Moderately branched ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene by using N,N′‐nickel catalysts adorned with sterically hindered dibenzocycloheptyl groups

Five examples of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis (arylimino) acenaphthene ( L1 – L5 ), each containing one N‐2,4‐bis (dibenzocycloheptyl)‐6‐methylphenyl group and one sterically and electronically variable N‐aryl group, have been used to prepare the N,N′‐nickel (II) halide complexes, [1‐[2,4‐{(C₁₅H₁₃}₂–6‐MeC₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]NiX₂ (X = Br: Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Ni1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Ni2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Ni3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Ni4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ Ni5 ) and (X = Cl: Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Ni6 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Ni7 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Ni8 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Ni9 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ Ni10 ), in high yield. The molecular structures Ni3 and Ni7 highlight the extensive steric protection imparted by the ortho‐dibenzocycloheptyl group and the distorted tetrahedral geometry conferred to the nickel center. On activation with either Et₂AlCl or MAO, Ni1 – Ni10 exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with the least bulky Ni1 the most active (up to 1.06  ×  10⁷ g PE mol^?1(Ni) h^?1 with MAO). Notably, these sterically bulky catalysts have a propensity towards generating very high molecular weight polyethylene with moderate levels of branching and narrow dispersities with the most hindered Ni3 and Ni8 affording ultra‐high molecular weight material (up to 1.5  ×  10⁶ g mol^?1). Indeed, both the activity and molecular weights of the resulting polyethylene are among the highest to be reported for this class of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis (imino)acenaphthene‐nickel catalyst.     

Molecular weight control of polyethylene waxes using a constrained imino‐cyclopenta[b]pyridyl‐nickel catalyst

Five examples of nickel(II) bromide complexes bearing N,N‐imino‐cyclopenta[b ]pyridines, [7‐(ArN)‐6,6‐Me₂C₈H₅N]NiBr₂ (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( Ni1 ), 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ ( Ni2 ), 2,6‐i‐ Pr₂C₆H₃ ( Ni3 ), 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ ( Ni4 ), 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ ( Ni5 )), have been prepared by the reaction of the corresponding ligand, L1 – L5 , with NiBr₂(DME) (DME = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane). On crystallization from bench dichloromethane, Ni1 underwent adventitious reaction with water to give the aqua salt, [ L1 NiBr(OH₂)₃][Br] ( Ni1' ). The molecular structures of Ni1' and Ni3 have been structurally characterized, the latter revealing a bromide‐bridged dimer. On activation with either MMAO or Et₂AlCl, Ni1 , Ni2 , Ni4, and Ni5 , all exhibited high activities for ethylene polymerization (up to 3.88 × 10⁶ g(PE) mol^?1(Ni) h^?1); the most sterically bulky Ni3 gave only low activity. Polyethylene waxes are a feature of the materials obtained which typically display low molecular weights (M _ws), narrow M _w distributions and unsaturated vinyl and vinylene functionalities. Notably, the catalyst comprising Ni1 /Et₂AlCl produced polyethylene with the lowest M _w, 0.67 kg mol^?1, which is less than any previously reported data for any class of cycloalkyl‐fused pyridine–nickel catalyst. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3494–3505     

Exceptionally high molecular weight linear polyethylene by using N,N,N′‐Co catalysts appended with a N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group

The bis(arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐NO₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group, have been synthesized by two successive condensation reactions from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine. Their subsequent treatment with anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride gave the corresponding N,N,N′‐CoCl₂ chelates, Co1 – Co5 , in excellent yield. All five complexes have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of Co1 and Co3 have been determined and help to emphasize the differences in steric properties imposed by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; distorted square pyramidal geometries are adopted by each complex. Upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), precatalyts Co1 – Co5 collectively exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with 2,6‐dimethyl‐substituted Co1 the most active (up to 1.1 × 10⁷ g (PE) mol^?1 (Co) h^?1); the MAO systems were generally more productive. Linear polyethylenes of exceptionally high molecular weight (M_w up to 1.3 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) were obtained in all cases with the range in dispersities exhibited using MAO as co‐catalyst noticeably narrower than with MMAO [M_w/M_n: 3.55–4.77 ( Co1 – Co5 /MAO) vs. 2.85–12.85 ( Co1 – Co5 /MMAO)]. Significantly, the molecular weights of the polymers generated using this class of cobalt catalyst are higher than any literature values reported to date using related N,N,N‐bis (arylimino)pyridine‐cobalt catalysts.     

Co‐catalyst effects on the thermal stability/activity of N,N,N‐Co ethylene polymerization Catalysts Bearing Fluoro‐Substituted N‐2,6‐dibenzhydrylphenyl groups

The unsymmetrical bis (arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐t‐BuC₆H₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N‐aryl group bedecked with ortho‐substituted fluorobenzhydryl groups, have been employed in the preparation of the corresponding five‐coordinate cobalt (II) chelates, LCoCl₂ ( Co1 – Co5 ); the symmetrical comparator [2,6‐{CMeN(2,6‐(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH)₂–4‐t‐BuC₆H₂}₂C₅H₃N]CoCl₂ (Co6) is also reported. All cobaltous complexes are paramagnetic and have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of Co3 and Co6 highlight the different degrees of steric protection given to the metal center by the particular N‐aryl group combination. Depending on the aluminoxane co‐catalyst employed to activate the cobalt precatalyst, distinct variations in thermal stability and activity of the catalyst towards ethylene polymerization were exhibited. In particular with MAO, the resultant catalysts reached their optimal performance at 70 °C delivering high activities of up to 10.1 × 10⁶ g PE (mol of Co)^?1 h^?1 with Co1  >  Co4  >  Co2  >  Co5  >  Co3 >>  Co6 . On the other hand, using MMAO, the catalysts operate most effectively at 30 °C but are by comparison less productive. In general, the polyethylenes were highly linear, narrowly disperse and displayed a wide range of molecular weights [M_w range: 18.5–58.7 kg mol^?1 (MAO); 206.1–352.5 kg mol^?1 (MMAO)].     

Producing highly linear polyethylenes by using t‐butyl‐functionalized 2,6‐bis(imino)pyridylchromium(III) chlorides

A new family of t‐butyl substituted chromium(III) chloride complexes ( Cr1 – Cr6 ), bearing 2‐(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)‐6‐(1‐(arylimino)ethyl)pyridine (aryl = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ Cr1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ Cr2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ Cr3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ Cr4 and 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ Cr5 ) or 2,6‐bis(1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐t‐butylphenylimino)ethyl)pyridine ( Cr6 ), has been synthesized by the reaction of CrCl₃·6H₂O in good yield with the corresponding ligands ( L1 – L6 ), respectively. The molecular structures of Cr2 and Cr6 were characterized by X‐ray diffraction highlighted a distorted octahedral geometry with the coordinated N,N,N ligand and three bonded chlorides around the metal center. On activation with modified methylaluminoxane or triisobutyl aluminum, most of the chromium precatalysts exhibit good activities toward ethylene polymerization and produce linear polyethylenes with high‐molecular weight. In addition, an in‐depth catalytic evaluation of Cr2 was conducted to investigate how cocatalyst type and amount, reaction temperature, and run time affect the catalytic activities and polymer properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1049–1058     

Cycloheptyl‐fused NNO‐ligands as electronically modifiable supports for M(II) (M = Co,Fe) chloride precatalysts; probing performance in ethylene oligo‐/polymerization

The N,N,O‐cobalt(II), [2,3‐{C₄H₈C(NAr)}:5,6‐{C₄H₈C(O)}C₅HN]CoCl₂ (Ar = 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ Co1 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐EtC₆H₂ Co2 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐ClC₆H₂ Co3 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐FC₆H₂ Co4 ) and N,N,O‐iron(II) complexes, [2,3‐{C₄H₈C(NAr)}:5,6‐{C₄H₈C(O)}C₅HN]FeCl₂ (Ar = 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ Fe1 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐EtC₆H₂ Fe2 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐ClC₆H₂ Fe3 , 2,6‐(CHPh₂)₂‐4‐FC₆H₂ Fe4 ), each containing one sterically enhanced but electronically modifiable N‐2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐R²‐phenyl group, have been prepared by a one‐pot template approach using α,α′‐dioxo‐2,3:5,6‐bis(pentamethylene)pyridine, the corresponding aniline along with the respective cobalt or iron salt in acetic acid. Distorted square pyramidal geometries are a feature of the molecular structures of Co1 – Co4 . Upon activation with MAO or MMAO, Co1 – Co4 show good activities (up to 2.2 × 10⁵ g mol^?1(Co) h^?1) affording short chain oligomers (C₄–C₃₀) with good α‐olefin selectivity. By contrast, Fe1 – Fe4 , in the presence of MMAO, displayed moderate activities (up 10.9 × 10⁴ g(PE) mol^?1(Fe) h^?1) for ethylene polymerization forming low‐molecular‐weight linear polymers (up to 13.0 kg mol^?1) incorporating saturated n‐propyl and i‐butyl chain ends. For both cobalt and iron, the precatalysts incorporating the more electron withdrawing 4‐R²‐substituents [Cl ( Co3 / Fe3 ), F ( Co4 / Fe4 )] deliver the best catalytic activities, while with cobalt, these types of substituents additionally broaden the oligomeric distribution. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3980–3989     

Alkylaluminum activator effects on polyethylene branching using a N,N′‐nickel precatalyst appended with bulky 4,4′‐dimethoxybenzhydryl groups

Ten unsymmetrical N,N'‐bis (imino) acenaphthene‐nickel (II) halide complexes, [1‐[2,6‐{(4‐MeOC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐MeC₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]NiX₂, each appended with one N‐2,6‐bis(4,4'‐dimethoxybenzhydryl)‐4‐methylphenyl group, have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of Ni1 , Ni3 , Ni5 and Ni6 highlight the variation in steric protection afforded by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; a distorted tetrahedral geometry is conferred about each nickel center. On activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl) or methylaluminoxane (MAO), all complexes showed high activity at 30°C for the polymerization of ethylene with the least bulky bromide precatalysts ( Ni1 and Ni4 ), generally the most productive, forming polyethylenes with narrow dispersities [M_w/M_n: < 3.4 (Et₂AlCl), < 4.1 (MAO)] and various levels of branching. Significantly, this level of branching can be influenced by the type of co‐catalyst employed, with Et₂AlCl having a predilection towards polymers displaying significantly higher branching contents than with MAO [T_m: 33.0–82.5°C (Et₂AlCl) vs. 117.9–119.4°C (MAO)]. On the other hand, the molecular weights of the materials obtained with each co‐catalyst were high and, in some cases, entering the ultra‐high molecular weight range [M_w range: 6.8–12.2 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (Et₂AlCl), 7.2–10.9 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (MAO)]. Furthermore, good tensile strength (ε_b up to 553.5%) and elastic recovery (up to 84%) have been displayed by selected more branched polymers highlighting their elastomeric properties.     

Chromium to chromium quintuple bonds in a trigonal lantern configuration

A new family of the quintuply bonded dichromium complexes [Cr₂{μ‐κ²‐HC(N‐2,6‐R₂C₆H₃)₂}₂(μ‐κ²‐HC[NAr]₂)] (R = ⁱPr, Ar = 4‐MeC₆H₄ ( 5 ), Ar = 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 6 ), and Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 7 ); R = Et, Ar = 4‐MeC₆H₄ ( 8 ), Ar = 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃ [ 9 ], and Ar = 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ ( 10 )) with a heteroleptic lantern configuration was obtained upon the addition of one equivalent of amidinate to the quintuply bonded dichromium amidinates [Cr{μ‐κ²‐HC(N‐2,6‐R₂C₆H₃)₂}]₂ (R = ⁱPr, Et). Additionally, the same approach was applied to the preparation of the acetate derivative [Cr₂{μ‐κ²‐HC(N‐2,6‐ ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂}₂(μ‐κ²‐CH₃CO₂)] ( 11 ), which represents the first example that the quintuply bonded dinuclear complex contains an oxygen‐containing ligand. Of particular interest is that the Cr‐Cr bond lengths in these new trigonal paddlewheel quintuple Cr‐Cr bond species are comparable with those in their precursor compounds. They show ultrashort Cr‐Cr bond lengths in a narrow range of 1.740–1.755 å on the basis of single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The small Mayer bond orders of the long Cr‐N bonds as well as divergent, C_2v and D_3h, structural conformations in 5 – 11 suggest that the metal–ligand interactions possess minor covalent character and the electrostatic interactions play a dominant role. As a result, these extremely short Cr‐Cr quintuple bonds are caused by the overlap between five pairs of d orbitals that do not involve much in metal–ligand bonding. Additionally, anionic lantern dichromium trisamidinates 5 – 10 can be chemically oxidized by one electron, supported by electrochemistry, and their ease to undergo oxidation is presumably associated with their neutral lantern dichromium trisamindinate products, whose structures inherently display a Jahn‐Teller distortion, exemplified by the structure of the homoleptic dichromium complex [Cr₂{μ‐κ²‐HC(N‐2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃)₂}₃] [ 12 ] determined by X‐ray crystallography. These results unambiguously support the Cr‐Cr quintuple bonding in these novel anionic lantern dichromium complexes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of m‐Terphenyl (1,3‐Diphenylbenzene) Compounds Containing Trifluoromethyl Groups

The bis(silyl)triazene compound 2,6‐(Me₃Si)₂‐4‐Me‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ ( 4 ) was synthesized by double lithiation/silylation of 2,6‐Br₂‐4‐Me‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ ( 1 ). Furthermore, 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂‐C₆H₃]‐4‐Me‐C₆H₂‐1‐(N?N? NC₄H₈)C₆H₂ derivative 6 can be easily synthesized by a C,C‐bond formation reaction of 1 with the corresponding aryl‐Grignard reagent, i.e., 3,5‐bis[(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]magnesium bromide. Reactions of compound 4 with KI and 6 with I₂ afforded in good yields novel phenyl derivatives, 2,6‐(Me₃Si)₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂? I and 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂? C₆H₃]‐4‐MeC₆H₂? I ( 5 and 7 , resp.). On the other hand, the analogous m‐terphenyl 1,3‐diphenylbenzene compound 2,6‐bis[3,5‐(CF₃)₂? C₆H₃]C₆H₃? I ( 8 ) could be obtained in moderate yield from the reaction of (2,6‐dichlorophenyl)lithium and 2 equiv. of aryl‐Grignard reagent, followed by the reaction with I₂. Different attempts to introduce the ^tBu (Me₃C) or neophyl (PhC(Me)₂CH₂) substituents in the central ring were unsuccessful. All the compounds were fully characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of compound 6 was corroborated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements.     

Less Is More: Three‐Coordinate C,N‐Chelated Distannynes and Digermynes

We report here the synthesis of new C,N‐chelated chlorostannylenes and germylenes L³MCl (M=Sn( 1 ), Ge ( 2 )) and L⁴MCl (M=Sn( 3 ), Ge ( 4 )) containing sterically demanding C,N‐chelating ligands L^{3, 4} (L³=[2,4‐di‐tBu‐6‐(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₂]^?_; L⁴=[2,4‐di‐tBu‐6‐{(C₆H₃‐2′,6′‐iPr₂)N=CH}C₆H₂]^?). Reductions of 1 – 4 yielded three‐coordinate C,N‐chelated distannynes and digermynes [L^{3, 4}M ]₂ for the first time ( 5 : L³, M=Sn, 6 : L³, M=Ge, 7 : L⁴, M=Sn, 8 : L⁴, M=Ge). For comparison, the four‐coordinate distannyne [L⁵Sn]₂ ( 10 ) stabilized by N,C,N‐chelate L⁵ (L⁵=[2,6‐{(C₆H₃‐2′,6′‐Me₂)N?CH}₂C₆H₃]^?) was prepared by the reduction of chlorostannylene L⁵SnCl ( 9 ). Hence, we highlight the role of donor‐driven stabilization of tetrynes. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by means of elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and in the case of 1 , 2 , 5 – 7 , and 10 , also by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The bonding situation in either three‐ or four‐coordinate distannynes 5 , 7 , and 10 was evaluated by DFT calculations. DFT calculations were also used to compare the nature of the metal–metal bond in three‐coordinate C,N‐chelating distannyne [L³Sn]₂ ( 5 ) and related digermyme [L³Ge]₂ ( 6 ).     

Hydrosilylation Induced by N→Si Intramolecular Coordination: Spontaneous Transformation of Organosilanes into 1‐Aza‐Silole‐Type Molecules in the Absence of a Catalyst

Our attempts to synthesize the N→Si intramolecularly coordinated organosilanes Ph₂L¹SiH ( 1 a ), PhL¹SiH₂ ( 2 a ), Ph₂L²SiH ( 3 a ), and PhL²SiH₂ ( 4 a ) containing a CH?N imine group (in which L¹ is the C,N‐chelating ligand {2‐[CH?N(C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂)]C₆H₄}^? and L² is {2‐[CH?N(tBu)]C₆H₄}^?) yielded 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 1 ), 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 2 ), 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 3 ), and 1‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 4 ), respectively. Isolated organosilicon amides 1 – 4 are an outcome of the spontaneous hydrosilylation of the CH?N imine moiety induced by N→Si intramolecular coordination. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of organosilanes 1 a – 4 a and their corresponding hydrosilylated products 1 – 4 were optimized and fully characterized at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular structure determination of 1 – 3 suggested the presence of a Si?N double bond. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, however, shows a very strong donor–acceptor interaction between the lone pair of the nitrogen atom and the formal empty p orbital on the silicon and therefore, the calculations show that the Si?N bond is highly polarized pointing to a predominantly zwitterionic Si⁺N^? bond in 1 – 4 . Since compounds 1 – 4 are hydrosilylated products of 1 a – 4 a , the free energies (ΔG₂₉₈), enthalpies (ΔH₂₉₈), and entropies (ΔH₂₉₈) were computed for the hydrosilylation reaction of 1 a – 4 a with both B3LYP and B3LYP‐D methods. On the basis of the very negative ΔG₂₉₈ values, the hydrosilylation reaction is highly exergonic and compounds 1 a – 4 a are spontaneously transformed into 1 – 4 in the absence of a catalyst.     

Bulky iminophosphine-based nickel and palladium catalysts bearing 2,6-dibenzhydryl groups for ethylene oligo-/polymerization

A series of 2,6-dibenzhydryl substituted bulky Ni and Pd complexes containing P,N-chelating ligands, {[2,6-(Ph₂CH)₂-4-R-C₆H₂-N=CH-C₆H₄-2-PPh₂]MX₂; MX₂ =NiBr₂; R = Me ( Ni1 ); R = F ( Ni2 ); MX₂ =PdCl₂, R = Me ( Pd1 )}, have been prepared and used as catalyst precursors for ethylene oligo-/polymerization. Compared to the corresponding 2,6-diisopropyl Ni catalyst, these bulky Ni precatalysts activated by Et₂AlCl exhibited excellent catalytic performance toward ethylene polymerization with activity of up to 1.90 × 10⁵ g PE (mol Ni)⁻¹ h⁻¹, and result in semicrystalline PEs with high molecular weight. The catalytic performance of these bulky P,N-type complexes was significantly improved by introducing two ortho-dibenzhydryl on the N-aryl substituents. However, the formation of C₁₀–C₂₄ oligomers were generated using their palladium catalysts through ethylene oligomerization at high temperatures.     

o-Trityl phenoxy-imino vanadium (III) complexes: synthesis,characterization, and catalysis on ethylene (co)polymerization

Several phenoxy-imine ligands bearing o-trityl group in phenoxy moiety RN=CHArOH (Ar = C₆H₂(CPh₃)^tBu, R = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ ( L ₁ H ); 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ ( L ₂ H ); 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃ ( L ₃ H ); 3,5-(OMe)₂C₆H₃ ( L ₄ H ); CHPh₂ ( L ₅ H ); CPh₃ ( L ₆ H )) were synthesized and characterized by¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The vanadium complexes based on these ligands LVCl₂(THF)₂ ( 1–6 ) were synthesized via conventional transmetalation reaction in moderate to high yields. Complexes 1–6 were fully characterized by FT-IR, elemental analyses and the molecular structures of 1 , 2 ·H₂O, (2 ·H₂O ) ₂ (μ-Cl) ₂ , 4 , and 5 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis in which the six-coordinated vanadium centers are in a typical octahedral geometry. Upon activation with Et₂AlCl in toluene, complexes 1–6 showed high activities in ethylene polymerization affording polymers with moderate molecular weight (5.9–11.8 × 10⁴ Da). Moreover, in hexane or CH₂Cl₂, 1–6 /Et₂AlCl exhibited enhanced activities. When activated with MAO or MMAO in toluene, these complexes showed relatively low activities but afforded polymers with ultra-high molecular weight (up to 3.30 × 10⁶ Da). 1–6 /Et₂AlCl also showed high activities in ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization at room temperature giving moderate molecular-weight polymers (6.5–11.4 × 10⁴ Da) with co-monomer incorporation being of 6.0 ~ 7.8%.     

Vinyl homo/copolymerization of norbornene and ethylene using sterically enhanced 1,2‐bis(arylimino)acenaphthene–palladium precatalysts

A family of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis(imino)acenaphthene‐palladium methyl chloride complexes [1‐[2,6‐{(C₆H₅)₂CH}₂‐ 4‐{C(CH₃)₃}‐C₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]PdMeCl (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂Ph Pd1 , 2,6‐Et₂Ph Pd2 , 2,6‐ⁱPr₂Ph Pd3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃Ph Pd4 , 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MePh Pd5 ) have been prepared and fully characterized by ¹H/¹³C NMR, FTIR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. X‐ray diffraction analysis of Pd2 complex revealed a square planar geometry. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, all the palladium complexes displayed high activities for norbornene (NBE) homo‐polymerization producing insoluble polymer. For the copolymerization of NBE with ethylene, Pd4 complex exhibited good activities with high incorporation of ethylene (up to 59.2–77.4%) and the resultant copolymer showed high molecular weights as maximum as 150.5 kg mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 922–930     

Judiciously balancing steric and electronic influences on 2,3‐diiminobutane‐based Pd(II) complexes in nourishing polyethylene properties

A new series of palladium complexes ( Pd1–Pd5 ) ligated by symmetrical 2,3‐diiminobutane derivatives, 2,3‐bis[2,6‐bis{bis(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂‐4‐(alkyl)C₆H₂N]C₄H₆ (alkyl = Me L1 , Et L2 , ⁱ Pr L3 , ^t Bu L4 ) and 2,3‐bis[2,6‐bis{bis(C₆H₅)₂CH}₂‐4‐{(CH₃)₃C}C₆H₂N]C₄H₆ L5 , have been prepared and well characterized, and their catalytic scope toward ethylene polymerization have been investigated. Upon activation with MAO, all palladium complexes ( Pd1–Pd5) exhibited good activities (up to 1.44 × 10⁶ g (PE) mol^?1(Pd) h^?1) and produced higher molecular weight polyethylene in the range of 10⁵ g mol^?1 with precise molecular weight distribution (M _w/M _n = 1.37–1.77). One of the long‐standing limiting features of the Brookhart type α‐diimine Pd(II) catalysts is that they produce highly branched (ca. 100/1000 C atoms) and totally amorphous polymer. Conversely, herein Pd5 produced polymers having dramatically lower branching number (28/1000) as well as improved melting temperature up to 73.1 °C showing well‐controlled linear architecture, and very similar to polyethylene materials generated by early‐transition‐metal based catalysts. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3214–3222     

Luminescent Amphiphilic 2,6‐Bis(1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine?Platinum(II) Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemical,Photophysical, and Langmuir–Blodgett Film‐Formation Studies

A new series of platinum(II) complexes with tridentate ligands 2,6‐bis(1‐alkyl‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine and 2,6‐bis(1‐aryl‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine (N7R), [Pt(N7R)Cl]X ( 1 – 7 ) and [Pt(N7R)(C?CR′)]X ( 8 – 17 ; R=n‐C₄H₉, n‐C₈H₁₇, n‐C₁₂H₂₅, n‐C₁₄H₂₉, n‐C₁₈H₃₇, C₆H₅, and CH₂‐C₆H₅; R′=C₆H₅, C₆H₄‐CH₃‐p_, C₆H₄‐CF₃‐p, C₆H₄‐N(CH₃)₂‐p, and cholesteryl 2‐propyn‐1‐yl carbonate; X=OTf^?, PF₆^?, and Cl^?), has been synthesized and characterized. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties have also been studied. Two amphiphilic platinum(II)? 2,6‐bis(1‐dodecyl‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine complexes ( 3‐Cl and 8 ) were found to form stable and reproducible Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films at the air/water interface. These LB films were characterized by the study of their surface‐pressure–molecular‐area (π–A) isotherms, XRD, and IR and polarized‐IR spectroscopy.     

Micron‐granula polyolefin with self‐immobilized nickel and iron diimine catalysts bearing one or two allyl groups

Self‐immobilized nickel and iron diimine catalysts bearing one or two allyl groups of [ArN?C]₂(C₁₀H₆)NiBr₂ [Ar = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₂] ( 1 ), [ArN?C(Me)][Ar′N? C(Me)]C₅H₃NFeCl₂ [Ar = Ar′ = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃, Ar = 2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃, and Ar′ = 4‐allyl‐2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₃] were synthesized and characterized. All three catalysts were investigated for olefin polymerization. As a result, these catalysts not only showed high activities as the catalyst free from the allyl group, such as [ArN?C]₂C₁₀H₆NiBr₂ (Ar = 2,6‐(i‐Pr)₂C₆H₂)], but also greatly improved the morphology of polymer particles to afford micron‐granula polyolefin. The self‐immobilization of catalysts, the formation mechanism of microspherical polymer, and the influence on the size of the particles are discussed. The molecular structure of self‐immobilized nickel catalyst 1 was also characterized by crystallographic analysis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1018–1024, 2004     

β‐Diketiminatoytterbium aryloxides: synthesis,structural characterization,and catalytic activity for addition of amines to carbodiimides

The steric effect of an aryloxido group on the synthesis and molecular structures of ytterbium aryloxides supported by β‐diketiminato ligand L (L = [N(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)C(Me)]₂CH^?) is reported. Reactions of β‐diketiminatoytterbium dichloride, LYbCl₂(THF)₂, with NaOAr¹ in THF (Ar¹ = [2,6‐^tBu₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂], THF = tetrahydrofuran) at 60°C gave the corresponding ytterbium complexes LYb(OAr¹)Cl(THF) ( 1 ) and LYb(OAr¹)₂ (1), depending on the molar ratio of dichloride to sodium aryloxide, respectively, while the same reactions with NaOAr² and NaOAr³ (Ar² = [2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃], Ar³ = [2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃]) in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio in THF afforded only bisaryloxide complexes LYb(OAr²)₂(THF) (1) and LYb(OAr³)₂(THF) ( 4 ) in good yields, respectively. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 were fully characterized, including X‐ray crystal structure analyses. All the complexes are efficient pre‐catalysts for the catalytic addition of amines to carbodiimides giving guanidines. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonconjugated diene homopolymerization and copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by α‐diimine Ni(II) complex/Et2AlCl

Four nonconjugated diene comonomers 1,9‐decadiene (19DD), 6‐ethylundeca‐1,10‐diene (EUD), 1,5‐cyclooctadiene (COD) and cinene (1‐methyl‐4‐(prop‐1‐en‐2‐yl) cyclohex‐1‐ene) (CE) were used in copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by α‐diimine Ni(II) complex ([2,6‐(iPr)₂C₆H₃N = C(CH₃)?(CH₃)C = N2,6‐(iPr)₂C₆H₃)]NiBr₂ ( 1 )) activated by Et₂AlCl. These dienes showed quite distinct copolymerization behaviors. Ethylene‐19DD copolymerization formed highly branched polyethylene with cyclic units and pendent vinyls, and a large part of crosslinked polymer when the 19DD concentration was relatively high. Using EUD as comonomer lead to evidently reduced gel formation and increased content of pendent vinyl. COD can be incorporated in the copolymer with evidently lower catalyst efficiency than the ethylene homopolymerization, and CE behaves like an inert compound as it was not incorporated in the copolymer. Homopolymerization of 19DD with the same catalyst produced polymer containing both cyclic units and pendent vinyls. The cyclic units were formed by cyclopolymerization of the inserted 19DD after several steps of chain walking. Crosslinking through the pendent vinyl took place when the initial 19DD concentration was relatively high, forming large amount of gel in the product. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1900–1909     

Methylene-bridged bis(8-arylimino)-5,6,7-trihydro-quinolylinickel precatalysts for ethylene polymerization

A series of binuclear nickel complexes bearing N-(5,6,7-trihydroquinolin-8-ylidene)amino CH(C₆H₄-4-R²){4-C₆H₂-2,6-R¹₂N-(C₅H₃NC₄H₆)}₂ [R¹ = Me, R² = OH L1 , R¹ = Et, R² = OH L2 , R¹ = Me, R² = H L3 , R¹ = Me, R² = OCH₃ L4 ] has been synthesized and characterized. In the presence of either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or Et₂AlCl, all nickel complexes exhibited high activities up to 3.33 × 10⁶ g (PE)·mol⁻¹(Ni)·hr⁻¹ toward ethylene polymerization, producing high branched polyethylenes (PEs). The aluminum cocatalysts have significantly affected the properties of resultant PE; with MAO as the cocatalyst, the resultant PE shows higher molecular weight and possesses only one T_m value, meanwhile Et₂AlCl as the cocatalyst, the obtained PE indicates lower molecular weight and two melting points. The microstructures of those PEs determined by their ¹³C NMR spectra illustrate the similar densities but different types of branches, in which the PE obtained with Et₂AlCl shows high methyl branch selectivity (>80%), and the PE produced by MAO has 50% methyl and another half of longer branches. The branched PEs are consistent to the chain migration happened in the ethylene polymerization.