Novel Dendritic PNP Chromium Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, and Performance on Ethylene Oligomerization

Three dendritic PNP ligands with ethylenediamine, 1,4‐butanediamine, 1,6‐diaminohexane as bridged groups are synthesized in good yields, respectively. Three dendritic PNP chromium complexes ( C1  –  C3 ) are prepared with the ligands and chromium(III ) chloride tetrahydrofuran complex (CrCl₃(THF )₃) as materials. The dendritic PNP ligands and the synthetic chromium complexes are fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. All chromium complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO ) exhibited moderate activities on ethylene oligomerization (7.90 × 10⁴ – 2.15 × 10⁵ g (mol Cr h)⁻¹] and had better selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer, reaching up to 81%. The chromium complex ( C1 ) activated with diethylaluminium chloride (Et₂AlCl) has higher catalytic activity than the chromium complex C1 activated with MAO , although the chromium complex ( C1 ) activated with Et₂AlCl had lower selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer. The effects of solvent and reaction parameters on ethylene oligomerization are also studied using the chromium complex C1 as pre ‐ catalyst and MAO as co ‐ catalyst. Under optimized conditions ([complex] = 2 μmol, Al/Cr = 500, 25 °C, 0.9 MP a ethylene, 30 min), the catalytic activity of complex C1 in toluene is 2.15 × 10⁵ g (mol Cr h)⁻¹ and the selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer is 36.76%. In addition, the structure of complexes significantly affects both the catalytic activity and the selectivity on ethylene oligomerization.     

Hyperbranched macromolecules bridged salicylaldimine cobalt complexes: synthesis,characterization and ethylene oligomerization studies

A series of novel 1.0 generation (1.0G) hyperbranched macromolecules bridged salicylaldimine cobalt complexes were synthesized in high yields. The compounds were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV) visible spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS), elemental analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), as well as were investigated as precatalysts for the oligomerization of ethylene. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) and diethylaluminumchloride (DEAC), the cobalt precatalysts showed moderate catalytic activities in the range of 10⁵ g/(mol Co h) in ethylene reactivity with the high selectivity for the butenes and high carbon number olefins products. The correlation between cobalt complexes and their catalytic activities and product distribution were investigated in detail under various reaction parameters. The research results showed that the catalytic activities of precatalysts increased with the increase of ethylene pressure and Al/Co molar ratio; however, the catalytic activities firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of reaction temperature. The highest activity of 2.54 × 10⁵ g/(mol Co h) and 50.18% selectivity of high number carbon olefins was obtained under the reaction temperature of 25 °C, ethylene pressure of 0.5 MPa, and Al/Co molar ratio of 1500. In addition, the nature of solvent and co-catalyst, as well as the structure of precatalysts, significantly affected both the activity and the product distribution of the resultant catalysts.     

Cobalt complexes based on dendritic PAMAM bridged salicylaldimine ligands: Synthesis,characterization and performance in ethylene oligomerization

Two novel dendritic poly(amido-amine) (PAMAM) bridged salicylaldimine ligands were synthesized by Schiff base reaction using 1.0 generation dendritic PAMAM as bridged groups. The cobalt complex with 1,4-butanediamine as core (C1) and the cobalt complex with 1,6-hexanediamine as core (C2) based on dendritic PAMAM bridged salicylaldimine ligands were prepared by metallic coordination reaction, respectively. The structures of the ligands and the dendritic cobalt complexes were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet spectra (UV), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectra (ESI-MS). The complexes C1 and C2 were evaluated as catalyst precursors for ethylene oligomerization after being activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl), ethylaluminium dichloride (EtAlCl₂) and ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC). The dendritic cobalt complexes exhibited the highest activity and selectivity for high carbon oligomers with EASC as activator. Under the conditions of 1.0 MPa, 25°C and Al/Co molar ratio 1500, the catalytic activity and selectivity for C₁₀–C₂₀ using C1 were 3.44×10⁶ g·(mol Co·h)^?1 and 76.53% after activation with EASC, and the catalytic activity and selectivity for C₁₀–C₂₀ using C2 were 3.42×10⁶ g·(mol Co·h)^?1 and 84.50%, respectively.     

Bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands and their catalytic behavior toward ethylene oligomerization

A series of bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the complexes showed good activities [up to 8.17 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] for ethylene oligomerization. Activation of the bidentate iron complex with a 1-octadecyl moiety in the ligand backbone (complex C3) with Et₂AlCl produced higher catalytic activity than C3 with MAO, although the selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers was lower. The choice of solvent and reaction parameters significantly affected both the activities and selectivities of these complexes. Under the conditions ([Fe] = 5 μmol; temperature = 25 °C; toluene = 50 mL; time = 30 min; ethylene pressure = 0.5 MPa; MAO as cocatalyst), complex C3 gave high activity [7.46 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] with better selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers (26.58%). The catalytic activities and selectivities were also influenced by the ligand structure and choice of metal. The catalytic activities declined with increasing alkyl chain length of the ligand backbone. Compared to the nickel complex with 1-tetradecyl as core in the ligand backbone (C4), the iron complexes exhibited lower catalytic activities but the better selectivities for C₁₀₊ oligomers.     

Synthesis and application of chromium complexes bearing hyperbranched PNP ligands in the ethylene oligomerization

Series of hyperbranched PNP ligands ( L1 – L3 ) were prepared using three low-generation hyperbranched molecules with the same branching chains and functional groups but different alkyl chain length as backbones in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile and dichloromethane. The chromium complexes ( Cr1 – Cr3 ) were obtained by reacting with CrCl₃(THF)₃ and the corresponding ligands ( L1 – L3 ). Both L1 – L3 and Cr1 – Cr3 were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared and electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry as well as ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ³¹P NMR measurements in the case of the ligands. When activated with different aluminum co-catalysts, all three chromium complexes were able to catalyze the ethylene oligomerization, but the products of the ethylene oligomerization were mainly dependent on ethylene pressure, co-catalyst and ligand backbone. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, the catalytic activity and the selectivity of C8 olefin increased with increasing of ethylene pressure for Cr1 , the catalytic activity was 13.83 × 10⁵ g·(mol Cr·h)⁻¹ and the main product was C8 olefin (50.68%) at the ethylene pressure of 4.0 MPa. When activated with diethylaluminium chloride, ethylaluminium dichloride and ethylaluminum sesquichloride, Cr1 showed the lower catalytic activity and the higher selectivity of C4 olefin in toluene. An increase in the length of alkyl chain in the hyperbranched PNP ligand backbone caused a decrease in the catalytic activity and an increase in the selectivity of C8 + olefin. The PNP chromium complexes exhibited higher selectivity for higher carbon number olefins compared with the dendritic PNP chromium complex ( Cr5 ).     

Synthesis and application of bidentate nickel complexes bearing hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands in ethylene oligomerization

Three bidentate salicylaldimine nickel complexes containing different long-chain alkyl groups in their ligand backbone were synthesized in good yield. All the bidentate salicylaldimine ligands and their nickel complexes were fully characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. Three bidentate nickel complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors in ethylene oligomerization. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the catalytic activity was 5.75 × 10⁵ g/(mol Ni·h) and the oligomers were mainly butenes (52.10%) and octenes (32.63%) for bidentate nickel complex with 1-tetradecyl as core in the ligand backbone (R₁₄-complex) using toluene as solvent. However, bidentate nickel complex with 1-octadecyl as core in the ligand backbone (R₁₈-complex) produced mainly octenes (59.38%) and C10 + olefins (29.01%) and the catalytic activity was 2.23 × 10⁵ g/(mol Ni·h). After activation with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC) in toluene, three nickel complexes yielded mainly C10 + products which contained Friedel-Craft alkylated-toluene, and their catalytic activities were above 1.5 × 10⁶ g/(mol Ni·h). For the bidentate salicylaldimine nickel catalysts with hyperbranched molecules as ligand backbones, the solvent and the reaction conditions had a large effect on catalytic activity as well as oligomerization distribution except the structure of the catalyst and the co-catalyst.     

超支化铬系催化剂的合成及乙烯齐聚性能研究

以正辛胺和十二胺为原料,分别制备了两种超支化PNP配体,通过引入金属铬活性位点的方法合成了具有不同烷基链长度的超支化PNP铬系催化剂.采用红外光谱(IR)、核磁共振磷谱(~(31)P-NMR)、核磁共振氢谱(~1H-NMR)、紫外光谱(UV)和质谱(MS)等表征方法证明合成催化剂的结构与理论结构预测相符.详细考察了催化剂用量、溶剂种类、反应条件以及配合物结构对乙烯齐聚性能的影响.实验结果显示,超支化PNP铬系催化剂在甲苯作溶剂,甲基铝氧烷(MAO)做助催化剂时表现出良好的催化乙烯齐聚性能,产物主要为低碳烯烃.在最佳条件下,催化活性最高可达到1.69×10~5 g·(mol Cr·h)~(-1),己烯和辛烯的选择性为43.3%以上.相同聚合条件下,其催化活性随着端基烷基链长度的增加而下降.     

Hyperbranched bisphosphinoamine ligands: synthesis,characterization and application in ethylene oligomerization

Two hyperbranched bisphosphinoamine (PNP) ligands and chromium complexes were synthesized in good yield with 1.0 generation (1.0 G) hyperbranched macromolecules, chlorodiphenylphosphine (Ph₂PCl) and CrCl₃(THF)₃ as raw materials. The hyperbranched PNP ligands and chromium complexes were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, UV and ESI-MS. Comparing with the chromium complexes, the hyperbranched PNP ligands, in combination with Cr(III), and activation by methylaluminoxane (MAO) in situ generated species with better catalytic performance for ethylene oligomerization. The effect of solvent, chromium source, ligand/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature, Al/Cr molar ratio and reaction pressure on the catalytic activity and product selectivity were studied. The results showed that with increase of ligand/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature and Al/Cr molar ratio, the catalytic activity increased at first and then decreased. However, the catalytic activity continuously increased with increase of reaction pressure. Under the optimized conditions, the catalytic system of hyperbranched PNP/Cr(III)/MAO led to catalytic activity of 2.68 × 10⁵ g/(mol Cr·h) and 37.71% selectivity for C₆ and C₈.     

Influence of the ligand structure on the properties of bidentate salicylaldimine nickel(II) complexes in ethylene oligomerization

Three nickel(II) complexes (C1–C3) bearing diamine-bridged 4-hydroxysalicylaldehyde ligands (L1–L3) were successfully synthesized, and all the compounds were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The influence of the oligomerization parameters on the catalytic properties of complex C2 was systematically investigated. The results showed that oligomerization parameters played an important role in the catalytic properties and the catalytic activity was 19.90?×?10⁴ g/(mol·Ni·h) and the selectivity of C₈₊ olefins was 60.25% when the precatalyst dosage was 5 μmol, the Al/Ni molar ratio was 500, the temperature was 25 °C, the reaction time was 30 min and the pressure of ethylene was 0.7 MPa. Complexes C1–C3 with different lengths of the bridged group were evaluated for ethylene oligomerization, and the results showed that the length of the alkyl chain in the ligand had little influence on the catalytic properties. Complex C4 based on ethanediamine-bridged salicylaldimine and C5 based on the hyperbranched salicylaldimine in our previous work were also investigated to study the influence of the ligand structure on the catalytic properties. The catalytic activity [31.80?×?10⁴ g/(mol·Ni·h)] and the content of the low-carbon oligomers (70.16%) for complex C4 were higher than complex C2 with hydroxyl substituent in benzene ring. The catalytic activity and the content of the low carbon oligomers for complex C5 were far higher than other four complexes.

     

Crystal Structure and Ethylene Oligomerization Catalytic Activity of {2-Carbethoxy-6-[1-[（2,6-diethylphenyl）imino]ethyl]pyridine}CoCl2

The unsymmetric precursor ethyl 6-acetylpyridine-2-carboxylate （4） was synthesized from 2,6-dimethylpyridine （1）. On the basis of this precursor, a new mono（imino）pyridine ligand （5） and the corresponding Co（Ⅱ） complex {2-carbethoxy-6-[1-[（2,6-diethylphenyl）imino]ethyl]pyridine}CoCl2 （6） were prepared. The crystal structure of complex indicates that the 2-carbethoxy-6-iminopyridine is coordinated to the cobalt as a tridentate ligand using [N, N, O] atoms, and the coordination geometry of the central cobalt is a distorted trigonal bipyramid, with the pyridyl nitrogen atom and the two chlorine atoms forming the equatorial plane. Being applied to the ethylene oligomedzation, this cobalt complex shows catalytic activity of 1.820× 10^4 g/mol-Cooh at 101325 Pa of ethylene at 15.5℃ for 1 h, when 1000 equiv, of methylaluminoxane （MAO） is employed as the cocatalyst.     

Synthesis of short straight-chain alkylamine based hyperbranched nickel complexes and their catalytic performance of ethylene oligomerization

Short straight-chain alkylamine based hyperbranched molecules and their corresponding salicylaldimine nickel complexes have been synthesized in high yield and characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectrometry. The optimal reaction parameters were determined under the catalytic system of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co-catalyst and toluene as solvent. Under these conditions, the effect of catalyst structure, solvent and co-catalyst were determined. Upon activation of MAO in toluene, ethylene oligomerization products were homogeneous distribution of butene, hexene and octene with trace higher olefin. The same catalytic system under cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane as solvent, however, produced majority of butene. Under the activation of EtAlCl₂, Et₂AlCl and EASC as co-catalyst in toluene, ethylene oligomerization reaction was tandem with Friedel-Crafts reaction in catalytic system.     

Selective ethylene oligomerization bearing hyperbranched bispyridylamine chromium catalyst

Two new hyperbranched bispyridylamine ligands and multinuclear chromium complexes were synthesized with 1.0?G hyperbranched macromolecules, 2-chloropyridine, 2-chloro-4-methylpyridine and CrCl₃(THF)₃ as raw materials. The structures of hyperbranched ligands and chromium complexes were characterized by UV, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ESI-MS, and elemental analysis. These hyperbranched chromium complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors by using MAO as activator in the oligomerization of ethylene. Effects of reaction temperature, reaction pressure, Al/Cr molar ratio, concentration of catalyst, solvent, and the structure of catalysts on the catalytic activity and product selectivity were investigated. The oligomerization results showed that with increase of reaction temperature, reaction pressure, and Al/Cr molar ratio, the catalytic activity increased and then decreased; the catalytic activity continuously decreased as the amount of catalyst increased. The products were mainly based on C₆ and C₈. Under optimized conditions, the catalytic system of hyperbranched NNN/Cr(III)/MAO led to activity of 1.26?×?10⁵ g/(mol·Cr·h) and 63.34% selectivity for C₆ and C₈.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Ethylene Oligomerization Behavior of Neutral Nickel Complexes Bearing N‐Fluorinated Phenyl Salicylaldiminato Chelate Ligands

A series of neutral nickel complexes featuring N‐fluorinated phenyl salicylaldiminato chelate ligands was synthesized, and the novel molecular structure of complex C14 was further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The neutral nickel complexes showed high activity up to 9.96×10⁵ g oligomers/(mol Ni·h) and high selectivity of C₆ in catalyzing ethylene oligomerization using methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. It was observed that the strong electron‐withdrawing effect of the fluorinated salicylaldiminato ligand was able to significantly increase the catalytic activity for oligomerization of ethylene. In addition, the influence of reaction parameters such as Al/Ni molar ratio, reaction temperature, a variety of cocatalyst and ethylene pressure on catalytic activity was investigated.     

NNNO-Heteroscorpionate nickel (II) and cobalt (II) complexes for ethylene oligomerization: the unprecedented formation of odd carbon number olefins

The unprecedented observation of odd carbon number olefins is reported during nickel- catalyzed ethylene oligomerization. Two complexes based on Co (II) and Ni (II) with novel tetradentate heteroscorpionate ligand have been synthesized and fully characterized. These complexes showed the ability to oligomerize ethylene upon activation with various organoaluminum compounds (Et₂AlCl, Et₃Al₂Cl₃, EtAlCl₂, MMAO). Ni (II) based catalytic systems were sufficiently more active (up to 1900 kg·mol (Ni)⁻¹·h⁻¹·atm⁻¹) than Co (II) analogs and have been found to be strongly dependent on the activator composition. The use of PPh₃ as an additive to catalytic systems resulted in the increase of activity up to 4,150 kg·mol (Ni)⁻¹·h⁻¹·atm⁻¹ and in the alteration of selectivity. All Ni (II) based systems activated with EtAlCl₂ produce up to 5 mol. % of odd carbon number olefins; two probable mechanisms for their formation are suggested – metathesis and β-alkyl elimination.     

Substantially enhancing the catalytic performance of bis(imino)pyridylcobaltous chloride pre‐catalysts adorned with benzhydryl and nitro groups for ethylene polymerization

Variations in the ligand structure of homogeneous late transition metal catalysts through judicious choice and location of substituent is the foremost strategy in improving their catalytic performance for ethylene polymerization. In this contribution, symmetrical and unsymmetrical bis(imino)pyridylcobaltous chloride complexes adorned with nitro and benzhydryl groups {2‐[1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐nitrophenylimino)ethyl]‐6‐[1‐(alkylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridylcobaltous chloride (alkyl: R¹ = Me and R² = H, Co1 ; R¹ = Et and R² = H, Co2 ; R¹ = ⁱPr and R² = H, Co3 ; R¹ and R² = Me, Co4 ; R¹ = Et and R² = Me, Co5 ; R¹ = benzhydryl and R² = NO₂, Co6 )} have been prepared and applied as catalysts for ethylene polymerization. The molecular structure of Co1 and Co2 revealed the unequal steric protection of the cobalt center induced by bis(imino)pyridine chelate. In the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) activators at different ethylene feeding rates (1 and 10 atm), catalysts Co1 – Co5 displayed high activities at 10 atm ethylene and produced strictly linear polyethylene (PE) with high molecular weight, Co2 /MMAO being the most highly active catalytic system showing the highest activity of 9.41 × 10⁶ g of PE (mol of Co)^?1 h^?1 which is three times higher than that of prototypal cobalt catalyst ( Co0 ) under identical conditions. Moreover, high melt temperature and unimodal molecular weight distribution are the characteristics of the resulting polyethylene.     

Low density polyethylene by tandem catalysis with single site Ti(IV)/Co(II) catalysts

A variety of branched polyethylenes (PE), ranging from semicrystalline linear low density polyethylene to completely amorphous low density polyethylene and rubbery PE, can be produced from ethylene alone by tandem catalysis using as oligomerization catalysts the (imino)pyridyl Co(II) complexes N^BTCoCl₂ (1) ({6-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2-(imine)pyridyl)}CoCl₂), N^ETCoCl₂ (2) ({6-(4-ethylthiophen-2-yl)-2-(imine)pyridyl)}CoCl₂), or N^PhCoCl₂ (3) ({6-(phenyl)-2-(imine)pyridyl)}CoCl₂) and as a copolymerization catalyst [η⁵-C₅Me₄)SiMe₂(t-BuN)]TiCl₂ (4). The catalytic activity of the systems 1/4/MAO, 2/4/MAO, and 3/4/MAO has been evaluated under comparable experimental conditions (T = 30°C, [ethylene] = 0.35 mol/l), varying the molar fraction of the cobalt precursors. A positive comonomer effect was observed for all the systems investigated. The maximum productivity (4570 kg PE (mol Ti)⁻¹ h⁻¹) was obtained for the benzothiophenyl-substituted cobalt complex. An effective control of the branching in the polymer backbone was achieved by varying either the oligomerization catalyst or its molar fraction. Completely amorphous materials with T _g as low as-60°C could be obtained. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Chromium Complexes Supported by Phenyl Ether-Pyrazolyl [N,O] Ligands as Catalysts for the Oligo- and Polymerization of Ethylene

A new series of Cr (III) complexes [Cr{1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1H-pyrazole}Cl₃]₂ (Cr1), [Cr{1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole}Cl₃]₂ (Cr2 ), and [Cr{1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole}Cl₃]₂ (Cr3) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and IR spectroscopy. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), chromium precatalysts Cr2 and Cr3 showed moderate activity in ethylene oligomerization [TOF = 17,900–29,200 mol (ethylene)·mol (Cr)⁻¹·h⁻¹ at 80 °C] with Schultz-Flory distribution of oligomers (K = 0.54–0.66) and production of polymer varying from 2.8 to 6.7 wt.%. On the other hand, under identical oligomerization conditions, Cr1 /MAO behaved as a polymerization catalyst generating predominantly polyethylene (63.7 wt%). The amount of 1-butene is the largest component in the liquid fraction suggesting that these precatalysts operate via a Cossee-Arlman mechanism. The catalytic activities, selectivity and product distribution are quite sensitive to the R-group at the 3- and 5-position of the pyrazolyl ring. Based on the electronic and steric effects of R- substituents, it is possible to stablish a trend of activity: Cr2 (Pz^Me2) > Cr3 (Pz^Ph) > Cr1 (Pz). Moreover, the effect of oligomerization parameters (cocatalyst, temperature, [Al]/[Cr] molar ratio, time) on the activity and on the product distribution were examined.     

Iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes bearing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives: Synthesis and application to ethylene oligomerization

A series of tridentate NˆNˆN iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes containing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. The molecular structure of 1a was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. On treatment with modified methylaluminoxane, these metal complexes exhibited good catalytic activities up to 2.8 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Fe) h⁻¹ for ethylene oligomerization, and butenes were the major products with nice selectivity for 1-C₄. The steric and electronic effects on catalytic activities of metal complexes were carefully investigated as well as the influence of various reaction parameters. In the catalytic system, Fe(II) complexes performed better catalytic activities than their Co(II) analogues. With ligands having bulky substituents, the better catalytic activity was observed in catalytic system of Fe(II) complex, however, the lower catalytic activity was obtained in catalytic system of Co(II) complexes.     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior toward ethylene of cobalt(II) and iron(II) complexes bearing 2-(1-aryliminoethylidene)quinolines

A series of 2-(1-aryliminoethylidene)quinolines (L) were synthesized and used as bidentate N^N ligands in coordinating with metal (cobalt and iron) chlorides to form complexes of the type LMCl₂, cobalt(II) (Co1-Co5) and iron(II) (Fe1-Fe5). All organic compounds and metal complexes were fully characterized, and the molecular structures of the representative complexes Co3·DMF and Fe4·DMF were confirmed as distorted bipyramidal geometry at the metal by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) under 10 atm ethylene, all complexes showed high activities in ethylene dimerization with activities of up to 1.82 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹ (Co) h⁻¹ and 5.89 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ (Fe) h⁻¹, respectively.     

Nickel complexes bearing 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenoxy ligands: Synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization

A series of 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenols and their nickel complexes have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. The molecular structures of ligand L4 and complex C5 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that complex C5 has a six-coordinated distorted octahedral geometry. Upon activation with Et₂AlCl, these nickel(II) complexes showed good activity for ethylene oligomerization. When PPh₃ was added as an auxiliary ligand to the catalytic system, an increased activity as high as 1.60 × 10⁷ g mol⁻¹ (Ni) h⁻¹ was observed. The ligand environment and reaction conditions remarkably affected the catalytic behavior of these nickel complexes.