Efficient Addition Polymerization of Norbornene with Polar Norbornene Derivatives by Neutral Nickel(II) Catalysts

Abstract

A series of nickel complexes {4a: [(2,6-iPr2C6H3)N=CHC16H12O]Ni(Me)(Py), 4b: [(2,6-iPr2C6H2OCH3)N=CHC16H12O]-Ni(Me)(Py), 4c: [(2,6-iPr2C6H2Cl)N=CHC16H12O]Ni(Me)(Py), and 4d: [(2,6-iPr2C6H2CF3)N=CHC16H12O]Ni(Me)(Py)} based on β-ketiminato ligands bearing various electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the para-position of the aniline group were synthesized and unambiguously characterized. The X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that complexes 4b and 4d adopted a near-square-planar geometry, and the anilines bearing a para-OMe or −CF3 group were found to situate on the axial position of the metal center. All complexes exhibited high activities up to 1.25 × 107–1.35 × 107 gPNB·molNi−1·h−1 toward norbornene (NBE) addition polymerization (conversion > 91.2% in 2 min) under low loading of B(C6F5)3 (B/Ni = 3) at 30 °C, affording polymers with high molecular weight up to 2.54 × 106–3.18 × 106. Different levels of decrease in catalytic activities could be observed for all catalysts as the reaction temperature increased; 4d bearing a strong electron-withdrawing −CF3 group showed the highest activity at 70 °C, while others exhibited notable decrease in catalytic activity with the raise in reaction temperature. Complexes 4a–4d showed remarkable tolerance to polar groups and could efficiently promote the copolymerization of NBE with its polar derivatives, including NBE bearing small acetate and hydroxyl group, as well as bulky oligomers, yielding copolymers with high functional NBE incorporations. Novel NBE copolymers with high functional comonomer incorporations and improved solubility were obtained in high yields.