Allyloxy- and benzyloxy-substituted pyridine-bis-imine iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes for ethylene polymerization

A series of ethylene polymerization catalysts based on tridentate bis-imine ligands coordinated to iron and cobalt was reported. The ligands were prepared through the condensation of sterically bulky anilines with allyloxy-and benzyloxy-substituted 2,6-acetylpyridines. The pre-catalyst complexes were penta-coordinate species of the general formula {[(ArN=C(Me))2(4-RO-C5H3N)]MCl2} (Ar=ortho dialkyl-substituted aryl ring; R=allyl, benzyl; M=Fe, Co). In the presence of ethylene and methyl alumoxane cocatalysts, these complexes were active for the polymerization of ethylene, with activities lower than those of metal complexes of the general formula {[(2-ArN=C(Me))2C5H3N]MCl2} (Ar=ortho dialkyl-substituted aryl ring; M=Co, Fe), containing no substituents in 2,6-acetylpyridine ring. The effects of the catalyst structure and temperature on the polymerization activity, thermal properties, and molecular weight were discussed.