A series of novel 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron catalysts: synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization

A series of 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes have been synthesized and used for oligomerization of ethylene. These complexes, activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), lead to highly active ethylene oligomerization (>107 g/molFe h) and most products are linear α-olefins (>90%). Steric and electronic effects due to different substituents at aryl rings on catalytic activities and distributions of oligomers are studied.