Determination of coisotacticities of some alternating styrene–acrylic copolymers by NMR spectra

Coisotacticities σ for some alternating copolymers were determined through the analyses of their CH₃O, CH₃ and CH₂ proton NMR spectra; styrene–methyl methacrylate (σ = 0.56), styrene-methyl acrylate (σ = 0.53), styrene–methyl α-chloroacrylate (σ = 0.69), styrene–methacrylonitrile (σ = 0.19), styrene–methacrylamide (σ = 0.16), α-methylstyrene–methyl methacrylate (σ = 0.21), and α-methylstyrene–methyl acrylate (σ = 0.53) were studied. It was found that a terminal model or Bernoullian trial prevails in these complexed copolymerizations with diethylaluminum chloride. The influence of monomer structure on σ values is discussed.     

Introduction of 2-methoxycarbonylallyl end group by copolymerization of methyl α-(phenoxymethyl)acrylate accompanying with addition-fragmentation reaction

Copolymerizations of methyl α-(phenoxymethyl)acrylate (MPMA) with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, and methyl α-ethylacrylate were carried out. Addition of a polymer radical to MPMA followed by the subsequent fragmentation of poly(MPMA) radical resulted in the 2-methoxycarbonylallyl end group and phenoxy radical in the course of the copolymerization. The extent of the fragmentation determined by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy depends on reactivity of the MPMA radical toward the reference monomers. An increase in the addition rate of the MPMA radical to the reference monomer brought about suppression of the fragmentation. The addition of the MPMA radical to styrene seems to be sufficiently fast to prevent the fragmentation. Since the rate of the fragmentation relative to the propagation was considerably accelerated by raising the temperature to 110°C, MPMA can be used as a novel chain transfer agent to control molecular weight and end group at a temperature above 100°C. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Living cationic isomerization polymerization of β-pinene. III. Synthesis of end-functionalized polymers and graft copolymers

α-End-functionalized polymers and macromonomers of β-pinene were synthesized by living cationic isomerization polymerization in CH₂Cl₂ at −40°C initiated with the HCl adducts [ 1; CH₃CH(OCH₂CH₂X)Cl; X = chloride ( 1a ), acetate ( 1b ), and methacrylate ( 1c )] of vinyl ethers carrying pendant substituents X that serve as terminal functionalities. In conjunction with TiCl₃(OiPr) and nBu₄NCl, these functionalized initiators led to living β-pinene polymerization where the carbon–chlorine bond of 1 was activated by TiCl₃(OiPr). Similarly, end-functionalized poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) were also obtained. ¹H-NMR analysis showed that the polymers possess controlled molecular weights (DP _n = [M]₀/[ 1 ]₀) and number-average end functionalities close to unity. The end-functionalized methacrylate-capped macromonomers form 1c were radically copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to give graft copolymers carrying poly(β-pinene) or poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) as graft chains attached to a PMMA backbone. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1423–1430, 1997     

An ESR study of PMMA mechanoradicals and of their interaction with oxygen

Analysis of ESR spectra of mechanoradicals from poly(methyl methacrylate) reveals that after mechanical degradation in vacuo at 77°K, the sample contains two types of primary radicals? CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃) (I) and CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? CH₂ (II) produced by the breaking of the polymer chain, and secondary radicals ? CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? CH? C(CH₃)? (COOCH₃)? CH₂? (III). With increasing temperature, radical I remains stable while II reacts with methylene hydrogen of the polymer chain giving rise to the secondary radical III, which decays and finally disappears as the temperature rises. After admission of oxygen at 113°K, the polymer radicals react with oxygen with formation of polymer peroxy radicals ROO. and diamagnetic dimers. With increasing temperature the latter dissociate again to the original polymer peroxy radicals which gradually decay, if the temperature is increased further. The present results are compared with earlier ones obtained on poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PGMA).     

α-Funktionelle 2-Methylphenylphosphane, 2-(HE?CH2)?C6H4?PH2 (E: O,NR, PH) I. Darstellung,Metallierungs- und Silylierungsverhalten

α-Functionalized 2-Methylphenyl Phosphines, 2-(HE? CH₂)? C₆H₄? PH₂ (E: O, NR, PH) I. Preparation, Deprotonation and Silylation Behaviour By reaction of different ortho-substituted phenyl phosphonates 2-X? C₆H₄? PO₃R₂ (X = COOR, CONHR, PO₃R₂) with LiAlH₄ α-functionalized 2-methylphenyl phosphines 2-(HE? CH₂)? C₆H₄? PH₂ (E: O, NPh, PH) are accessible. The title compounds are characterized by deprotonation and silylation experiments.     

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (MTFAA) are studied by using azo initiators at 40 and 60°C. The rate of the homopolymerization of MTFAA was lower than that of methyl α-acetoxyacrylate. Monomer reactivity ratios (r), and Q and e values were estimated to be r₁ = 0.03, r₂ = 0.27, Q₁ = 0.65, and e₁ = 1.38 from the copolymerization of MTFAA (M₁) and styrene (M₂) at 60°C. Preferential crosspropagation was observed in particular in the copolymerization of MTFAA and α-methylstyrene. The influence of replacing the hydrogens of the acetoxy moiety of the acyloxyacrylate with the fluorines upon the copolymerization reactivity is discussed on the basis of the ¹³C-NMR chemical shift of various acyloxyacrylates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3537–3541, 1997     

Polymerization and copolymerization of α-alkylacrylic acids and characterization of their polymers

α-Alkylacrylic acids (RAA's) bearing n-alkyl groups were found to homopolymerize with slower rates than acrylic and methacrylic acids to number-average molecular, weight (M?_n) of 10⁴ or above. When the α-substituent was a branched alkyl group, the polymerization rate and M?_n decreased further. Reactivities of RAA's in copolymerization were interpreted by steric and resonance effects of the alkyl group using Hancock's steric substituent constant. Comparison of the reactivities of RAA's with those of methyl α-alkylacrylates revealed that replacement with the smaller carboxyl group facilitates polymerization and copolymerization. Preference of co-syndiotactic propagation in the copolymerization of methacrylic acid with styrene changed to random fashion in the copolymerization of the α-higher alkyl derivatives. After methylation with diazomethane, the homopolymers were shown to be thermally less stable than poly(methyl methacrylate). T_g's of poly(methyl α-ethylacrylate) and poly(methyl α-n-propylacrylate) were 57 and 25°C, respectively.     

Synthesis of long‐chain‐branched polyethylene by ethylene homopolymerization with a novel nickel(II) α‐diimine catalyst

Long‐chain‐branched polyethylene with a broad or bimodal molecular weight distribution was synthesized by ethylene homopolymerization via a novel nickel(II) α‐diimine complex of 2,3‐bis(2‐phenylphenyl)butane diimine nickel dibromide ({[2‐C₆H₄(C₆H₅)]? N?C? (CH₃)C(CH₃)?N? [2‐C₆H₄(C₆H₅)]}NiBr₂) that possessed two stereoisomers in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane. The influences of the polymerization conditions, including the temperature and Al/Ni molar ratio, on the catalytic activity, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, degree of branching, and branch length of polyethylene, were investigated. The resultant products were confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and ¹³C NMR characterization to be composed of higher molecular weight polyethylene with only isolated long‐branched chains (longer than six carbons) or with methyl pendant groups and oligomers of linear α‐olefins. The long‐chain‐branched polyethylene was formed mainly through the copolymerization of ethylene growing chains and macromonomers of α‐olefins. The presence of methyl pendant groups in the polyethylene main chain implied a 2,1‐insertion of the macromonomers into [Ni]? H active species. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1325–1330, 2005     

Polymerization of α-methyleneindane: A cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene

α-Methyleniedane (MI), a cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene which does not undergo radical homopolymerization under standard conditions, was synthesized and subjected to radical, cationic, and anionic polymerizations. MI undergoes radical polymerization with α,α′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) in contrast to α-methylstyrene, owing to its reduced steric hindrance, though the polymerization is slow even in bulk. Cationic and anionic polymerization of MI with BF₃OEt₂ and n-butyllithium, respectively, proceed rapidly. The thermal degradation behavior of the polymer depends on the polymerization conditions. The anionic and radical polymers are heteortactic-rich. Reactivity ratios in bulk radical copolymerization on MI (M₂) with methacrylate (MMA, M₁) were determined at 60°C (r₁ = 0.129 and r₂ = 1.07). In order to clarify the copolymerization mechanism, radical copolymerization of MI with MMA was investigated in bulk at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80°C. The Mayo–Lewis equation has been found to be inadequate to describe the result due to depolymerization of MI sequences above 70°C.     

Mechanism of radiation-induced degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) as studied by ESR and electron spin echo methods

The role of radical species in the degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) induced by γ-irradiation has been studied by means of electron spin resonance and electron spin echo spectroscopy. The major radical species generated initially at 77 K are assigned to main chain ? CH ? and side chain ? COOCH₂ radicals, and ? COOCH anion radical. Only the ? COOCH₂ radical converts to the scission-type ? CH₂ ? C(CH₃)COOCH₃ radical on warming the sample of >180 K. A part of the ? CH ? radical disappears on warming the sample of >265 K. It is concluded that the scission of PMMA main chain occurs by the intramolecular process from the ? COOCH₂ radical as the precursor state.     

Spin trapping studies of poly(methyl methacrylate) degradation in solution

Free radicals produced either by γ or ultrasonic irradiation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in benzene solution were stabilized by spin trapping; they were identified by analysis of ESR spectra of the trapped radicals (the spin adducts). The radical species identified after γ-irradiation were methyl, ester (COOCH₃), a pair of the chain scission radicals, ～CH₂C(CH₃)(COOCH₃) and CH₂C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)～, and phenyl radical originating from the solvent. The chain scission radicals were also detected by spin trapping after ultrasonic irradiation of the benzene solution. Taking account of the difference in the trapping rate for two spin trapping agents, 2,4,6-tri-t-butylnitrosobenzene (BNB) and penta-methyl-nitrosobenzene (PMNB) the radical species trapped by PMNB are assumed to be precursors of those trapped by BNB. Based on the radical species found by the spin trapping method, plausible degradation processes for PMMA in benzene solution are proposed.     

Initiation reactivity of anionic polymerization of fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates with diethyl(ethyl cyanoacetato)aluminum

Pseudo first‐order rate constants of the reaction of diethyl(ethyl cyanoacetato)aluminum [(C₂H₅)₂Al(NCCHCOOC₂H₅)] with 17 fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates and five hydrocarbon analogs for references were investigated to examine the initiation reactivities of the anionic polymerization of fluorinated vinyl monomers to afford the reactivity order: CH₂?C(CF₃)COOC₂H₅ > CH₂?C(CF₃)COOCH(CH₃)₂ > CH₂?CHCOOCH₂C₆F₅ > CH₂?C(CF₃)COOC(CH₃)₃ > CH₂?C(CF₃)COOCH₂C₆F₅ > CH₂?C(CF₃)COOCH(CF₃)₂ ≥ CH₂?CHCOOCH₃ > CH₂?CHCOOCH₂C₆H₅ ≥ CH₂?C(CF₃)COOCH₂CF₃ > CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₂C₆F₅ > CH₂?CHCOOCH₂CF₃ > CH₂?CHCOOCH₂C₂F₅ > CH₂?CHCOOCH(CF₃)₂ > CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₃ > CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₂C₆H₅ ≥ CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₂CH₂C₈F₁₇ > CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH(CH₃)₂ > CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₂C₂F₅ ≥ CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH₂CF₃. No rate constants for CH₂?C(CH₃)COOCH(CF₃)₂, CH₂?CFCOOC(CH₃)₃, and CH₂?CFCOOCH₂C₂F₅ were obtained because of too fast polymerization. The incorporation of a trifluoromethyl group into the vinyl group enhanced the reactivity toward the delocalized carbanion. The reactivity of other fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates was concluded to approximately be controlled by the fluorine contents and the bulkiness of substituents of monomers. The reactivity was generally decreased by increasing fluorine contents of fluoroalkyl substituents in ester groups. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7011–7021, 2008     

Synthesis reactivity and electrochemical properties of substituted cyclopentadienyl cobalt (III) complexes

Cyclopentadienyl cobalt complexes (η⁵‐C₅H₄R) CoLI₂ [L = CO,R=‐COOCH₂CH=CH₂ (3); L=PPh₃, R=‐COOCH₂‐CH=CH₂ (6); L=P(p‐C₆H₄O₃)₃, R = ‐COOC(CH₃) = CH₂ (7), ‐COOCH₂C₆H₅ (8), ‐COOCH₂CH = CH₂ (9)] were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H NMR, ER and UV‐vis spectra. The reaction of complexes (η⁵‐C₅H₄R)CoLI₂ [L= CO, R= ‐COOC(CH₃) = CH₂ (1), ‐COOCH₂C₆H₅(2); L=PPh₃, R=‐COOC (CH₃) = CH₂ (4), ‐COOCH₂C₆H₅ (5)] with Na‐Hg resulted in the formation of their corresponding substituted cobaltocene (η⁵‐C₅H₄R)₂ Co[R=‐COOC(CH₃) = CH₂ (10), ‐COOCH₂C₆H₅ (11)]. The electrochemical properties of these complexes 1–11 were studied by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that as the ligand (L) of the cobalt (III) complexes changing from CO to PPh₃ and P(p‐tolyl)₃, their oxidation potentials increased gradually. The cyclic voltammetry of α,α′‐substituted cobaltocene showed reversible oxidation of one electron process.     

Addition des O'Donnell Reagenzes [Ph2C=NCHCO2Me]– an π-koordinierte,ungesättigte Kohlenwasserstoffe in [(C6H7)Fe(CO)3]+, [(C7H9)Fe(CO)3]+, [(C7H7)M(CO)3]+ (M = Cr,Mo) und [(C2H4)Re(CO)5]+. α-Aminosäuren mit metallorganischen Seitenketten

Metal Complexes of Biologically Important Ligands. CXVII [1] Addition of the O'Donnell Reagent [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– to Coordinated, Unsaturated Hydrocarbons of [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [C₇H₉Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₇)M(CO)₃]⁺ (M = Cr, Mo), and [(C₂H₄)Re(CO)₅]⁺. α-Amino Acids with Organometallic Side Chains The addition of [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– to [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₉)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₇)M(CO)₃]⁺ (M = Cr, Mo) and [(C₂H₄)Re(CO)₅]⁺ gives derivatives of α-amino acids with organometallic side chains. The structure of [(η⁴-C₆H₇)CH(N=CPh₂)CO₂Me]Fe(CO)₃ was determined by X-ray diffraction. From the adduct of [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– and [(C₇H₇)Mo(CO)₃]⁺ the Schiff base of a new unnatural α-amino acid, Ph₂C=NCH(C₇H₇)CO₂Me, was obtained.     

Cationic β-Scission of C−H and C−C Bonds for Selective Dimerization and Subsequent Sulfur-Free RAFT Polymerization of α-Methylstyrene and Isobutylene

A series of exo-olefin compounds ((CH₃)₂C(PhY)−CH₂C(=CH₂)PhY) were prepared by selective cationic dimerization of α-methylstyrene (αMS) derivatives (CH₂=C(CH₃)PhY) with p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) via β-C−H scission. They were subsequently used as reversible chain transfer agents for sulfur-free cationic RAFT polymerization of αMS via β-C−C scission in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts such as SnCl₄. In particular, exo-olefin compounds with electron-donating substituents, such as a 4-MeO group (Y) on the aromatic ring, worked as efficient cationic RAFT agents for αMS to produce poly(αMS) with controlled molecular weights and exo-olefin terminals. Other exo-olefin compounds (R−CH₂C(=CH₂)(4-MeOPh)) with various R groups were prepared by different methods to examine the effects of R groups on the cationic RAFT polymerization. A sulfur-free cationic RAFT polymerization also proceeded for isobutylene (IB) with the exo-olefin αMS dimer ((CH₃)₂C(Ph)−CH₂C(=CH₂)Ph). Furthermore, telechelic poly(IB) with exo-olefins at both terminals was obtained with a bifunctional RAFT agent containing two exo-olefins. Finally, block copolymers of αMS and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared via mechanistic transformation from cationic to radical RAFT polymerization using exo-olefin terminals containing 4-MeOPh groups as common sulfur-free RAFT groups for both cationic and radical polymerizations.     

Interrelation of the chemical structure and inhibiting activity of sterically hindered phenols in methyl oleate oxidation in homogeneous and microheterogeneous systems

Specific features of the inhibiting activity of sterically hindered phenolic antioxidants (AOs) 3, 5-Bu^t ₂-4-OHC₆H₂(CH₂)₂C(O)O(CH₂)₂N⁺Me₂R·X⁻ (R = H, Me, C₈H₁₇, C₁₀H₂₁, C₁₂H₂₅, C₁₆H₃₃; X = Br, I), being phenosan derivatives containing the ethanolamine residue substituted at the N atom by an alkyl substituent, were studied. The action of these AOs was studied in the initiated oxidation of homogeneous solutions of methyl oleate in chlorobenzene and an aqueous emulsion medium in the presence of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate. Phenolic AOs act in two directions: they react with peroxy radicals with a rate constant of 0. 98·10⁴ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and decompose hydroperoxides to form molecular products. The effect of hindered phenols as AOs depends substantially on their chemical structure and oxidation conditions. In lipid solutions, they efficiently hinder the oxidation of methyl oleate, outperforming the action of α-tocopherol, dibunol, phenosan K, and its methyl ester taken in comparative concentrations. The inhibiting activity of the AOs decreases substantially with the chain elongation of the R substituent. For oxidation in an aqueous emulsion medium, the inhibition effect of the AOs under study weakens compared to oxidation in a homogeneous solution, which is accompanied by the disappearance of differences in efficiency of different AOs.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 323–328, February, 2005.     

Solid-state chlorodecarboxylation of mono- and dicarboxylic acids with the Pb(OAc)<Subscript>4</Subscript>-MCl system

Solid state reactions of acids RCOOH (R = n-C₇H₁₅, BuC(Et)H, n-C₉H₁₉, PhCH₂, PhCH₂CH₂, H₂C=CH(CH₂)₈, or MeOOC(CH₂)₃) with Pb(OAc)₄ combined with KCl, NaCl, CdCl₂, or NH₄Cl in the absence of a solvent and without mechanical activation afford chlorohydrocarbons RCl. The corresponding reactions of acids HOOC(CH₂)_nCOOH (n = 3–6) give dichloroalkanes Cl(CH₂)_nCl and γ-butyrolactone (n = 3).__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2105–2109, October, 2004.     

Main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) caused by two-photon ionization of dopant

The main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) doped with N,N,N,′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) was examined by ESR spectroscopy and GPC measurement, and the scission mechanism was analyzed. The two-photon ionization of TMPD with excimer laser excitation at 77 K produced an ester radical anion of PMMA (PMMA·m?), which becomes the main chain tertiary radical ? CH₂? C˙(CH₃)? CH₂? after the detachment of the ester side group by annealing of the sample at room temperature. The main chain scission radical ˙C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? (PMMA˙) which was produced by the β-scission from? CH₂? ˙C(CH₃)? CH₂? showed the 13-line ESR spectrum instead of the ordinary 9-line, due to the fast quenching of the sample to 77 K. The change of the molecular weight distribution was measured by GPC after several irradiation-and-annealing operations. The simulation of the GPC curve confirmed that the scission re-action occurs at random in the PMMA chain in the solid and the main chain scission yield from the ester radical anion, [PMMA˙]/[PMMA·m?], is 0.30. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of poly(alkylenebenzimidazole) by ruthenium complex catalyzed polycondensation of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with α,ω‐diols

The reactions of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with 1,12‐dodecanediol in 1 : 1–1:3 molar ratios in the presence of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ catalyst give poly(alkylenebenzimidazole), [ (CH₂)₁₁ O (CH₂)₁₁ Im / (CH₂)₁₀ Im ]_n (Im: 5,5′‐dibenzimidazole‐2,2′‐diyl) (I_a‐I_d) in 71–92% yields. The relative ratio between the [(CH₂)₁₁ O (CH₂)₁₁ Im ] unit (A) and the [‐ (CH₂)₁₀ Im ] unit (B) in the polymer chain varies depending on the ratio of the substrates used. The polymer I_a obtained from the 1 : 3 reaction contains these structural units in a 98 : 2 ratio. The polymers are soluble in polar solvents such as DMF (N,N‐dimethylformamide), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), and NMP (N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) and have molecular weights M_n (M_w) of 4,200–4,800 (4,800–6,500) by GPC (polystyrene standard). The polymerization of the diol and 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine in higher molar ratios leads to partial cross‐linking of the resulting polymers I_e and I_f via condensation of imidazole NH group with CH₂OH group. Similar reactions of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with α,ω‐diols, HO(CH₂)_mOH (m = 4–10), in a 1 : 3 molar ratio give the polymers containing [ (CH₂)_m−1 O (CH₂) _m−1 Im ] and [ (CH₂) _m−2 Im ] units with partial cross‐linked structures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1383–1392, 1999     

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.