Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic behaviors of β-carbonylenamine-derived metal complexes (M = Ti, Zr) in styrene polymerization

The titanium and zirconium complexes based on thioether substituted β-carbonylenamine were prepared and characterized. In the presence of MMAO, the titanium complexes showed good activity in syndiospecific styrene polymerization with high syndioselectivity, and performed good thermal stability. Electron withdrawing group on ligands is beneficial to the styrene polymerization. [1,3-diphenyl-3-(2-(isopropylthio)ethylimino)prop-1-en-1-olate]2ZrCl2(IV) could also polymerize styrene to give syndiotactic polymer, however in low activity and with low syndioselectivity.