Formation and Evolution of Chain‐Propagating Species Upon Ethylene Polymerization with Neutral Salicylaldiminato Nickel(II) Catalysts

Formation of Ni–polymeryl propagating species upon the interaction of three salicylaldiminato nickel(II) complexes of the type (N,O)Ni(CH₃)(Py)] (where (N,O)=salicylaldimine ligands, Py=pyridine) with ethylene (C₂H₄/Ni=10:30) has been studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Typically, the ethylene/catalyst mixtures in D₈]toluene were stored for short periods of time at +60 °C to generate the (N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species, then quickly cooled, and the NMR measurements were conducted at ?20 °C. At that temperature, the (N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species are stable for days; diffusion ¹H NMR measurements provide an estimate of the average length of polymeryl chain (polymeryl=(C₂H₄)_nH, n=6–18). At high ethylene consumptions, the (N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] intermediates decline, releasing free polymer chains and yielding (N,O)Ni(Et)(Py)] species, which also further decompose to form the ultimate catalyst degradation product, a paramagnetic (N,O)₂Ni(Py)] complex. In (N,O)₂Ni(Py)], the pyridine ligand is labile (with activation energy for its dissociation of (12.3±0.5) kcal mol^?1, ΔH^≠₂₉₈=(11.7±0.5) kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠₂₉₈ =(?7±1) cal K^?1 mol^?1). Upon the addition of nonpolar solvent (pentane), the pyridine ligand is lost completely to yield the crystals of diamagnetic (N,O)₂Ni] complex. NMR spectroscopic analysis of the polyethylenes formed suggests that the evolution of chain‐propagating species ends up with formation of polyethylene with predominately internal and terminal vinylene groups rather than vinyl groups.