Electrophilic Metal Precursors and a β-Diimine Ligand for Nickel(II)- and Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Ethylene Polymerization

Abstract

The α-diimine ligand ArNC(Me)C(Me)NAr (Ar = 2,6-C6H3-iPr2) reacts with Pd(OAc)2 in the presence of HBF4·Et2O, or [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 in the absence of acid, to give ethylene polymerization catalysts. The reactions of a related β-diimine ligand with [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 and (1,2-dimethoxyethane)NiBr2, and the polymerization activity of catalysts derived from it, are discussed.