Vanadyl Di(5‐t‐butyl‐2‐(aryliminomethyl)quinolin‐8‐olate): Synthesis, Characterization, and Ethylene (Co‐)Polymerization

A series of vanadyl di(5‐t‐butyl‐2‐(aryliminomethyl)quinolin‐8‐olate) complexes is prepared by the reaction of 5‐t‐butyl‐2‐(aryliminomethyl)quinolin‐8‐ol derivatives with a slight excess of VO(OPr)3 in toluene. All the vanadyl complexes are fully characterized by elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy; moreover, the molecular structures of representative complexes C2 and C3 are further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. On activation with diethyl­aluminum chloride (Et2AlCl) in either the presence or absence of ethyl trichloroacetate (ETA), all the vanadyl complexes exhibit high activities toward ethylene polymerization (up to 1.81 × 107 g mol−1 V h−1), producing polyethylenes with ultrahigh molecular weights (up to 1.51 × 106 g mol−1) and narrow polydispersities. The copolymerizations of ethylene with either norbornene or 1‐hexene are also successfully carried out with high activities.