Thermally Stable and Highly Efficient <i>N,N,N</i>-Cobalt Olefin Polymerization Catalysts Affixed with <i>N</i>-2,4-Bis(Dibenzosuberyl)-6-Fluorophenyl Groups

oleh: Muhammad Zada, Desalegn Demise Sage, Qiuyue Zhang, Yanping Ma, Gregory A. Solan, Yang Sun, Wen-Hua Sun

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-12-01

Deskripsi

The cobalt(II) chloride <i>N,N,N</i>-pincer complexes, [2-{(2,4-(C<sub>15</sub>H<sub>13</sub>)<sub>2</sub>-6-FC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>)N=CMe}-6-(ArN=CMe)C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>3</sub>N]CoCl<sub>2</sub> (Ar <b>=</b> 2,6-Me<sub>2</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>) (<b>Co1</b>), 2,6-Et<sub>2</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub> (<b>Co2</b>), 2,6-<i>i</i>-Pr<sub>2</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub> (<b>Co3</b>), 2,4,6-Me<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub> (<b>Co4</b>), 2,6-Et<sub>2</sub>-4-MeC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub> (<b>Co5</b>), and [2,6-{(2,4-(C<sub>15</sub>H<sub>13</sub>)<sub>2</sub>-6-FC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>)N=CMe}<sub>2</sub>C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>3</sub>N]CoCl<sub>2</sub> (<b>Co6</b>), each containing at least one <i>N</i>-2,4-bis(dibenzosuberyl)-6-fluorophenyl group, were synthesized in good yield from their corresponding unsymmetrical (<b>L1</b>–<b>L5</b>) and symmetrical bis(imino)pyridines (<b>L6</b>). The molecular structures of <b>Co1</b> and <b>Co2</b> spotlighted their distorted square pyramidal geometries (<i>τ</i><sub>5</sub> value range: 0.23–0.29) and variations in steric hindrance offered by the dissimilar <i>N</i>-aryl groups. On activation with either MAO or MMAO, <b>Co1</b>–<b>Co6</b> all displayed high activities for ethylene polymerization, with levels falling in the order: <b>Co1</b> > <b>Co4</b> > <b>Co5</b> > <b>Co2</b> > <b>Co3</b> > <b>Co6</b>. Indeed, the least sterically hindered 2,6-dimethyl <b>Co1</b> in combination with MAO exhibited a very high activity of 1.15 × 10<sup>7</sup> g PE mol<sup>−1</sup> (Co) h<sup>−1</sup> at the operating temperature of 70 °C, which dropped by only 15% at 80 °C and 43% at 90 °C. Vinyl-terminated polyethylenes of high linearity and narrow dispersity were generated by all catalysts, with the most sterically hindered, <b>Co3</b> and <b>Co6</b>, producing the highest molecular weight polymers [<i>M</i><sub>w</sub> range: 30.26–33.90 kg mol<sup>−1</sup> (<b>Co3</b>) and 42.90–43.92 kg mol<sup>−1</sup> (<b>Co6</b>)]. In comparison with structurally related cobalt catalysts, it was evident that the presence of the <i>N</i>-2,4-bis(dibenzosuberyl)-6-fluorophenyl groups had a limited effect on catalytic activity but a marked effect on thermal stability.