Synthesis, characterisation and solid state structures of α-diimine cobalt(II) complexes: Ethylene polymerisation tests

A series of cobalt(II) compounds of the type [CoX2(alpha-diimine)] were synthesised by direct reaction of anhydrous CoCl2 or CoI2 and the corresponding alpha-diimine ligand, in CH2Cl2: [CoI2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-DAB)] ( 1), [ CoI2(o,o'-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-DAB)] ( 2), ( where Ar-DAB = 1,4-bis(aryl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene), and [CoCl2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2- BIAN)] (3), [CoCl2(o,o'- (Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-BIAN)] (4), and [CoI2(o,o'-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-BIAN)] (5) (where Ar-BIAN = bis(aryl) acenaphthenequinonediimine). All compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, IR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction whenever possible. The crystal structures of compounds 2-4 showed, in all cases, distorted tetrahedral geometries about the Co, built by two halogen atoms and two nitrogen atoms of the alpha-diimine ligand. Compounds 3 and 4, as well as [ CoCl2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-DAB)] (1a), and [ CoCl2( o,o'- (Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i- DAB)] (2a), were activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) and tested as catalysts for ethylene polymerisation, showing low catalytic activities. Selected polyethylene ( PE) samples were characterised by H-1 and C-13 NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealing branching microstructures (2.5-5.5%). (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.