Macrocyclic Binuclearα-Diimine Nickel Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

Polyolefins are globally important plastics.Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are two key parameters for determining the properties of polyolefin materials.In this contribution,we develop a strategy for combining the macrocyclic framework and the binuclear effect into the benchmarkα-diimine late transition metal catalysts,and thus macrocyclic binuclearα-diimine nickel catalysts(Ni_(2)-Me and Ni_(2)-iPr)are prepared.Compared to the classical Brookhart's acyclic mononuclearα-diimine nickel analogues(Ni_(1)-Me and Ni_(1)-iPr),these nickel catalysts exhibit enhanced thermostability(up to 110℃)and produce polyethylenes with higher molecular weights(up to 7 times)and lower branching densities(as low as 9 branches/1000C)in methylaluminoxane(MAO)activated ethylene polymerization.This translates into the ability of the catalyst to afford more linear high molecular weight polyethylenes.In particular,bimodal polyethylenes with broad molecular weight distributions(Mw/Mn=8.08-14.66)are generated by the sole catalyst.This work affords diverse polyethylenes.