Novel Chromium (III) Complexes Containing Imidazole-Based Chelate Ligands with Varying Donor Sets: Synthesis and Reactivity

Reaction of (THF) 3RCrCl 2 (R = Cl, Me) with tri- and bidentate bis(N-methylimidazole-2-yl) ligands gave the new Cr(III) complexes [Cr(N∧N∧Y)Cl 3] (3a-c), [Cr(N∧N)Cl 3] 2 (4a-c), and [Cr(Me)(N∧N∧Y)Cl 2] (5a,b) in ≥90% yield. Toluene solutions of 3,4/MMAO convert ethylene into linear 1-alkenes with selectivities of up to 79%.