Ethylene Polymerization Using Discrete Nickel(II) Iminophosphonamide Complexes

The syntheses and structures of the discrete (π-allyl)nickel iminophosphonamide (PN 2 ) complexes 2a − d from the reaction of (π-allyl)nickel bromide and the corresponding PN 2 ligands 3a, b or from the reaction of (π-allyl) 2 Ni and phosphorane 1 are reported. Complexes 2a, b are characterized by having long Ni−N distances coupled with an acute bite angle for the PN 2 ligand. The π-allyl ligands in complexes 2a − d are not fluxional on the NMR time scale at room temperature, although chemical exchange between the isomeric complexes 2c, d occurs via PN 2 ligand reorientation. Purified complexes 2a − d are not active for ethylene polymerization; it is only when complexes 2c, d are generated in situ in the presence of monomer that high- M w branched poly(ethylene) is formed. A variety of indirect evidence suggests that the active catalyst arises from the reaction of Ni(0)−alkene complexes with phosphorane 1, either preformed or generated in situ through decomposition of (π-allyl) 2 Ni. A bona fide PN 2 NiPh(PPh 3 ) complex, 5, was prepared from NiPh(PPh 3 ) 2 Br and the PN 2 ligand 3a and was structurally characterized. This complex is active for 1-hexene isomerization in the absence of an activator. During hexene isomerization, variable amounts of the paramagnetic bis(PN 2 ) complex 4 are produced along with ligand 3a . In addition, the fluxional intermediate 6, containing both a PN 2 ligand and coordinated PPh 3, is present during catalysis. Reaction of 5 with an equimolar amount of propene provides α-methylstyrene, the product of 1,2-insertion followed by β-H elimination. Complex 5 is not effective for polymerization or oligomerization of ethylene under a variety of conditions. The reactions of complex 5 with various phosphine scavengers were studied, and of these only Rh(acac)(C 2 H 4 ) 2 is both effective and selective for PPh 3 . Hard Lewis acids, including AlMe 3, B(C 6 F 5 ) 3, and PMAO, have a pronounced tendency toward abstraction of the PN 2 or other anionic ligands in these unhindered complexes. All of the complexes reported in this paper are extremely active for ethylene dimerization in the presence of PMAO. In the presence of stoichiometric Rh(I), complex 5 rapidly isomerizes 1-hexene and in the presence of ethylene produces branched PE oligomers at modest activity.

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