Nickel bis{4,6-dibenzhydryl-2-[(arylimino)methyl]phenoxylate} complexes: Synthesis, structures, and catalytic behaviour towards ethylene and norbornene

A series of 4,6-dibenzhydryl-2-[(arylimino)methyl]phenol derivatives (L1-L6) and their nickel complexes (Ni1-Ni6) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and elemental analyses. Molecular structures of Ni3 and Ni6 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic studies. When activated with ethylaluminium sesquichloride (EASC), all nickel pre-catalysts displayed good catalytic activity (up to 2.89 10 super(6) g mol super(-1)(Ni) h super(-1)) for ethylene dimerization. Furthermore, these nickel complexes showed high activity for norbornene polymerization in the presence of MAO.