Synthesis, structure and ethylene polymerization behavior of zirconium complexes with chelating ketoiminate ligands

Mixed ketoiminate/ketoimine/pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) complex of zirconium, [(η⁵-Cp*){CH₃C(O)CHC(NHR)CH₃}{CH₃C(O)CHC(NR)CH₃}ZrCl₂] (R=4-CF₃Ph) (3) has been prepared in high yield by the reaction of one equivalent of 4-CF₃-phenyl-β-ketoimine (1a) and one equivalent of lithium 4-CF₃-phenyl-β-ketoiminate (2a) with one equivalent of Cp*ZrCl₃ in Et₂O. Bis(ketoiminate)zirconium dichloride complexes, 4 and 6, have been also prepared in high yield by the reaction of amine elimination of ketoimine ligands, respectively 1a and 1b, with Zr(NMe₂)₄ and followed by chlorination reaction with TMSCl. The X-ray crystallography reveals that the compound 3 is based on distorted octahedral geometry containing a ketoimine and a ketoiminate. The ketoiminate ligand coordinates to the zirconium as a bidentate ligand, leaving the metal center coordinatively unsaturated and thus leading to an additional binding of a ketoimine ligand to the metal to stabilize the complex 3. The zirconium complexes 3, 4 and 6 provide the moderate activity for the polymerization of ethylene in the presence of MMAO cocatalyst. Low molecular weight and high density polyethylene was obtained.     

Titanium complexes with novel triaryl-substituted phosphinimide ligands: Synthesis, structure and ethylene polymerization behavior

A series of titanium phosphinimide complexes [Ph₂P(2-RO-C₆H₄)]₂TiCl₂ (7, R = CH₃; 8, R = CHMe₂) and [PhP(2-Me₂CHO-C₆H₄)][THF]TiCl₃ (9) have been prepared by reaction of TiCl₄ with the corresponding phosphinimines under dehalosilylation. The structure of complex 9 has been determined by X-ray crystallography, and a solvent molecule THF was found to be coordinated with the central metal and the Ti-O bond was consistent with the normal Ti-O (donor) bond length. The complexes 7 and 8 displayed inactive to ethylene polymerization, and the complex 9 displayed moderate activity in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) or i-Bu₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄, and this should be partly attributed to coordination of THF with titanium and the steric effect of two iso-propoxyl. And catalytic activity up to 32.2 kg-PE/(mol-Ti h bar) was observed.     

Titanium complexes bearing bidentate benzimidazole-containing ligands and their behavior in ethylene polymerization

A series of potentially bidentate benzimidazolyl ligands of the type (Bim)CH₂D (where Bim = benzimidazolyl and D = NMe₂L1, NEt₂L2, NPrⁱ₂L3, OMe L4 and SMe L5) has been reacted with Ti(NMe₂)₄ to give five- and six-coordinate Ti(IV) complexes of the type [(Bim)CH₂D]Ti(NMe₂)₃ and [(Bim)CH₂D]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂, respectively. The X-ray structures of [(Bim)CH₂OMe]Ti(NMe₂)₃, [(Bim)CH₂NMe₂]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂ and [(Bim)CH₂OMe)]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂ are reported along with an evaluation of their behavior in ethylene polymerization.     

Titanium and zirconium complexes containing sterically hindered hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands: synthesis, structural characterization, and ethylene polymerization studies

The synthesis, characterization and ethylene polymerization behavior of a set of Tp^′MCl₃ complexes (4, M=Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-neopentyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Np); 5, M=Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-tert-butyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^tBu); 6, M = Ti, Tp^′=HB(3-phenyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Ph); 7, M=Zr, Tp^′=HB(3-phenyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^Ph); 8, M=Zr, Tp^′ = HB(3-tert-butyl-pyrazolyl)₃⁻(Tp^tBu)) is described. Treatment of these tris(pyrazolyl)borate Group IV compounds with methylalumoxane (MAO) generates active catalysts for ethylene polymerization. For the polymerization reactions performed in toluene at 60 °C and 3 atm of ethylene pressure, the activities varied between 1.3 and 5.1 × 10³ g of PE/mol[M] · h. The highest activity is reached using more sterically open catalyst precursor 4. The viscosity-average molecular weights () of the PE’s produced with these catalyst precursors varying from 3.57 to 20.23 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ with melting temperatures in the range of 127-134 °C. Further polymerization studies employing 7 varying Al/Zr molar ratio and temperature of polymerization showed that the activity as well as the polymer properties are dependent on these parameters. In that case, higher activity was attained at 60 °C. The viscosity-average molecular weights of the polyethylene’s decreases with increasing Al/Zr molar ratio.     

A series of new zirconium complexes bearing bis(phenoxyketimine) ligands: Synthesis, characterization and ethylene polymerization

A series of new zirconium complexes bearing bis(phenoxyketimine) ligands, bis((3,5-di-tert-butyl-C₆H₂-2-O)R₁CN (2-R₂-C₆H₄))ZrCl₂ {R₁ = Me, R₂ = H (2a); R₁ = Et, R₂ = H (2b); R₁ = Ph, R₂ = H (2c); R₁ = 2-Me-Ph, R₂ = H (2d); R₁ = 2-F-Ph, R₂ = H (2e); R₁ = 2-Cl-Ph, R₂ = H (2f); R₁ = 2-Br-Ph, R₂ = H (2g); R₁ = Ph, R₂ = Me (2h); R₁ = Ph, R₂ = F (2i)}, have been prepared, characterized and tested as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. Crystal structure analysis reveals that complex 2c has a six coordinate center in a distorted octahedral geometry with trans-O, cis-N, cis-Cl arrangement which possesses approximate C₂ symmetry. When activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), complexes 2a-2i exhibited high ethylene polymerization activities of 10⁶-10⁸ g PE (mol M h)⁻¹. Compared with the bis(phenoxyimine) zirconium analogues bis((3,5-di-tert-butyl-C₆H₂-2-O)CHNC₆H₅)ZrCl₂ (3), the introduction of substituent on the carbon atom of the imine double bond enhanced the catalytic activity and molecular weight of prepared polyethylene. Especially, when the H atom at the carbon atom of the imine double bond was replaced by 2-fluoro-phenyl with strong electronic-withdrawing property, complex 2e displayed the highest catalytic activity, and the polyethylene obtained possessed the highest molecular weight and melt point.     

Titanium(IV) complexes with monocyclopentadienyl and phenoxy-alkoxo ligands: Synthesis,structures and catalytic properties for ethylene polymerization

Three monochlorotitanium complexes Cp′Ti(2,4-^tBu₂-6-(CPh₂O)C₆H₂O)Cl [Cp′ = η⁵-C₅H₅ (2), η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅ (3), η⁵-C₅H₂Ph₂CH₃ (4)] have been synthesized in high yields (>90%) by the reaction of corresponding Cp′TiCl₃ with the dilithium salt of ligand 2,4-^tBu₂-6-(CPh₂OH)C₆H₂OH (1). When activated by [Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ and AlⁱBu₃, complexes 2–4 exhibit reasonable catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization, producing polyethylenes with moderate molecular weights and melting points. Addition of excess water to complex 2 gave the oxo-bridged complex [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)(2,4-^tBu₂-6-(CPh₂O)C₆H₂O)]₂O (5). Complexes 4 and 5 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis, structure and ethylene polymerization behavior of titanium phosphinoamide complexes

(Phosphinoamide)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) complexes of the type Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PNR) [Cp*=C₅Me₅; R = t-Bu (2a), R = n-Bu (2b), R = Ph (2c)] have been prepared by the reaction of Cp*TiCl₃ with the corresponding lithium phosphinoamides. The structure of Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PN^tBu) (2a) and Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PNPh) (2c) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. These complexes exhibited moderate catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). Catalytic activity of up to 2.5 × 10⁶ g/(mol Ti h) was observed when activated by i-Bu₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄.     

Synthesis and characterization of phosphorous-bridged bisphenoxy titanium complexes and their application to ethylene polymerization

Phosphorous-bridged bisphenoxy titanium complexes were synthesized and their ethylene polymerization behavior was investigated. Bis[3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-phenoxy](phenyl)phosphine tetrahydrofuran titanium dichloride (4a) was obtained by treatment of 3 equiv of n-BuLi with bis[3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl](phenyl)phosphine hydrochloride salt (3a) followed by TiCl₄(THF)₂ in THF. THF-free complexes 5a-5d were synthesized more conveniently by the direct reaction of MOM-protected ligands (2a-2d) with TiCl₄ in toluene. X-ray analysis of 4a revealed that the ligand is bonded to the octahedral titanium (IV) center in a facial fashion and two chlorine atoms possess cis-geometry. Complexes 4a and 5a-5d were utilized as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. Complex 5c gave high molecular weight polyethylene (M_w = 1,170,000, M_w/M_n = 2.0) upon activation with Al(ⁱBu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] (TB). Ethylene polymerization activity of 5d activated with Al(ⁱBu)₃/TB reached 49.0 × 10⁶ g mol (cat) ⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

Synthesis, ethylene polymerization and dynamic features of titanium and zirconium complexes bearing chelating malonate-based enaminoketonato ligands

Synthesis of new titanium and zirconium dichloro complexes bearing malonate-based enaminoketonato (N,O) ligand is described. NMR studies of the catalyst precursors reveal that synthesized complexes have different configurational isomers in solution state and that they undergo structural change within NMR timescale. After MAO activation complexes exhibited low to moderate activities in ethylene polymerization producing bi- or multimodal polyethylenes.     

Zirconocene complexes with a biphenyl substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand: synthesis, characterization, and olefin polymerization behavior

Novel zirconocene complexes (1-Biph-3,4-Me₂Cp)₂ZrCl₂ (3), (C₅Me₅)(1-Biph-3,4-Me₂Cp)ZrCl₂ (4), and (C₅H₅)(1-Biph-3,4-Me₂Cp)ZrCl₂ (5) containing a 1-biphenyl-3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl ligand (2) have been prepared and their solid state structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction method. The crystal structure of 3 revealed a racemic, C₂-symmetric nature in the solid state. In ethylene polymerization, they all afforded high-density polyethylene with very high activity. Especially, the catalytic properties of 3 were most marked in terms of both polymerization activity and molecular weight of polyethylene among them. They also showed good activity on the polymerization of propylene, but afforded nearly atactic, amorphous polypropylenes with a little higher [mmmm] methyl pentad values by 3 and 4 than that by the most active 5 under the given reaction conditions.     

Nickel (II) complexes bearing 2-ethylcarboxylate-6-iminopyridyl ligands: synthesis, structures and their catalytic behavior for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization

A series of nickel (II) complexes (L)NiCl₂ (7-9) and (L)NiBr₂ (10-12) were prepared by the reactions of the corresponding 2-carboxylate-6-iminopyridine ligands 1-6 with NiCl₂ · 6H₂O or (DME)NiBr₂ (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane), respectively. All the complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Solid-state structures of 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 were determined by X-ray diffraction. In the cases of 7, 8 and 10, the ligands chelate with the nickel centers in tridentate fashion in which the carbonyl oxygen atoms coordinate with the metal centers, while the carbonyl oxygen atoms are free from coordinating with the nickel centers in 11 and 12. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes are active for ethylene oligomerization (up to 7.97 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ (Ni) h⁻¹ for 11 with 2 equivalents of PPh₃ as auxiliary ligand) and/or polymerization (1.37 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ (Ni) h⁻¹ for 9). The ethylene oligomerization activities of 7-12 were significantly improved in the presence of PPh₃ as auxiliary ligands. The effects of the coordination environment and reaction conditions on the ethylene catalytic behaviors have been discussed.     

Rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes bearing amino phosphine ligands: Synthesis and catalytic activity toward ethylene polymerization

Reactions of neutral amino phosphine compounds HL^1-3 with rare earth metal tris(alkyl)s, Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂, afforded a new family of organolanthanide complexes, the molecular structures of which are strongly dependent on the ligand framework. Alkane elimination reactions between 2-(CH₃NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL¹) and Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ at room temperature for 3 h generated mono(alkyl) complex (L¹)₂Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)(THF) (1). Similarly, treatment of 2-(C₆H₅CH₂NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL²) with Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ afforded (L²)₂Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)(THF) (2), selectively, which gradually deproportionated to a homoleptic complex (L²)₃Lu (3) at room temperature within a week. Strikingly, under the same condition, 2-(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NH)-C₆H₄P(Ph)₂ (HL³) swiftly reacted with Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ at room temperature for 3 h to yield the corresponding lanthanide bis(alkyl) complexes L³Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n (4a: Ln = Y, n = 2; 4b: Ln = Sc, n = 1; 4c: Ln = Lu, n = 1; 4d: Ln = Yb, n = 1; 4e: Ln = Tm, n = 1) in high yields. All complexes have been well defined and the molecular structures of complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4b-e were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The scandium bis(alkyl) complex activated by AlEt₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄], was able to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene to afford linear polyethylene.     

Bridged bis-pyridinylimino dinickel(II) complexes: Syntheses, characterization, ethylene oligomerization and polymerization

A series of bridged bis(pyridinylimino) ligands were efficiently synthesized through the condensation reaction of 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-disubstituted aniline) with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde or 2-benzoylpyridine. They reacted with (DME)NiBr₂ to form dinuclear Ni(II) complexes. All resultant compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra as well as the single-crystal X-ray diffraction to confirm the structures of ligands and complexes. Activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these nickel complexes showed considerably good activities for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization. Their catalytic activities and the properties of PEs obtained were depended on the arched environment of ligand and reaction conditions.     

Syntheses, characterization and ethylene polymerization of half-sandwich group IV metal complexes with tridentate [O,N,S] ligands

A series of half-sandwich group IV metal complexes with tridentate monoanionic phenoxy-imine arylsulfide [O NS] ligand [2-Bu t 4-Me-6-((2-(SC 6 H 5)C 6 H 4 N = CHC 6 H 2 O)](La) and dianionic phenoxy-amine arylsulfide [O N S] ligand [2-Bu t 4-Me-6-((2-(SC 6 H 5)C 6 H 4 N-CH 2 C 6 H 2 O)] 2(Lb) have been synthesized and characterized.Lb was obtained easily in high yield by reduction of ligand La with excess LiAlH 4 in cool diethyl ether.Half-sandwich Group IV metal complexes CpTi[O NS]Cl 2(1a),CpZr[O NS]Cl 2(1b),CpTi[O N S]Cl(2a),CpZr[O N S]Cl(2b) and Cp * Zr[O N S]Cl(2c) were synthesized by the reactions of La and Lb with CpTiCl 3,CpZrCl 3 and Cp * ZrCl 3,and characterized by IR,1 H-NMR,13 C-NMR and elemental analysis.In addition,an X-ray structure analysis was performed on ligand Lb.The title Group IV half-sandwich bearing tridentate [O,N,S] ligands show good catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane(MAO) as co-catalyst up to 1.58 × 10 7 g-PE.mol-Zr 1.h 1.The good catalytic activities can be maintained even at high temperatures such as 100 ℃ exhibiting the excellent thermal stability for these half-sandwich metal pre-catalysts.     

Mono and bimetallic nickel bromide complexes bearing azolate-imine ligands: Synthesis, structural characterization and ethylene polymerization studies

The synthesis of N-(1-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylidene)-2,6-diisopropylaniline (1) and N-(1-(indazol-2-yl)ethylidene)-2,6-diisopropylaniline (2) allowed access to new transition metal complexes. When reacted with dibromo(2,2′-dimethoxyethylether)nickel(II) the complexes [NiBr₂{N-(1-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylidene)-2,6-diisopropylaniline}] (3) and [Ni₂Br₂(μ-Br)₂{N-(1-(indazol-1-yl)ethylidene)-2,6-diisopropylaniline}₂] (4) are yielded, respectively. The addition of MAO generates catalytically active species for the homopolymerization of ethylene. The polymer products were low molecular weight (3-6 K) and a monomodal molecular weight distribution, consistent with the presence of a single active site. In addition, the catalyst was found to efficiently oligomerize higher olefins to high molecular weights with narrow PDIs.     

Chromium(III) complexes with terdentate 2,6-bis(azolylmethyl)pyridine ligands: Synthesis, structures and ethylene polymerization behavior

Reactions of 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole and 1H-indazole yield the terdentate ligands 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (5) and 2,6-bis(indazol-2-ylmethyl)pyridine (6). The molecular structure of the new compound 6 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These ligands react with the CrCl₃(THF)₃ complex in THF to form neutral complexes of general formula [CrCl₃{2,6-bis(azolylmethyl)pyridine-N,N,N}] (7, 8) which are isolated in high yields as stable green solids and characterized by means of elemental analysis, magnetic moments, IR, and mass spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations predict that the thermodynamically preferred structure of the complexes is the fac configuration. After reaction with methylaluminoxane (MAO) the chromium(III) complexes are active in the polymerization of ethylene.     

Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of divalent organolanthanide complexes with new tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl-functionlized indenyl ligands

Two series of new divalent organolanthanide complexes with the general formula [η⁵:η¹-{1-R-3-(C₅H₉OCH₂)C₉H₅}]₂Ln^II (R = H, Ln = Yb (3); R = Me₃Si, Ln = Yb (4); R = H, Ln = Eu (5); R = Me₃Si, Ln = Eu (6)) were prepared by reactions of 2 equiv. of 1-R-3-(C₅H₉OCH₂)C₉H₆ (R = H (1), R = Me₃Si (2)) with the lanthanide(III) amides [(Me₃Si)₂N]₃Ln(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ (Ln = Yb, Eu) via a one-electron reductive elimination process. Recrystallization of 6 from n-hexane afforded [η⁵:η¹-(C₅H₉OCH₂C₉H₅SiMe₃)]₂Eu^II · (C₆H₁₄)_0.5 (7). All compounds were fully characterized by elemental analyses, and spectroscopic methods. The structures of complexes 4 and 7 were additionally determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. The catalytic activity of the complexes on methyl methacrylate and ε-caprolactone polymerization was studied, and the temperatures, substituents on the indenyl ring, and solvents effects on the catalytic activity of the complexes were examined.     

Titanium and zirconium ketimide complexes: synthesis and ethylene polymerisation catalysis

The syntheses of ketimide titanium complexes of the type Ti(NC^tBu₂)₃X (X = Cl, Cp, Ind), Ti(NC^tBu₂)₄ and the zirconium complex CpZr(NC^tBu₂)₂Cl are described. When activated by MAO, all compounds are ethylene polymerisation catalysts. In the conditions studied, the most active catalyst is CpZr(NC^tBu₂)₂Cl, with an activity of 2.7 × 10⁵ kg/(molZr [E] h). Titanium complexes are less active by about two orders of magnitude. The polyethylene produced is linear, as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of Ti(NC^tBu₂)₃X (X = Cl, Cp, Ind) and Ti(NC^tBu₂)₄ were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction.     

The synthesis,structure, and ethylene polymerization of dimeric salicylaldiminato titanium complexes

A series of dimeric titanium complexes bearing salicylaldiminates, [4-R-6-^tBu-2-(CH=NⁿBu)C₆H₂OTiCl₂(µ-Cl)]₂ [R?=?H (1); R?=?^tBu (2); R?=?NO₂ (3)], have been synthesized in high yield (>90%) by the reaction of corresponding 4-R-6-^tBu-2-(CH=NⁿBu)C₆H₂OSiMe₃ with TiCl₄. The molecular structure of 2 has been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. When activated with methylaluminoxane, these complexes exhibit good catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization.