Peculiarities of Ethylene Polymerization Reactions with Bis(imino)pyridyl Complexes of CoCl_(2) and FeCl_(2)

The article describes ethylene polymerization reactions with transition metal catalysts based on complexes of CoCl_(2) and FeCl_(2) with an N,N,N-tridentate ligand 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine. The complexes are converted into polymerization catalysts by reacting them either with polymethylalumoxane (MAO) or with a combination of Al(C2H5)2Cl and Mg(C4H9)2 at an [Al]:[Mg] ratio of ~3. Both MAO-activated complexes readily polymerize ethylene at 35 ℃ with the formation of linear, low molecular weight polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution. The same complexes, when activated with the Al(C2H5)2Cl-Mg(C4H9)2 combination, form multi-center catalysts and generate polyethylenes with a broad molecular weight distribution.