Crowded Diphosphinomethane Ligands in Catalysis: [(R2PCH2PR′2-κ2P)-NiR″]+ Cations for Ethylene Polymerization without Activators

The preparation of a series of nickel dichloride complexes with bulky diphosphinomethane chelate ligands R2PCH2PR′2 is reported. Reaction with the appropriate Grignard reagent leads to the corresponding dimethyl and dibenzyl complexes. Cationic monomethyl and mono-η3-benzyl complexes are generated from these dialkyl complexes by protonation with [H(OEt2)2]+[B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4]−, while the complex [(dtbpm κ2P)Ni(η3-CH(CH2Ph)Ph]+[B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4]−is obtained from protonation of the Ni(0) olefin complex (dtbpm-κ2P)N(η2-trans-stilbene). Crystal structures of examples of dichlorides, dimethyl, dibenzyl, cationic methyl, and cationic η3-benzyl complexes are reported. Solutions of the cations polymerize ethylene under mild conditions and without the necessity of an activating agent, to form polyethylene having high molecular weights and low degrees of chain branching. In comparison to the Ni methyl cations, the η3-benzyl cation complexes are more stable and somewhat less active but still very efficient in C2H4 polymerization. The effect on the resulting polyethylene of varying the substituents R, R′ on the phosphine ligand has been examined, and a clear trend for longer chain PE with less branching in the presence of more bulky substituents on the diphosphine has been found. Density functional calculations have been used to examine the rapid suprafacial η3 to η3 haptotropic shift processes of the[(R2PCH2PR′2)Ni] fragment and the η3−η1 change of the coordination mode of the benzyl group required for polymerization in those cations.

Aminopyridinato Complexes as Possible Alternatives for Metallocenes in Ethylene Polymerization

Polyethylene is the most widely used synthetic polymer in the world. Most polyethylene is made with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Polyethylenes for special applications are made with metallocenes, which are nowadays heavily patented. It is laborious therefore, to develop new metallocenes. The aim of this work was to investigate the feasibility of replacing the cyclopentadienyl ligands of metallocenes by aminopyridinato ligands without losing the good properties of the metallocenes, such as high activity and formation of linear polymer. The subject was approached by studying what kind of catalysts the metallocenes are and how they catalyze polyethylene. The polymerization behavior of metallocenes was examined by synthesizing a piperazino substituted indenyl zirconocene catalyst and comparing its polymerization data with that of the indenyl zirconocene catalyst. On the basis of their isolobality, it was thought that aminopyridinato ligands might replace cyclopentadienyl ligands. It was presumed that the polymerization mechanism and the active center in ethylene polymerization would be similar for aminopyridinato and metallocene catalysts. Titanium aminopyridinato complexes were prepared and their structures determined to clarify the relationship between structure of the catalyst precursor and polymerization results. The ethylene polymerization results for titanium 2-phenylaminopyridinato catalysts and titanocene catalysts were compared.

Ethylene polymerization by (alpha-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing different substituents on para-position of imines activated with MMAO

A series of (alpha-diimine)nickel(II) complexes [ArN = C(Nap)C = NAr]NiBr2 (Nap = 1,8-naphthdiyl, Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H3, 3a; Ar = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 3b; Ar = 2,6-Me-2-4-tBuC(6)H(2), 3c; Ar 2,6-Me-2-4-BrC6H2, 3d; Ar = 2,6-Me-2-4-ClC6H2, 3e; Ar 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3), 3f; Ar = 2,4,6-iPr(3)C(6)H(2), 3g; Ar = 2,6-iPr-4-BrC6H2, 3h) have been synthesized, characterized, and investigated as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO).

Ethylene polymerization, and the copolymerizations of ethylene with hexene or norbornene with highly active mono(beta-enaminoketonato) vanadium(III) catalysts

Five novel vanadium(III) complexes [PhN = C(R-2)CHC(R-1)O]VCl2(THF)(2) (4a: R-1 = Ph, R-2 = CF3; 4b: R-1 =t-Bu, R-2 = CF3; 4c: R-1 = CF3, R-2 = CH3; 4d: R-1 = Ph, R-2 = CH3; 4e: R-1 = Ph, R-2 = H) have been synthesized and characterized. On activation with Et2AlCl, all the complexes, in the presence of ethyl trichloroacetate (ETA) as a promoter, are highly active precatalysts for ethylene polymerization, and produce high molecular weight and linear polymers. Catalyst activities more than 16.8 kg PE/mmolv h bar and weight-average molecular weights higher than 173 kg/ mol were observed under mild conditions.

Ethylene Polymerization of the New Titanium Complexes Bearing a Phosphine Oxide-Bridged Bisphenolato Ligand

A series of novel titanium(IV) complexes combining a phosphine oxide-bridged bisphenolato ligand TiCl2{2,2'-O=P-R-3 (4-R-2-6-R-1-C6H2O)(2)}(THF) (6a: R-1 = tBu, R-2 - H, R-3 Ph; 6b: R-1 - Ph, R-2 = H, R-3 = Ph; 6c: R-1 = R-2 = tBu, R-3 = Ph; 6d: R-1 = R-2 cumyl, R-3 = Ph; 6e: R-1 = tBu, R-2 = H, R-3 = PhF5) were prepared by the reaction of corresponding bisphenolato ligands with TiCl4 in THF. X-ray analysis reveals that complex 6a adopts distorted octahedral geometry around the titanium center. These catalysts were performed for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methyaluminoxane (MMAO).

Synthesis, structural characterization, and ethylene polymerization behavior of the vanadium(III) complexes bearing salicylaldiminato ligands

Vanadium(III) complexes bearing salicylaldiminato ligands (2a-k) [RN=CH(Ar0)]VCl2(THF)2 (Ar C61714, R = Ph, 2a; p-CF3Ph, 2b; p-CH3Ph, 2c; 2,6-Me2Ph, 2d; 2,6-iPr2Ph, 2e; cyclohexyl, 2f; Ar = C6H3tBu(2), R = Ph, 2g; 2,6-iPr2Ph, 2h; Ar = C6H2tBU2(2,4), R = Ph, 2i; 2,6-iPr2Ph, 2j; Ar = C6H2Br2, R = Ph, 2k) were prepared from VC13(THF)3 by treating with 1.0 equiv of (RN=CH)ArOH in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of excess triethylamine (TEA).

Synthesis and characterization of titanium complexes bearing two beta-enaminoketonato ligands with electron-withdrawing groups and their behavior in ethylene polymerization

A series of new titanium complexes with two asymmetric bidentate beta-enaminoketonato (N,O) ligands (4b-t), [RN=CCF3)CHC(t-BU)O](2)TiCl2 (4b, R = -C6H4F(o); 4c, R = -C6H4F(m);4d, R = -C6H4F(p); 4e, R = - C6H3F2(2,3); 4f, R = -C6H3F2(2,4); 4g, R = -C6H3F2(2,5); 4h, R = -C6H3F2(2,6); 4i, R = -C6H3F2(3,4); 4j, R = -C6H3F2(3,5); 4k, R = -C6H2F3(2,3,4); 4l, R = -C6H2F3(3,4,5); 4m, R = -C6H4CF3(o); 4n, R =-C6H4CF3(m); 4o, R = -C6H4CF3(p); 4p, R = -C6H4Cl(p); 4q, R = -C6H4I(p); 4r, R = -C6H4NO2(P); 4s, R = -CH2C6H5; 4t, R = -C6H11), have been synthesized and characterized.

Highly Active Neutral Nickel(II) Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization Bearing Modified,beta-Ketoiminato Ligands

A series of novel neutral nickel complexes 4a-e bearing modified beta-ketoiminato ligands [(2,6-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i)N=C(R-1)CHC(2 '-R2C6H4)O]Ni(Ph)(PPh3) (4a, R-1 R-2 = H; 4b, R-1 = H, R-2 = Ph; 4c, R-1 = H, R-2 = Naphth; 4d, R-1 = CH3, R-2 = Ph; 4e, R-1 = CF3, R-2 Ph) have been synthesized and characterized. Molecular structures of 4b and 4e were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Activated with B(C6F5)(3), all the complexes are active for the polymerization of ethylene to branched polyethylenes. Ligand structure, i.e., substituents R-1 and R-2, greatly influences not only catalytic activity but also the molecular weight and branch content of the polyethylene produced. The phenyl-substituted complex 4b exhibits the highest activity of lip to 145 kg PE/mol(Ni)center dot h center dot atm under optimized conditions, which is about 10 times more than unsubstituted complex 4a (14.0 kg PE/mol(Ni center dot)h center dot atm). Highly branched polyethylene with 103 branches per 1000 carbon atoms has been prepared using catalyst 4e.

Ethylene Polymerization by the New Chromium Catalysts Based on Amino-Pyrrolide Ligands

A series of amino-pyrrolide ligands (1-4a) and their derivatives aminothiophene ligand (5a), amino-indole ligand (6a) were prepared. Chromium catalysts, which were generated in situ by mixing the ligands with CrCl3(thf)(3) in toluene, were tested for ethylene polymerization. The preliminary screening results revealed that the tridentate amino-pyrrolide ligands containing soft pendant donor, 3a, 4a/CrCl3(thf)(3) systems displayed high catalytic activities towards ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methyaluminoxane. The electronic and steric factors attached to the ligand backbone significantly affected both the catalyst activity and the polymer molecular weight. Complex 4b was obtained by the reaction of CrCl3(thf)(3) with one equivalent of the lithium salts of 4a, which was the most efficient ligand among the tested ones. The effect of polymerization parameters such as cocatalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, reaction temperature, and time on polymerization behavior were investigated in detail. The resulting polymer obtained by 4b display wax-like and possess linear structure, low molecular weight, and unimodal distribution.

Ethylene Polymerization and Ethylene/Hexene Copolymerization with Vanadium(III) Catalysts Bearing Heteroatom-Containing Salicylaldiminato Ligands

A series of novel vanadium(III) complexes hearing heteroatoill-containing group-substituted salicylaldiminato ligands [RN=CH(ArO)]VCl2(THF)(2) (Ar = C6H4, R = C3H2NS, 2a; C7H4NS, 2c; C7H5N2, 2d; Ar = C(6)H(2)tBu(2) (2,4), R = C3H2NS, 2b) have been synthesized and characterized. Structure of complex 2c was further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The complexes were investigated as the catalysts for ethylene polymerization in the presence of Et2AlCl. Complexes 2a-d exhibited high catalytic activities (up to 22.8 kg polyethylene/mmolv h bar), and affording polymer with unimodal molecular weight distributions at 25-70 degrees C in the first 5-min polymerization, whereas produced bimodal molecular weight distribution polymers at 70 degrees C when polymerization time prolonged to 30 min. The catalyst structure plays an important role in controlling the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the resultant polymers produced in 30 min polymerization. In addition, ethylene/hexene copolymerizations with catalysts 2a-d were also explored in the presence of Et2AlCl, which leads to the high molecular weight and unimodal distributions copolymers with high comonomer incorporation.

Novel vanadium(III) complexes with bidentate N,N-chelating iminopyrrolide ligands: synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviour of ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with 10-undecen-1-ol

A series of novel vanadium(III) complexes bearing iminopyrrolide chelating ligands [2-(RN=CH)C4H3N]V(THF)(2)Cl-2 (2a: R = cyclohexyl; 2b: R = Ph; 2c: R = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3); 2d: R = p-CF3C6H4; 2e: R = C6F5) have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that complexes 2a, 2c and 2e adopt an octahedral geometry around the vanadium center. In the presence of Et2AlCl as a co-catalyst, these complexes displayed high catalytic activities up to 48.6 kg PE mmol(V)(-1) h(-1) bar(-1) for ethylene polymerization, and produced high molecular weight polymers. 2a-e/Et2AlCl catalytic systems were tolerant to elevated temperature (70 degrees C) and yielded unimodal polyethylenes, indicating the single site behaviour of these catalysts. By pre-treating with equimolar amounts of alkylaluminums, functional alpha-olefin 10-undecen-1-ol can be efficiently incorporated into polyethylene chains. 10-Undecen-1-ol incorporation can easily reach 15.8 mol% under the mild conditions.

Synthesis and characterization of the titanium complexes bearing two regioisomeric trifluoromethyl-containing enaminoketonato ligands and their behavior in ethylene polymerization

A series of new titanium complexes bearing two regioisomeric trifluoromethyl-containing enaminoketonato ligands (3a-h and 6a-h), [PhN=CRCHC(CF3)O](2)TiCl2 (3a, R = Me; 3b, R = n-C5H11; 3c, R = i-Pr; 3d, R = Cy; 3e, R = t-Bu; 3f, R = CH=CHPh; 3g, R = Et; 3h, R = n-C11H23) and [PhN=C(CF3)CHC(R)O](2)TiCl2 (6a, R = Ph; 6b, R = n-C5H11; 6c, R = i-Pr; 6d, R = Cy; 6e, R = t-Bu; 6f, R = CH=CHPh; 6g, R = CHPh2; 6h, R = CF3) have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystal structures analyses suggest that complexes 3c-e and 6c-d all adopt a distorted octahedral geometry around the titanium center. Complexes 3c, 3d and 6c display a cis-configuration of the two chlorine atoms around the titanium center, while complex 6d shows a trans-configuration of the two chlorine atoms. Especially, the configurational isomers (cis and trans) of complex 3e were identified both in solution and in the solid state by NMR and X-ray analyses. With modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, all the complexes are active towards ethylene polymerization, and produce high molecular weight polymers.

Rare earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes bearing amino phosphine ligands: Synthesis and catalytic activity toward ethylene polymerization

Reactions of neutral amino phosphine compounds HL1-3 with rare earth metal tris(alkyl)s, Ln(CH2SiMe3)(3)(THF)(2), afforded a new family of organolanthanide complexes, the molecular structures of which are strongly dependent on the ligand framework. Alkane elimination reactions between 2-(CH3NH)-C6H4P(Ph)(2) (HL1) and Lu(CH2SiMe3)(3)(THF)(2) at room temperature for 3 h generated mono(alkyl) complex (L-1)(2)Lu(CH2SiMe3)(THF) (1). Similarly, treatment of 2-(C6H5CH2NH)-C6H4P(Ph)(2) (HL2) with Lu(CH2SiMe3)(3)(THF)(2) afforded (L-2)(2)Lu(CH2SiMe3)(THF) (2), selectively, which gradually deproportionated to a homoleptic complex (L-2)(3)Lu (3) at room temperature within a week. Strikingly, under the same condition, 2-(2,6-Me2C6H3NH)-C6H4P(Ph)(2) (HL3) swiftly reacted with Ln(CH2SiMe3)(3)(THF)(2) at room temperature for 3 h to yield the corresponding lanthanide bis(alkyl) complexes L(3)Ln(CH2SiMC3)(2)(THF)(n) (4a: Ln = Y, n = 2; 4b: Ln = Sc, n = 1; 4c: Ln = Lu, n = 1; 4d: Ln = Yb, n = 1; 4e: Ln = Tm, n = 1) in high yields. All complexes have been well defined and the molecular structures of complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4b-e were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The scandium bis(alkyl) complex activated by AlEt3 and [Ph3C][B(C6F5)(4)], was able to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene to afford linear polyethylene.