Homonuclear Bimetallic Fe(II) or Co(II) Complexes for Selective Oligomerization Process

Synthesis of tetrakis-bisimino pyridine ligand based Fe or Co complexes [(MeAr2Py-N2)2M2Cl4, M = Fe/Co, Ar = -C6H3, Py = -C5H2N] and their application towards ethylene oligomerization with the cocatalysts, ethyl aluminium sesquichloride and methylaluminoxane, were studied. Ligands were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR and elemental analysis. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and mass spectra. Both the complexes were active towards ethylene oligomerization. Fe complex showed better activity than its Co analogue to form oligomers C6 (Fe complex) and C4 (Co complex) as major products. Cooperative mechanism of the two adjacent metal centers during the reaction was observed. Cooperative mechanism enhanced the oligomerization activity.