Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviors of neutral nickel complexes: Arylnickel N-alkyl-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)picolinamide

A series of novel neutral nickel complexes, aryl (phenyl or naphthyl) nickel N-alkyl-6-(1-(arylimino)ethyl)picolinamides, were synthesized and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of the complexes C2, C3 and C7 reveal distorted square-planar geometry along with the molecular structure of one free ligand L1. On activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et2AlCl), the nickel complexes exhibited moderate catalytic activities for ethylene oligomerization, and the catalytic activity was up to 2.45 × 105 g mol−1(Ni) h−1 in the presence of 1 equiv. PPh3. Moreover, these complexes also exhibit moderate activities for Kumada–Corriu reaction and polymerization of methyl methacrylate.