Chromium(III) Complexes with Chelating Anilido–Imine Ligands: Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Properties for Ethylene Polymerization

Abstract

AbstractA series of novel chromium complexes that bear anilido–imine ligands, [{ortho‐C6H4(NAr′)(CH=NAr″)}CrCl2(thf)2] [Ar′ = Ar″ = C6H5 (1); Ar′ = Ar″ = p‐MeC6H4 (2); Ar′ = Ar″ = 2,6‐Me2C6H3 (3); Ar′ = 2,6‐iPr2C6H3, Ar″ = 2,6‐Me2C6H3 (4); Ar′ = Ar″ = 2,6‐iPr2C6H3 (5)], have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and ESI‐MS. The molecular structures of complexes 1 and 2 have been confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. When activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes exhibit reasonable to good catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization and produce polyethylene with moderate molecular weights.