Influence of Diethylzinc on the Ethylene Polymerization Catalyzed by α-Diimine Nickel(II) Complexes

The use of diethylzinc in the ethylene polymerization in addition to α-diimine nickel(II) bromide complexes activated by Et₂AlCl leads to an increase in the catalytic activity and branching density of resulting polyethylene. It was demonstrated that the effect of diethylzinc strongly depends on the ligand steric hindrances, leading to the formation of hyperbranched polyethylene with high melting temperature and crystallinity degree.