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The α,α′-bis(imino)-2,3:5,6-bis(pentamethylene)pyridyl-cobalt(II) chlorides, [2,3:5,6-{C4H8C(N(2-R1-4-R3-6-R2C6H2))}2C5HN] CoCl2 (R1 = Me, R2 = R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co1; R1 = Et, R2 = R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co2; R1 = i-Pr, R2 = R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co3; R1 = Cl, R2 = R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co4; R1 = F, R2 = R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co5; R1 = F, R2 = R3 = CHPh2Co5′′, R1 = R2 = Me, R3 = CH(p-FPh)2Co6; R1 = R3 = Me, R2 = CH(p-FPh)2Co7), have been synthesized by a one-pot template reaction of α,α′-dioxo-2,3:5,6-bis(pentamethylene)pyridine, cobalt(II) chloride and the respective aniline in n-butanol. By contrast, the mixed cobalt(II) chloride/acetate complex, [2,3:5,6-{C4H8C(N(2-F-4,6-(CH(p-FPh)2)2C6H2))}2C5HN]CoCl(OAc) (Co5′), was isolated when the corresponding template reaction was carried out in acetic acid. Structural characterization of Co4, Co5 and Co5′′ revealed distorted square pyramidal geometries while six-coordinate Co5′, incorporating a chelating acetate ligand, exhibited a distorted octahedral geometry. On activation with either MAO or MMAO, 2-fluoride-4,6-bis{di(p-fluorophenyl)methyl}-substituted Co5 showed maximum catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization at a high operating temperature of 60 °C (up to 2.1 × 107 g (PE) mol−1 (Co) h−1), producing highly linear (Tms > 121 °C), low molecular weight polyethylene waxes (Mw range: 1.5–5.0 kg mol−1) with narrow dispersity (Mw/Mn range: 1.7–2.9). End-group analysis of the waxes reveals β-H elimination as the dominant chain transfer process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on iminopyridine ligands (L1–L3), Fe(II) (Fe1–Fe3) and Co(II) (Co1–Co3) complexes were synthesized and characterized well. According to single-crystal XRD studies, Co3 exhibits a dimeric structure with a four-coordinated metal center. Whereas, the iron complexes (Fe1 and Fe3) coordinate with two ligands to form a distorted-octahedral and distorted-trigonal bipyramidal geometry, respectively. All these catalysts were tested for the polymerization of isoprene. Using MAO as the co-catalyst, the Fe3 catalyst containing a bulky substituent can provide trans-1,4-unit (64%) polyisoprenes, while the Fe1 catalyst afforded trans-1,4-unit polyisoprenes (32%). Conversely, the combination of EASC as the co-catalyst with Fe1–Fe3 catalysts can give 1,4-unit polyisoprenes with high trans-1,4-unit selectivity (up to 88%). The central metal atom of the catalysts plays a crucial role in isoprene polymerization and significantly affects their activity. Fe(II) catalysts showed the highest activity (up to 99% yield), and afforded polyisoprenes with high molecular weights (191 kg mol−1). However, Co(II) systems exhibited lower activity (60% yield) and the obtained polyisoprenes were of lower molecular weights (2.15 kg mol−1) with broad molecular weight distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot template strategy has been utilized to synthesize sterically enhanced bis(imino)cyclohepta[b]pyridine-cobalt(II) chlorides, [2-{(Ar)N＝CMe}-9-{N(Ar)}C10H10N]CoCl2 (Ar = 2-(C5H9)-4,6-(CHPh2)2C6H2Co1, 2-(C6H11)-4,6-(CHPh2)2C6H2Co2, 2-(C8H15)-4,6-(CHPh2)2C6H2Co3, 2-(C12H23)-4,6-(CHPh2)2C6H2Co4, 2,6-(C5H9)2-4-(CHPh2)C6H2Co5). All five complexes have been characterized by a combination of FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecular structures of Co1, Co3 and Co5 highlight the substantial steric hindrance imparted by the 2-cycloalkyl-6-benzhydryl or 2,6-dicyclopentyl ortho-substitution pattern; distorted square pyramidal geometries are exhibited in each case. On activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all the complexes (apart from Co4/MAO) were active ethylene polymerization catalysts (up to 3.70 × 106 g PE per mol (Co) per h for Co5/MMAO), operating effectively at temperatures between 50 °C and 60 °C, producing polyethylenes with high molecular weights (up to 589.5 kg mol−1 for Co3/MAO). Furthermore, all polymers were highly linear (Tm > 130 °C) with narrow dispersities (Mw/Mn range: 2.0–3.0). The coexistence of two chain termination pathways, β-H elimination and transfer to aluminum, has been demonstrated using 13C/1H NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six examples of dinuclear bis(imino)pyridine-cobalt(ii) complexes, [1,5-{2-(CMe=N)-6-(CMe=N(2,6-R12-4-R2-C6H2))C5H3N}2(C10H6)]Co2Cl4 (R1 = Me, R2 = H Co1; R1 = Et, R2 = H Co2; R1 = iPr, R2 = H Co3; R1 = Me, R2 = Me Co4; R1 = Et, R2 = Me Co5; R1 = CHPh2, R2 = Me Co6), have been prepared from the corresponding bis(tridentate) compartmental ligands (L1–L6) in reasonable yields. The molecular structures of Co3 and Co5 revealed two N,N,N-cobalt dichloride units to adopt anti-positions about the 1,5-naphthyl linking unit, with each cobalt center exhibiting a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. On activation with either MAO or MMAO, Co1–Co6 were shown to promote both polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene with high overall activities (up to 1.03 × 107 gPE per·mol(Co) per·h for Co1/MAO at 70 °C). Curiously, on increasing the reaction temperature a larger proportion of polymer was noted, while at lower temperature an enhanced selectivity for oligomer was seen. In general, the oligomeric products displayed Schulz–Flory distributions with high selectivities for α-olefins (＞99%). On the other hand, the highly linear polymers displayed narrow dispersities and comprised both fully saturated and unsaturated chain ends with the vinyl content (–CH=CH2) found to rise with the reaction temperature. By modulating the steric hindrance exerted by the ortho-R1 substituents in the precatalyst, polyethylenes displaying a remarkably broad range of molecular weights could be obtained [from 4.52 kg mol−1 (R1 = Me) to 246.7 kg mol−1 (R1 = CHPh2)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]