Nickel Complexes Of Acridine Derivatives: Their Synthesis, Characterization And Catalytic Behavior Toward Ethylene

This dissertation focuses on designing and synthesis of acridyl nickel(II) complexes as catalysts for ethylene polymerization or oligomerization. When activated by Al-based cocatalyst, their catalytic behaviors and optimum conditions(Al/Ni, time and temperature) were investigated and discussed in detail. The electronic effect and steric effect were also investigated and discussed in detail. This dissertation includes three parts as follows:Part I: The progress of polyethylene and catalysts used in polymerization and/or oligomerization of ethylene is summarized.Part II: A series of novel 4-arylimino-1,2,3-trihydroacridylnickel(II)dihalides was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and single crystal determination. With the activation of trimethylaluminum, all nickel(II) complexes exhibit good activity for ethylene oligomerization with the oligomer products ranging from C4 to C16. Comparing current results with those obtained by2-aryliminoquinolynickel(II) complexes, we can state that the replacement of the acetyl group with a cycloketonyl group has no big effect on reactivity and the product.Part III: A series of 2-propyl-4-arylimino-1,3-dihydroacridylnickel halides was synthesized by metal-induced template reaction. They were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis as well as single crystal determination. With the activation of diethylaluminium chloride, all nickel complexes could exhibit moderate activity for ethylene oligomerization and oligomer product ranged from C4 to C16.Due to the electron donor ability of propyl group in the backbone, their activities are much lower than by previous unsubstitued ones, which willgive the information for the catatlyst design in the future. The dibromide nickel complexes exhibited higher activities than their corresponding dichloride analogues.