The synthesis and application of novel Ni(II) N-alkyl dipyridylaldiminato complexes as selective ethylene oligomerisation catalysts

A series of N-alkyl 2,2'-dipyridylamine ligands of general formula (2-C5H3NR) 2NR', (a): R = H, R' = Me; (b): R = H, R' = benzyl; (c): R = H, R' = methylcyclohexyl; (d): R = H, R' = neopentyl; (e): R = Me, R' = Me) were prepared by a modified method involving base-mediated N-alkylation with the respective alkyl halide. Reaction of the ligands, a-e, with NiCl2(DME) allowed for the isolation of mu-Cl Ni(II) complexes: [Ni(mu-Cl){ a} Cl](2) (1a); [Ni(mu-Cl){b} Cl](2) (1b); [Ni(mu-Cl){c} Cl](2) (1c); [Ni(mu-Cl){d} Cl](2) (1d) and [Ni(mu-Cl){e} Cl](2) (1e). The complexes were characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses and in the case of 1a, SCD analysis. In the case of complex 1e, an acid-mediated hydrolysis process was identified. The product of hydrolysis, the protonated ligand and a tetrachloronickelate salt (1e-A), was characterised by SCD analysis. Activation of 1a-1e with alkyl aluminium reagents generated highly active catalysts for the oligomerisation of ethylene, with activities of up to 864 kgoligomers molNi(-1) h(-1) and high selectivity toward the formation of butenes. In general, trans 2-butene was observed as the major isomer, with the exception of 1e. In the case of 1e, the selectivity for 1-butene was 98%, thereby demonstrating the significant effect that the introduction of a low degree of steric pressure in the coordination sphere of the catalyst has on selectivity.