[ONNO]-type amine bis(phenolate)-based vanadium catalysts for ethylene homo- and copolymerization*

The synthesis and solution and solid-state structural characterization of a family of amine bis(phenolate) [ONNO]-vanadium complexes is reviewed. These compounds have oxi dation states ranging from vanadium(II) to vanadium(V), and were evaluated as olefin polymerization catalysts. In association with EtAlCl2 cocatalyst, we studied the homo polymerization of ethylene, propene, and 1-hexene, as well as the copolymerization of ethylene with α-olefins (1-hexene, 1-octene) and cycloolefins (norbornene, cyclopentene). Some of these catalysts were shown to produce copolymers with a good activity and comonomer content.