Cyclophane‐Based Highly Active Late‐Transition‐Metal Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

Abstract

Better by design: Exploitation of the macrocyclic architecture of a cyclophane-based ligand provides new highly active catalysts with improved thermal stability for ethylene polymerization. The strategic positioning of the metal center at the core of the cyclophane-based ligand is the key to the observed high activity and thermal stability, and to the high molecular weight of the polyethylene (see picture; red: Pd, green: Cl, blue: N, gray: C).