2-(1-Arylimino)quinolylnickel halides: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior towards ethylene

A series of 2-(1-arylimino)quinolylnickel halides were synthesized and characterized by IR and elemental analyses. Distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries are adopted for the nickel complexes C1, C4, C7 and C11 as crystallized from either DMF or methanol solution. When activated by Et2AlCl, the nickel pre-catalysts exhibited good to high catalytic activities in ethylene oligomerization.