Redox Modification of a Ferrocenylimine Ligands for Iron III-CrCl2 Catalysis in Ethylene Polymerization

This study explores the redox modification of ferrocenylimines using iodine to develop a novel Iron III-CrCl2-based catalyst. This catalyst demonstrates exceptional activity in ethylene polymerization under mild conditions, achieving 2.6 tons of polyethylene per mol of catalyst per hour. Electrochemical studies reveal unexpected modifications to the ligand structure, diverging from simple reversible redox processes. These findings open new avenues for designing advanced polymerization catalysts with enhanced efficiency.