Cobalt complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands as catalyst precursors for ethylene oligomerization

Three hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands with tetradecyl as core, with hexadecyl as core and with octadecyl as core were synthesized in good yields. These ligands were reacted with cobalt chloride hexahydrate to form three complexes ( C1 – C3 ). The compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, mass and UV spectroscopies and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The catalytic properties of the hyperbranched cobalt complexes were evaluated for ethylene oligomerization. The effects of solvent and reaction parameters (Al/Co molar ratio, temperature and reaction pressure) on ethylene oligomerization were studied using the cobalt complex C3 as pre‐catalyst and methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co‐catalyst. Under these conditions ([Co] = 5 μmol, Al/Co = 500, 25 °C, 0.5 MPa ethylene, 30 min), the catalytic activity of complex C3 in toluene was 1.85 × 10⁵ g (mol Co)⁻¹ h⁻¹ and the selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers was 55.72%. The complex structure also had a significant influence on both the catalytic activity and selectivity. All three cobalt complexes, activated with MAO, showed moderate activities towards ethylene oligomerization and the activity of cobalt complex C1 was up to 1.99 × 10⁵ g (mol Co)⁻¹ h⁻¹. The kinds of metal center of complexes (cobalt complex C1 and nickel complex with tetradecyl as core) and their catalytic properties were investigated in detail under the same conditions.     

超支化PAMAM桥联乙烯齐聚用镍系催化剂的合成与表征

以系列直链脂肪胺为核的低代超支化聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)和水杨醛为原料,通过席夫碱反应制备系列新型超支化PAMAM桥联水杨醛亚胺配体;以无水Ni Cl2为络合试剂,通过络合反应合成系列超支化PAMAM桥联镍催化剂,采用FT-IR和1H NMR证实合成的系列新型配体和镍系催化剂的结构与其理论结构相符.对系列超支化PAMAM桥联镍催化剂催化乙烯齐聚的性能进行了研究,结果表明,超支化PAMAM桥联镍系催化剂配体骨架烷基链长度对其催化活性和选择性影响较小,助催化剂和溶剂影响较大;倍半乙基氯化铝为助催化剂,甲苯为溶剂时,聚合活性较高,产物中C8以上的高碳产物的含量最高;其中以十四胺为核的超支化PAMAM桥联镍催化剂为主催化剂、倍半乙基氯化铝为助催化剂、甲苯为溶剂时,催化乙烯齐聚活性高达1.96×106 g/(mol·h),齐聚产物中C8以上的高碳产物含量为98.77%.     

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.     

Nickel(II) complexes bearing phosphinooxazoline ligands: Synthesis, structures and their ethylene oligomerization behaviors

A series of Ni(II) complexes 4a-f ligated by the unsymmetrical phosphino-oxazolines (PHOX) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy, and the structures of complexes 4c-4e were confirmed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis. All derivatives showed distorted tetrahedron geometry by the nickel center and coordinative atoms. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or Et₂AlCl, these complexes exhibited considerable to high activity of ethylene oligomerization. The ligands environments and reaction conditions significantly affect their catalytic activities, while the highest oligomerization activity (up to 1.18 × 10⁶ g · mol⁻¹(Ni) · h⁻¹) was observed for 4d at 20 atm of ethylene. Incorporation of 2-4 equivalents of PPh₃ as auxiliary ligands in the 4a-f/MAO catalytic systems led to higher activity and longer catalytic lifetime.     

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.     

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.     

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 ).     

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 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenol derivatives: preparation,spectral studies,DFT calculations and catalytic behavior toward ethylene oligomerization

In this study, five novel Co(II) complexes of 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenol derivatives (HL_x: x = 1–5) have been synthesized and characterized. The general formula for complexes C1 and C2 is K₂[Co(HL_1,2)₂Cl₂]·H₂O, for complex C3 K₂[Co(HL₃)₂Cl₂], and for complexes C4 and C5 [Co(HL_4,5)₂]. In all complexes, the ligands are coordinated as bidentate, via one imine nitrogen and the phenolate oxygen atoms. The structures of the compounds were characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, ICP and elemental analysis (C, H, and N). The purity of these compounds was ascertained by melting point (m.p.) and TLC. Geometry optimization of the studied complexes was done by Gaussian09 software at B3LYP/TZVP level of theory and satisfactory theoretical–experimental agreement was achieved for NMR and IR spectra of the compounds. Based on the combined experimental and theoretical studies, six-coordinate octahedral structures have been proposed for complexes C1–C3, while complexes C4 and C5 had distorted tetrahedral geometry. All complexes were activated with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl), cobalt(II) complexes containing bulky methyl groups in the aryl moiety show high catalytic activities (1774 kg?mol^?1(Co)?h^?1) for ethylene oligomerization. The oligomers obtained from the cobalt complexes exhibit good selectivity for linear 1-butene and 1-hexene. Results revealed that both the steric and electronic effects of ligands strongly affect the catalytic activities and the properties of the catalytic products.     

Cobalt(II) complexes bearing 2-imino-1,10-phenanthroline ligands: synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization

A series of cobalt(II) complexes containing 2-imino-1,10-phenanthrolines have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. The molecular structures of complexes 2, 3, 8 and 14 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. On treatment with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), these cobalt(II) complexes show moderate to high catalytic activities for ethylene oligomerization and butene predominates among the oligomers produced. The parameters of the reaction conditions and the effects of the ligands environment were investigated. To cite this article: S. Jie et al. C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Chromium complexes based on thiophene–imine ligands for ethylene oligomerization

A new set of Cr(III) complexes, {L}CrCl₃(THF), based on thiophene–imine ( 2a , L = PhOC₆H₄(N═CH)‐2‐SC₄H₃; 2b , L = PhOC₂H₄(N═CH)‐2‐SC₄H₃; 2c , L = Ph(NH)C₂H₄(N═CH)‐2‐SC₄H₃; 2d , L = PhOC₆H₄(N═CH)‐2‐SC₄H₂‐5‐Ph; 2e , L = Ph(NH)C₂H₄(N═CH)‐2‐SC₄H₂‐5‐Ph) have been prepared and characterized using elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, all the chromium complexes generated active systems affording a nonselective distribution of α‐olefins with turnover frequencies in the range 9500–93 500 (mol ethylene) (mol Cr)^?1 h^?1, and producing mostly oligomers (95.0–99.3 wt% of total products). Small amounts of polymer were produced in these oligomerization reactions (0.8–8.2 wt%). The catalytic activities were quite sensitive to the ligand environment. Moreover, the effects of oligomerization parameters (temperature, [Al]/[Cr] molar ratio, time) on the activity and on the product distribution were examined.     

Synthesis and characterization of (pyrazolylethylphosphinite)nickel(II) complexes and catalytic activity towards ethylene oligomerization

Compounds (2‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L1 ), 2‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L2 ) , and 2‐(3,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L3 ) were prepared using the synthetic routes reported in literature. These compounds were reacted with [NiCl₂(DME)₂] or [NiBr₂(DME)₂] under appropriate reaction conditions to afford six new nickel(II) compounds ([NiCl₂( L1)] ( 1 ), [NiCl₂( L2 )] ( 2 ), [NiCl₂( L3 )] ( 3 ), [NiBr₂( L1 )] ( 4 ), [NiBr₂( L2 )] ( 5 ) and [NiBr₂( L3 )] ( 6 )). The new nickel(II) pre‐catalysts catalyze the oligomerization of ethylene, in the presence of ethylaluminium dichloride as co‐catalyst, to produce butenes, hexenes, octenes and higher carbon chain ethylene oligomers with very little Friedel‐Crafts alkylation products when the reactions were run in toluene.     

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.     

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.     

Nickel(II) complexes bearing pyrazolylpyridines: synthesis,structures and ethylene oligomerization reactions

Reactions of 2‐bromo‐6‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine ( L1 ) and 2,6‐bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine ( L2 ) with NiCl₂ and NiBr₂ led to the formation of their respective metal complexes [NiCl₂(L1)] ( 1 ), [NiBr₂(L1)] ( 2 ) and [NiBr₂(L2)] ( 3 ) in moderate to high yields. The complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction for 2 . The solid‐state structure of 2 confirmed the bidentate coordination mode of L1 and formation of a monometallic compound. Activation of the nickel(II) pre‐catalysts with methylaluminoxane afforded active catalysts in the ethylene oligomerization reaction to produce mainly butenes (84–86%). In contrast, activation of nickel(II) pre‐catalyst 2 with ethylaluminium dichloride resulted in partial Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the toluene solvent by the preformed oligomers. Complex structure, nature of co‐catalyst employed, type of solvent and reaction conditions influenced the catalytic behaviour of these pre‐catalysts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transition metal complexes bearing 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl:Synthesis, structure, ethylene polymerization/oligomerization studies

A series of new complexes {2,6-bis[1-((2-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl)imino)ethyl]pyri-dine}MCI2 [M=Fe(Ⅱ) (2), Co(Ⅱ) (3), Ni(Ⅱ) (4), Cu(Ⅱ) (5), Zn(Ⅱ) (6)] have been synthesized. At 25℃, using 500 equiv of methylaluminoxane (MAO), the activities of Fe(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ) catalysts can reach 4.02×106 g/mol-Fehatm for ethylene polymerization and 3.98×105 g/mol-Cohatm for ethylene oligomerization. The effects of polymerization conditions such as reaction temperature, Al/M molar ratio and time on the activity of catalyst have been explored.     

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.     

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.     

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.