Transformation of 2-alkoxyimidate-1,10-phenanthroline metal (Mn, Co and Ni) chlorides from bis(2-cyano-1,10-phenanthroline) metal chlorides: Syntheses, characterizations and their catalytic behavior toward ethylene oligomerization

The 2-alkoxyimidate-1,10-phenanthroline complexes of manganese, cobalt and nickel have been synthesized by the reaction of 2-cyano-1,10-phenanthroline with metal dichloride in the corresponding alcohol. The metal complexes bearing two 2-cyano-1,10-phenanthrolines were isolated in non-protonic solvent as the coordination around metal core with two ligands and two chlorides. The alkoxyimidation of nitrile linked on ligand was speeded in forming the 2-alkoxyimidate-1,10-phenanthrolinyl metal complexes. All the complexes have been characterized by FT-IR spectra and elemental analysis, and some of their structures have also been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All the metal complexes were evaluated in the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene with some alkylaluminums as co-catalyst; in which manganese complexes were less active, cobalt complexes showed low to moderate activities, and nickel complexes gave moderate to good activities.