Synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization and polymerization of 2-(1H-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)pyridylchromium chlorides

A series of N^N^N tridentate chromium complexes (C1–C6) bearing 2-(1H-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)pyridine derivatives was synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis along with single-crystal X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallographic analyses reveal chromium complex C1 as a distorted six-coordinated octahedral geometry. On treatment with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), the chromium complexes exhibited high activities for ethylene oligomerization (up to 1.50 × 106 g mol−1 (Cr) h−1) and polymerization (up to 2.06 × 106 g mol−1 (Cr) h−1) at 10 atm ethylene pressure. Various reaction parameters were investigated in detail, and less steric hindrance and electron-withdrawing substituents of ligands enhance the catalytic activities of their chromium complexes.

A series of chromium complexes bearing 2-(1H-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl) pyridines was synthesized and characterized. On treatment with modified methylaluminoxane, the chromium complexes exhibited high activities for ethylene reactivity. The less steric hindrance and electron-withdrawing substituents of ligands enhance the catalytic activities of their chromium complexes.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide