Diimine Palladium(Ii) and Nickel(Ii) Complexes Bearing (R)-(+)-Bornyl- and Naphthyl-Based Nitrogen Ligands : Synthesis and Reactivity Towards Polymerization of Ethylene

Adnan S. Abu-Surrah

Department of Chemistry, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459 Zarqa- 13115 (Jordan)

New nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes of the type [M(A-N=C-C=N-A)X2]4-6 (M=Pd, Ni; A-N=C-C=N-A=1,2-dimethyl-N,N'-bis((R)-(+)-bornyl)diiminoethane (BBIM, 3a), 1,2-dimethyl-N,N'-bis (naphthyl) diiminoethane (BNIM, 3b), X=Cl, Br) have been prepared and characterized. The complexes were activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) and utilized as catalysts in ethylene polymerization. The nickel(II) complexes (4 and 5) were found to be active towards the polymerization reaction whereas the palladium(II)-based complex6 showed no activity. Higher activity was observed for the complex which contains the axial aromatic naphthyl groups as terminal moieties on the nitrogen5.

Palladium(II)-; Nickel(II)-complexes; Diimine Ligands; Polymerization catalysts; Polyethylene; Methylaluminoxane (MAO)