Palladium (II) and iron (II) complexes derived from pyridyl-imine ligands as catalyst precursors for 1-hexene oligomerization and norbornene polymerization

• Main Author: Khuzwayo, Pamela Zanele
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Ligands; Spectrum analysis; Catalysts; Polymerization
• Online Access: Khuzwayo, Pamela Zanele (2017) Palladium (II) and iron (II) complexes derived from pyridyl-imine ligands as catalyst precursors for 1-hexene oligomerization and norbornene polymerization, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22723>; http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22723

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2017. === Pyridyl-imine ligands L1-L4 were prepared by condensation of pyridine-2-carboxyaldehyde with an appropriate amine. Characterization by NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis confirmed successful preparation in yields of 64-88%. These ligands were used to prepare Pd(II) complexes C1-C4, from PdCl2(CH3CN)2 and the corresponding pyridyl-imine ligand. 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis confirmed coordination. Attempts to prepare target Fe(II) complexes C5-C8 by reacting the ligands with anhydrous FeCl2 were unsuccessful. Infrared data suggested coordination of ligands to the Fe centre, however mass spectrometry and elemental analysis data revealed that target complexes were not obtained. Pd(II) complexes C1-C4 were evaluated as catalyst precursors for 1-hexene oligomerization and norbornene polymerization using methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co-catalyst. The oligomerization of 1-hexene was investigated in a neat reaction media at various Al:Pd ratios. All investigated complexes were found to be inactive for the oligomerization of 1-hexene. From 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS analysis it was observed that the product distribution was mainly a mixture of 2-hexene and 3-hexene isomers. Parameters such as temperature and time did not have any significant influence towards the productivity of 1-hexene oligomers. Norbornene polymerization studies were carried out with Pd(II) complex C4 in toluene at room temperature. This complex was found to exhibit good activity for norbornene polymerization, producing a vinyl bicyclic polymer, confirmed with infrared and solid state 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Increasing the amount of co-catalyst (MAO) and temperature did not have any significant influence on the activity and monomer conversion. However, increasing reaction time was observed to have a significant influence on the activity. === MT2017