High-temperature catalysts for the production of α-olefins based on iron(II) and iron(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes modified by nitrilo group†

Series of Fe(II) and Fe(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes without nitrilo groups 2–6 and with nitrilo groups 7–13 were synthesized. According to X-ray analysis, the introduction of nitrilo groups in para- and ortho-positions tends to result in shorter axial FeN bonds. Both types of complexes, 2–6 and 9–13, afforded very productive catalysts for the production of α-olefins with higher K values and better linearity of Schultz–Flory distribution α-olefins than the parent methyl substituted Fe(II) complex 1. Noticeably, the complexes functionalized with a para-nitrilo group 9–13 tend to make α-olefins with higher K values of the Schultz–Flory distribution, more ideal distributions, and less of the heavier insoluble fractions of α-olefins than corresponding nonsymmetrically substituted complexes without para-nitrilo groups 2–6. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between % solids of total α-olefins and the blocked solid angle fraction in the +z hemisphere ( = 51.3%, p = 0.012) and between catalyst productivity and total blocked solid angle fraction ( = 43.5%, p = 0.023). The modest values of show that, while steric effects are significant, they are not the sole factor determining catalyst performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 585–611, 2008