The synthesis and application of novel Ni(ii) N-alkyl dipyridylaldiminato complexes as selective ethylene oligomerisation catalysts

Abstract

A series of N-alkyl 2,2′-dipyridylamine ligands of general formula (2-C₅H₃NR)₂NR′, (a): R = H, R′ = Me; (b): R = H, R′ = benzyl; (c): R = H, R′ = methylcyclohexyl; (d): R = H, R′ = neopentyl; (e): R = Me, R′ = Me) were prepared by a modified method involving base-mediated N-alkylation with the respective alkyl halide. Reaction of the ligands, a–e, with NiCl₂(DME) allowed for the isolation of μ-Cl Ni(II) complexes: [Ni(μ-Cl){a}Cl]₂ (1a); [Ni(μ-Cl){b}Cl]₂ (1b); [Ni(μ-Cl){c}Cl]₂ (1c); [Ni(μ-Cl){d}Cl]₂ (1d) and [Ni(μ-Cl){e}Cl]₂ (1e). The complexes were characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses and in the case of 1a, SCD analysis. In the case of complex 1e, an acid-mediated hydrolysis process was identified. The product of hydrolysis, the protonated ligand and a tetrachloronickelate salt (1e-A), was characterised by SCD analysis. Activation of 1a–1e with alkyl aluminium reagents generated highly active catalysts for the oligomerisation of ethylene, with activities of up to 864 kg_oligomers mol_Ni⁻¹ h⁻¹ and high selectivity toward the formation of butenes. In general, trans 2-butene was observed as the major isomer, with the exception of 1e. In the case of 1e, the selectivity for 1-butene was 98%, thereby demonstrating the significant effect that the introduction of a low degree of steric pressure in the coordination sphere of the catalyst has on selectivity.