Branched Polyethylene Synthesized by Salicylaldiminato Nickel Complexes with an Ethereal Donor Group

Many late-transition-metal catalysts have been developed for the synthesis of branched polyethylene. However, the methods for the synthesis of low molecular weight and highly branched polyethylene are limited. Here we report the facile synthesis of a series of salicylaldiminato nickel complexes with an ethereal donor hemilabile group and their application in ethylene polymerization to produce low molecular weight highly branched polyethylene effectively.