Nickel α‐Keto‐β‐Diimine Initiators for Olefin Polymerization

A new ligand–metal combination (see picture, Ni green, Br brown, N blue, O red, C gray) was designed to be cationic and to benefit from removal of electron density by the action of a Lewis acid on the ligand framework. In the presence of various activators, the resulting catalytic site is highly active for ethylene polymerization and capable of polymerizing α-olefins to high molecular weights.