Robust Bulky [P,O] Neutral Nickel Catalysts for Copolymerization of Ethylene with Polar Vinyl Monomers

Abstract

Several nickel complexes bearing sterically bulky phosphino-phenolate ([P,O]) ligands were synthesized and explored as catalysts for olefin (co)polymerization. In the absence of an activator, the complexes showed very high catalytic activities (up to 107 g molNi–1 h–1) for ethylene polymerization even at 90 °C or with the addition of a large amount of a polar additive (such as ethyl alcohol, diethyl ether, acetone, or even water), affording linear polymers with high molecular weights (up to 6.53 × 105). In contrast, most of the previously reported nickel catalysts suffer from severe activity suppression at elevated temperature. It is rare that a catalyst has so many good performances simultaneously, including high catalytic activity, good tolerance for polar groups, strong thermal stability, and yielding high molecular weight linear polyethylene. Most importantly, these bulky nickel complexes used in this study also effectively copolymerized ethylene with challenging polar vinyl monomers, including commer...