Polymerization of ethylene with nickel α-diimine catalysts

Several nickel α-diimine compounds of the general formula (ArNC(R) C(R)NAr)NiX₂ (Ar = 2,6-alkyl substituted Ph, R = H or CH₃, X = Br or CH³) were tested in ethylene polymerization after activation with different co-catalysts, such as methylaluminoxane, Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl or other aluminium alkyls, and ionizing reagents like B(C₆F₅)₃, CPh₃]B(C₆F₅)₄] or HBF₄. The performances of the different catalytic systems were compared with reference to polymer productivity and structure. The degree of branching of the obtained polyethylenes was shown to depend not only on the ligand environment at the Ni centre but also on the type of co-catalyst.