2-[1-(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-chlorophenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-aryliminoethyl]pyridyl cobalt dichlorides: Synthesis, characterization and ethylene polymerization behavior

A series of 2-[1-(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-chlorophenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-aryliminoethyl]pyridyl cobalt(II) dichloride complexes (Co1–Co5) were prepared and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. The molecular structures of the representative cobalt complexes Co1 and Co4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and revealed a pseudo-square-pyramidal geometry around each cobalt atom. Upon activation with either MMAO or MAO, all cobalt pre-catalysts exhibited high activities toward ethylene polymerization and produced polyethylene products with narrow molecular distributions (1.98–3.61) and molecular weights in the range 72.3–665 kg/mol; the latter is higher than any other molecular weight of polyethylenes obtained by previous cobalt pre-catalysts. Reaction parameters and the nature of the ligands were investigated for their influence on the resultant catalytic activities and properties of the polyethylene products obtained.