Tricoordinate Organochromium(III) Complexes Supported by a Bulky Silylamido Ligand Produce Ultra-High-Molecular Weight Polyethylene in the Absence of Activators

Low-coordinate organoCr(III) complexes supported by the silylamido ligand –N(SiMe₃)DIPP (DIPP = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) are ethylene polymerization catalyst precursors without the need of additional cocatalyst. The reaction of CrCl₃(THF)₃with 3 or 2 equiv. of LiN(SiMe₃)DIPP yields either a four-membered cyclometalated Cr complex or Cr[N(SiMe₃)DIPP]₂Cl, respectively, with no trace of Cr[N(SiMe₃)DIPP]₃. Addition of 1 equiv. of LiN(SiMe₃)DIPP to Cr[N(SiMe₃)DIPP]₂Cl also leads to the four-membered metallacycle, which upon heating transforms to a new six-membered Cr metallacycle, likely via a σ-bond metathesis step. Cr[N(SiMe₃)DIPP]₂Cl can be readily converted to bis(amido)Cr(III) vinyl and alkyl complexes Cr[N(SiMe₃)DIPP]₂R (R = vinyl, Bn, and Me). All of these structurally characterized low-coordinate Cr(III) complexes with a Cr–C bond initiate the polymerization of ethylene in the absence of activators or cocatalysts, producing ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene.