Two bis-[1-(aryliminomethyleny)-2-oxy-naphthalen] nickel catalysts for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Two bis-(1-arylliminomethylenyl-2-oxy-naphthalen) nickel complexes (aryl = 2-methylphenyl, complex 1; aryl = 2,6-diisoproylphenyl, complex 2) were reacted with alkylaluminium in presence of equimolar PPh3 and tested as catalysts in methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. The two nickel catalysts can initiate polymerization of MMA with good to high activity, the highest activity reaching 1.1 × 105 g PMMA/(mol Ni · h) by less bulky complex 1 at 0.8 mol/L of MMA, 400 of Al/Ni ratio and 0 °C. In addition, the structures of nickel complexes and polymerization conditions, such as monomer concentration, polymerization temperature and Al/Ni molar ratio on catalytic activity of polymerization have great influences on catalytic activity and product properties.

Graphical abstractTwo bis-(1-arylliminomethylenyl-2-oxy-naphthalen) nickel complexes (aryl = 2-methylphenyl, 1; 2, 6-diisoproyl-phenyl, 2) were reacted with alkylaluminium in presence of equimolar PPh3, and then found they can catalyst polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), the highest activity reaching 1.1 × 105 g PMMA/(mol Ni · h) by 1 at 0.8 mol/l of MMA, 400 of Al/Ni ratio.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide