Nickel(II) complexes chelated by 2-quinoxalinyl-6-iminopyridines: Synthesis, crystal structures and ethylene oligomerization

A series of nickel(II) complexes ligated by tridentate ligands of 2-quinoxalinyl-6-iminopyridines was synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis as well X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed the nickel complexes as five-coordinated distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. In the presence of Et2AlCl, these complexes displayed high catalytic activity for ethylene oligomerization and the dimmers were produced as main products. The nickel dibromide complexes exhibited relative higher activity than their dichloride analogues. Both elevation of the ethylene pressure and addition of auxiliary ligand have catalytic enhancement effects on all the complexes.