions that proceeded via intramolecular backbiting cyclization.     

Experimental and ab initio structural study of the ketotin compounds,X3SnCR2CH2COMe: crystal structures of X3SnCMe2CH2COMe (X = Cl and I)

The MeCOCH₂CMe₂ ligand in X₃SnCMe₂CH₂COMe ( 2 ; X = halide) acts as a C,O‐chelating group both in the solid state and in non‐coordinating solutions. The intramolecular Sn? O bond lengths in trigonal bipyramidal 2 (X = Cl and I), as determined by X‐ray crystallography, indicate that the stronger interaction occurs in 2 X = Cl. Comparisons with the Sn? O bond lengths in the estertin trihalides, X₃SnCH₂CH₂CO₂R ( 1 ; R = Me), suggest that the latter form stronger chelates than do 2 . In chlorocarbon solution, 2 (X = Cl, I) undergoes exchange reactions, as shown by NMR spectra, to give all possible halide derivatives, ∑(Cl_nI_3?nSnCMe₂CH₂COMe) (n = 0–3). Various ab initio calculations on 2 and X₃SnCH₂CH₂COMe ( 3 ) have been carried out. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental structures of 2 for X = Cl or I are reported. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal‐smectic E mesophases in a series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes

A series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes (3) with different alkyl substituents (CH₃ to C₁₀H₂₁) were synthesized and systematically characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction compared with 2‐phenylindene (3a). Depending on the alkyl chain length, highly ordered crystal‐smectic E mesophases were observed and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction for the derivatives 3h–3k with heptyl to decyl chains (n = 6?9). For 3f with a pentyl side chain (n = 4), an X‐ray crystal structure analysis was carried out.     

Design and Synthesis of Two Aromatic Amines with Dendritic Structure

The design and synthesis of two aromatic amines with dendritic structures, i.e. 3,4,5‐tribenzyloxyaniline (3,4,5‐G₁‐NH₂) and 2,5‐dibenzyloxyaniline (2,5‐G₁‐NH₂), were conducted. A coupling reaction of three or two equivalents of benzyl bromide to one equivalent of methyl hydroxybenzoate generated methyl 3,4,5‐tribenzyloxybenzoate (3,4,5‐G₁‐COOCH₃), methyl 2,5‐dibenzyloxybenzoate (2,5‐G₁‐COOCH₃) and 2,6‐dibenzyloxybenzoate (2,6‐G₁‐COOCH₃) in high yields. All G₁‐COOCH₃ derivatives were studied by X‐ray analysis. The results show that these dendrons have sufficient volume to be used as the fine ligands for certain catalysts. The amide intermediates (benzamide, G₁‐CONH₂) were obtained by reaction between ammonia and G₁‐COOCH₃. Interestingly, 2,6‐dibenzyloxybenzamide (2,6‐G₁‐CONH₂) can not be prepared in the same condition, which may be due to the overlarge steric block. Sodium hypochlorite was an effective oxidant to generate methyl carbamates G₁‐ NHCO₂CH₃.     

Vinyl polymerizations of norbornene catalyzed by nickel complexes with acetoacetamide ligands

On the basis of a remote effect, a series of acetoacetamide ligands and corresponding nickel complexes N‐(R‐phenyl) acetoacetamide Ni(CH₂Ph) (PMe₃) (R = H, 1 ; R = 2‐methyl, 2 ; R = 2,6‐dimethyl, 3 ; R = 2,6‐diisopropyl, 4 ; R = 4‐NO₂, 5 ) were synthesized and characterized. The solid structure of complex 3 was confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal analysis to be of cis form. ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy confirmed that cis and trans isomers of nickel complexes were present in solution. Norbornene polymerizations with acetoacetamide nickel complexes activated with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) were investigated in detail. Remote steric and electronic effects of acetoacetamide ligand on catalytic activity and molecular weight of polynorbornenes (PNBs) were observed. Characterizations of the obtained PNBs show that the obtained polymer products are non‐crystalline vinylic‐addition polynorbornenes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anilinolysis of reactive aryl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl carbonates: Kinetics and mechanism

The reactions of a series of anilines with phenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl ( 1 ), 4‐nitrophenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl ( 2 ), and bis(2,4‐dinitrophenyl) ( 3 ) carbonates are subjected to a kinetic investigation in 44 wt% ethanol–water, at 25.0 ± 0.1°C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M. Under amine excess pseudo‐first‐order rate coefficients (k_obs) are obtained. Plots of k_obs against free amine concentration at constant pH are linear, with slopes k_N. The Brønsted plots (log k_N vs. anilinium pK_a) for the anilinolysis of 1 – 3 are linear, with slope (β) values of 0.52, 0.61, and 0.63, respectively. The values of these slopes and other considerations suggest that these reactions are ruled by a concerted mechanism. For these reactions, the k_N values follow the reactivity sequence: 3 > 2 > 1 . Namely, the reactivity increases as the number of nitro groups attached to the nonleaving group increases. Comparison of the reactions of this work with the stepwise pyridinolysis of carbonates 1 – 3 indicates that the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T^±) formed in the pyridinolysis reactions is destabilized by the change of its pyridino moiety by an isobasic anilino group. This is attributed to the superior leaving ability from the T^± intermediate of anilines, relative to isobasic pyridines, which destabilize kinetically this intermediate. The k_N values for the anilinolysis of carbonates 1 – 3 are similar to those found in the reactions of these carbonates with secondary alicyclic amines. With the kinetic data for the anilinolysis of the title substrates and 4‐methylphenyl and 4‐chlorophenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl carbonates, a multiparametric equation is derived for log k_N as a function of the pK_a of the conjugate acids of anilines and nonleaving groups. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 191–197, 2011     

Kinetic Studies on Nucleophilic Addition Reactions of 4‐X‐substituted Anilines to N1‐methyl‐4‐nitro‐2,1,3 benzothiadiazolium terafluoroborate in Acetonitrile: Reaction Mechanism and Mayr's Approach

The kinetics of the coupling of N1‐methyl‐4‐nitro‐2,1,3 benzothiadiazolium tetrafluoroborate 1 with a series of 4‐X‐substituted anilines 2a–f (X = OH, OMe, Me, H, Cl, and CN) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C. The second‐order rate constants result in a nonlinear Brönsted‐type plot. The Hammett plot is also nonlinear, whereas the Yukawa–Tsuno plot exhibits an excellent linear correlation with ρ = –1.62 and r = 1.44. The large Brönsted (β_nuc = 1.24) and Hammett (ρ = –5.16) values suggest that the reactions proceed trough a single electron transfer mechanism. The finding of satisfactory correlation between the log k₁ of the reactions and the oxidation potentials (E°) of anilines 2a–d supports this mechanism. On the other hand, electrophilicity parameter E of benzothiadiazolium cation 1 as defined by the correlation log k_20°C = s(E + N) has been determined and compared with the electrophilic reactivities of a large variety of electrophiles.     

Density functional theory study on the reactions of X− with CH3SY (X,Y = F,Cl, Br,I)

Gas‐phase anionic reactions X^? + CH₃SY (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I) have been investigated at the level of B3LYP/6‐311+G (2df,p). Results show that the potential energy surface (PES) of gas‐phase reactions X^? + CH₃SY (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) has a quadruple‐well structure, indicating an addition–elimination (A–E) pathway. The fluorine behaves differently in many respects from the other halogens and the reactions F^? + CH₃SY (Y = F, Cl, Br, I) correspond to deprotonation instead of substitution. The gas‐phase reactions X^? + CH₃SF (X = Cl, Br, I), however, follow an A–E pathway other than the last two out going steps (COM2 and PR) that proceeds via a deprotonation. The polarizable continuum model (PCM) has been used to evaluate the solvent effects on the energetics of the reactions X^? + CH₃SY (X, Y = Cl, Br, I). The PES is predicted to be unimodal in the solvents of high polarity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Highly Fluorescent Flavins: Rational Molecular Design for Quenching Protection Based on Repulsive and Attractive Control of Molecular Alignment

Unprecedented intense fluorescent emission was observed for a variety of flavin compounds bearing a perpendicular cyclic imide moiety at the C7 position of an isoalloxazine platform. A series of alloxan‐substituted flavins was prepared selectively by reduction of the corresponding N‐aryl‐2‐nitro‐5‐alkoxyanilines with zinc dust and subsequent reaction with alloxan monohydrate in the presence of boric acid. Analogues bearing oxazolidine‐2,4‐dione functionality were obtained on methylation of the alloxan‐substituted flavins with methyl iodide and subsequent rearrangement in the presence of an inorganic base. The flavin compounds exhibit intense white‐green fluorescent emission in the solution state under UV excitation at 298 K, with emission efficiencies Φ_{298 K} greater than 0.55 in CH₃CN, which are higher than the values for all reported flavin compounds under similar conditions. The highest Φ_{298 K} value of 0.70 was obtained in CH₃CN for isoalloxazine bearing C7‐alloxan and N10‐2,6‐diisopropylphenyl groups. The temperature dependence of the emission intensities indicates that the pronounced emission properties at 298 K are attributable to the highly heat resistant properties towards emission decay with increasing temperature. Mechanistic studies, including X‐ray diffraction analysis, revealed that the good emission properties and high heat resistance of the alloxan‐substituted flavins are due to a synergetic effect of the associative nature of the C7‐alloxan unit and the repulsive nature of the perpendicular bulky substituents at the C7 and N10 positions.     

Effect of solvent viscosity on the kinetics of reversible dimerization of phenoxy radicals

Flash photolysis technique has been used to obtain the rate and thermodynamic parameters of the reversible dimerization reactions of a range of ten phenoxy radicals (I–X) in a toluene–dibutylphthalate mixture (0.6 cP ≤η≤18.4 cP): The main reason for the difference in the k₁ values are the different steric hindrances in radicals. It has been found that the values of k₁ for 2,6-diphenyl-4-methoxy- (I), 2-phenyl-(III), and 2-methoxyphenoxy (IV) radicals are 3–5 times smaller than the respective diffusion constants calculated according to the Debye formula with regard to the spin-statistical factor: The resultant ΔH₁^≠values for these radicals in toluene and dibutylphthalate are close to the activation energies of the viscous flow of the solvents B. Linear relationships with a slope equal to unity are observed between log k₁ and log(T/η). The recombination of radicals I, III, and IV is limited by translational diffusion. The k₁ values for 2,6-diphenyl- (VII), 2,6-di-tert-butyl- (IX), and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy (X) radicals are 10–60 times smaller than k_diff and Δ H^≠ B. In the case of radical X in toluene ΔH₁^≠ 0. The recombination of these three radicals includes an intermediate step of complex formation: For 4-phenyl- (II), 2,6- dimethoxy- (V), 2,4-diphenyl- (VI), and radicals VII, IX, and X the linear relationships between log k₁ and log (T/η) have a slope of from 0.5 ± 0.05 to 0.8 ± 0.05. The k₁^-1 versus η relationships for these radicals are not straight lines. The recombination of these six radicals is limited by translational and rotational diffusion. With the aid of theoretical models, the k₁ versus η relationships have been used to derive the steric factor f in radical recombination and the angle θ between the axis and the solid angle generatrix. The solid angle defines the reaction spot on the radical-sphere surface. The recombination of the 2,6-diphenyl-4-diphenylmethylphenoxy radical (VIII) takes place in the region intermediate between the diffusion and the kinetic ones, and the relationship between log k₁ and log (T/η) for this radical has a plateau portion. The log k_-1 versus log (T/η) relationships have precisely the same form as the corresponding k₁ relationships, which is quite in line with the theory of diffusion-controlled reversible recombination reactions.     

Kinetics and quantification of the electrophilic reactivities of substituted thiophenes and structure‐reactivity relationships

Second‐order rate constants (k₁) have been measured spectrophotometrically for reactions of 2‐methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophene 1a‐c (X = NO₂, CN, and COCH₃) with secondary cyclic amines (pyrrolidine 2a , piperidine 2b , and morpholine 2 c ) in CH₃CN and 91:9 (v/v) CH₃OH/CH₃CN at 20°C. The experimental data show that the rate constants (k₁) values exhibit good correlation with the parameters of nucphilicity (N) of the amines 2a‐c and are consistent with the Mayr's relationship log k (20°C) = s(E + N). We have shown that the electrophilicity parameters E derived for 1a–c and those reported previously for the thiophenes 1d‐g (X = SO₂CH₃, CO₂CH₃, CONH₂, and H) are linearly related to the pK_a values for their gem‐dimethoxy complexes in methanol. Using this correlation, we successfully evaluated the electrophilicity E values of 12 structurally diverse electrophiles in methanol for the first time. In addition, a satisfactory linear correlation (r² = 0.9726) between the experimental (log k_exp) and the calculated (log k_calcd) values for the σ‐complexation reactions of these 12 electrophiles with methoxide ion in methanol has been observed and discussed.     

Theoretical Study of the Rate Coefficients for CH3NHNH2 + NO2 and Related Reactions

The kinetics and mechanisms of H atom abstraction reactions from CH₃NHNH₂ by NO₂ (R1) and related reactions have been investigated theoretically by using ωB97X‐D and CCSD(T)‐F12 quantum chemical calculations and the steady‐state unimolecular master equation analysis based on Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory. For reaction (R1), both dissociation and isomerization steps between intermediate complexes were found to be important for the distribution of the dissociated bimolecular products. The dominant products of (R1) were found to be cis‐CH₃NHNH and HONO at lower temperature. The branching ratios for CH₃NNH₂ formation paths increased with increasing temperature. On the same reaction potential energy surface, six reactions including isomerization reactions between CH₃NNH₂ and cis‐/trans‐CH₃NHNH catalyzed by HONO were suggested to compete with the reverse reaction of (R1). The temperature‐ and pressure‐dependent rate expressions are proposed for kinetic modeling.     

Impact of the Nature of the Organic Spacer on the Crystallization Kinetics of UiO‐66(Zr)‐Type MOFs

The influence of the constitutive dicarboxylate linkers (size, functional group) over the crystallization kinetics of a series of porous Zr metal–organic frameworks with the UiO‐66 topology has been investigated by in situ time‐resolved energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction (EDXRD). Both large aromatic spacers (2,6‐naphthalene‐, 4,4′‐biphenyl‐ and 3,3′‐dichloro‐4,4′‐azobenzene‐dicarboxylates) and a series of X‐functionalized terephthalates (X=NH₂, NO₂, Br, CH₃) were investigated in dimethylformamide (DMF) at different temperatures and compared with the parent UiO‐66. Using different crystallization models, rate constants and further kinetic parameters (such as activation energy) have been extracted. Finally, the impact of the replacement of the toxic DMF by water on the crystallization kinetics was studied through the synthesis of the functionalized UiO‐66‐NO₂ solid.     

Theoretical Study on Second‐order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Substituted Thiazole Derivatives

On the basis of ZINDO program, we have designed a program to calculate the nonlinear second‐order polarizability β_yk and β_μ according to the SOS expression. The second‐order nonlinear optical properties of 4‐nitro‐4′‐dimethylamino‐stilbene and a series of its thiazole derivatives were studied. The calculated results were that: When replacing a benzene ring in 4‐nitro‐4′‐dimethylamino‐stilbene by a thiazole ring, the influence on β values depends on the position of thiazole ring. When the thiazole ring connects with nitro group (acceptor), the β values increase significantly compared with corresponding stilbene derivatives. The β values of 2‐(p‐donor‐β‐styryl)‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (2–7) are larger than those of 2‐(p‐nitro‐β‐styryl)‐5‐donor‐thiazole derivatives (8–13) and 2‐(p‐donor‐phenyl)‐azo‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (14–19). The 2‐(p‐donor‐β‐styryl)‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (2–7) are good candidates as chromophores duo to their high nonlinearities and potential good thermal stability.     

Highly Emissive Boron Ketoiminate Derivatives as a New Class of Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorophores

A series of boron ketoiminate derivatives that exhibited clear aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics (in THF: Φ_PL≤0.01; in the solid state: Φ_PL=0.30–0.76) were prepared by the reactions of 1,3‐enaminoketone derivatives with boron trifluoride–diethyl etherate. The structures and optical properties were investigated by UV‐visible spectroscopy, photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy, and X‐ray single‐crystal measurements. These results indicate that the AIE characteristics were derived from molecular motions of the boron‐chelating rings with a boron? nitrogen (B? N) bond. Furthermore, the optical properties were controllable by steric hindrance of the substituted groups on the nitrogen atom.     

Mismatch base pairing of the mutagen 8‐oxoguanine and its derivatives with adenine: A theoretical search for possible antimutagenic agents

Molecular geometries of 8‐oxoguanine (8OG), those of its substituted derivatives with the substitutions CH₂, CF₂, CO, CNH, O, and S in place of the N7H7 group, adenine (A), and the base pairs of 8OG and its substituted derivatives with adenine were optimized using the RHF/6‐31+G* and B3LYP/6‐31+G* methods in gas phase. All the molecules and their hydrogen‐bonded complexes were solvated in aqueous media employing the polarized continuum model (PCM) of the self‐consistent reaction field (SCRF) theory using the RHF/6‐31+G* and B3LYP/6‐31+G* methods. The optimized geometrical parameters of the 8OG‐A base pair at the RHF/6‐31+G* and B3LYP/6‐31+G* levels of theory agree satisfactorily with those of an oligonucleotide containing the base pair found from X‐ray crystallography. The pattern of hydrogen bonding in the CF₂‐ and O‐substituted 8OG‐A base pair is of Watson–Crick type and that in the unsubstituted and CH₂‐, CNH‐, and S‐substituted base pairs is of Hoogsteen type. In the CO‐substituted base pair, the hydrogen bonding pattern is of neither Watson–Crick nor Hoogsteen type. The CF₂‐substitution appears to introduce steric hindrance for stacking of DNA bases. On the basis of these results, it appears that among all the substituted 8OG molecules considered here, the O‐substituted derivative may be useful as an antimutagenic drug. It is, however, subject to experimental verification. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

A series of novel 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron catalysts: synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization

A series of novel 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes {2,6-(2-X-4-Y-5-ZC₆H₂NCCH₃)₂C₅H₃N}FeCl₂ (X = Cl, Y = CH₃, Z = H (2); X = Br, Y = CH₃, Z = H (3); X = F, Y = H, Z = CH₃ (4); X = Cl, Y = H, Z = CH₃ (5); X = Cl, Y = F (7)) have been synthesized and characterized with elemental analysis and IR. These iron coordinative complexes, activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), lead to highly active ethylene oligomerization (>10⁷ g/mol Fe h) and the products are mostly linear α-olefins (>90%). The catalytic activities and product properties depend on the substituents on aryl rings and the reaction conditions. As reaction temperature increases, the catalytic activities decrease rapidly and more low-molar-mass products are produced. The product distributions are almost independent of the Al/Fe molar ratio, but the catalytic activities change in different trends when the ortho-substituents on the aryl rings are different. The other three complexes have also been synthesized for comparison to investigate the steric hindrance and electronic effect on the properties of complexes. The complex with adaptable steric hindrance and electronic properties exhibits the highest catalytic activities.