Immobilization and activation of 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl Fe, Cr and V precatalysts using a MgCl2/AlRn(OEt)3−n support: Effects on polyethylene molecular weight and molecular weight distribution

Abstract Ethylene polymerizations carried out with various bis(imino)pyridyl iron, chromium and vanadium complexes immobilized on a MgCl 2 /AlR n (OEt) 3− n support gave relatively broad polyethylene molecular weight distributions in the case of iron, but high molecular weight and a very narrow molecular weight distribution with vanadium, indicative of a single active species. The narrow MWD was confirmed by melt rheometry. Similar results were obtained after reaction of the bis(imino)pyridyl complex LVCl 3 ( 6 ) with MeLi or AlEt 3 , where alkylation of the pyridine ring gives a complex L′VCl 2 ( 7 ). In the case of chromium, a bimodal distribution was obtained, with evidence of incomplete catalyst immobilization. The polyethylene molecular weights obtained with the iron complexes were strongly dependent on the substituents in the bis(imino)pyridyl ligand, and were somewhat higher than have been obtained in homogeneous polymerization. In contrast, the molecular weights obtained with the bis(imino)pyridyl chromium and vanadium complexes were much higher that those previously obtained under homogeneous conditions. In all cases, the activities of the immobilized catalysts were higher than those found in homogeneous polymerization.