Iron-catalysed homo- and copolymerisation of propylene: Steric influence of bis(imino)pyridine ligands

Abstract

A series of iron complexes bearing a bis(imino)pyridine ligand were synthesised and examined as precatalysts for homopolymerisation of propylene. The alkyl substituents attached to the aryl group on the imine nitrogen atoms significantly affected the catalytic activity and molecular weight of the obtained polypropylenes. Copolymerisation of propylene and various allyl comonomers catalysed by iron/bis(imino)pyridine was also investigated.