Carboranylimine-complexed titanium (IV) organometallics: An investigation of synthesis, structure and catalytic polymerization

The condensation reaction of carboranylmethyl ammonium chloride, 1-(CH2NH3Cl)-1,2-C2B10H11 (1) with phenyl aldehydes produced phenyl(carboranylmethyl)imine ligands, 1-(CH2N = CC6H4R-2)-1,2-C2B10H11 (2 R = H; 3 R = OH). Deprotonation of 2 and 3 with n-BuLi followed by metalation with TiCl4 led to the formation of phenyl(carboranylmethyl)imidotitanium (IV) chlorides, [1-(CH2N = CC6H4R-2)-1,2-C2B10H10]TiCl3 (4 R = H; 5 R = O). Compounds 4 and 5 were found to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene in the presence of co-catalyst MAO to produce high molecular weight polyethylene. In addition, compounds 4 and 5 were also active for copolymerization of ethylene and methyl-10-undecannoate to generate corresponding copolymers.