The iminopyridylcobalt complexes Co1-Co5 bearing bulky phenethyl or benzhydryl substituents were synthesized. Determined by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis, complexes Co3 and Co4 displayed tetrahedron geometries. The present complexes displayed high cis-1,4 selectivity for 1,3-butadiene polymerization upon activation with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC). While upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or trialkylaluminum-free MAO (dMAO) cocatalyst, these complexes exhibited moderate activities, addition of PPh3 into the catalyst system resulted in the increase in catalytic activities and the change of the selectivity from cis-1,4 to 1,2 manner. Moreover, the livingness of Co4/dMAO system enabled synthesis of cis-1,4-b-syn-1,2 stereodiblock polybutadiene with PPh3 as a selectivity regulating agent in one-pot polymerization process. Crystallization of syn-1,2 block and attendant expulsion of cis-1,4 block from the crystalline structure led to micro-phase separation in this stereoblock polymer.
Read full abstract