Bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands and their catalytic behavior toward ethylene oligomerization

Abstract

A series of bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the complexes showed good activities [up to 8.17 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] for ethylene oligomerization. Activation of the bidentate iron complex with a 1-octadecyl moiety in the ligand backbone (complex C3) with Et₂AlCl produced higher catalytic activity than C3 with MAO, although the selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers was lower. The choice of solvent and reaction parameters significantly affected both the activities and selectivities of these complexes. Under the conditions ([Fe] = 5 μmol; temperature = 25 °C; toluene = 50 mL; time = 30 min; ethylene pressure = 0.5 MPa; MAO as cocatalyst), complex C3 gave high activity [7.46 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] with better selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers (26.58%). The catalytic activities and selectivities were also influenced by the ligand structure and choice of metal. The catalytic activities declined with increasing alkyl chain length of the ligand backbone. Compared to the nickel complex with 1-tetradecyl as core in the ligand backbone (C4), the iron complexes exhibited lower catalytic activities but the better selectivities for C₁₀₊ oligomers.