2-Benzoxazolyl-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)pyridyl cobalt (II) chlorides: A temperature switch catalyst in oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene

A series of cobalt (II) complexes ligated by 2-(2-benzoxazolyl)-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)pyridines was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopic and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of Co1 (Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H3), Co2 (Ar = 2,6-Et2C6H3) and Co7 (Ar = 2,6-Br2C6H3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds Co1 and Co2 display a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, whereas complex Co7 is a distorted square-pyramid. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), all cobalt complexes showed reactivity towards ethylene. There was however an unexpected temperature dependence; whereas, at room temperature oligomerization was observed, giving 1-alkenes with high selectivities, at elevated temperatures polyethylene was produced. This unusual catalytic behavior of the new complexes was investigated in detail under various reaction parameters.

Cobalt complexes bearing 2-(2-benzoxazolyl)-6-(1-(arylimino)-ethyl)pyridines, LCoCl2 (Co1–Co7) activated with MAO show good reactivity towards ethylene. Whereas at room temperature oligomerization was observed giving selectively alpha-olefins, at elevated temperatures polyethylenes were produced.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide