Highly Efficient and Thermal Robust Cobalt Complexes for 1,3-Butadiene Polymerization

A family of highly bulky bis(salicylaldiminate)Co(Ⅱ)complexes bearing cavity-like conformations are disclosed herein.Due to their unique bulky nature around the cobalt atoms that are reflected from space-filling models and the buried volume percentages,obviously longer bond distances of Co―N and Co―O are revealed from those complexes.Moreover,because of these well-protected active species,the cobalt complexes are able to catalyze 1,3-butadiene polymerization in high yields at extreme low catalyst concentrations,revealing a ultra high catalytic efficiency.At a ratio of 50000,all the complexes can afford polybutadiene with yields higher than 90%.Furthermore,the highly steric bulkiness of the ligand can also significantly enhance the thermostability of the active species.At temperature of 80-120°C,the complexes are able to successfully maintain high activities,giving polymer yields up to 90%.