Abstract:

A novel 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine iron(II) complex (2,6-bis[1-(4-hydroxy- 2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine iron chloride, 1a) has been synthesized and investigated as a catalyst for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatlyst. 2,6-Bis[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine iron chloride 1b, reported by Brookhart and Gibson, was also chosen as standard for comparison. The new iron complex displayed higher catalytic activity and gets higher molecular mass polyethylene than the corresponding complex 1b under the identical conditions. At 30 ^oC and 1 atm ethylene pressure, the novel complexe 1a shows a very high activity: 6.78×10⁶ g/mol•h.

Key words: catalyst, ethylene polymerization, polyethylene