The cationic complexes [Ni(eta(3)-CH2C(R)CH2)(P)(2)] [BPh4] (R = Me, H; (P)(2) = ((PMePr2)-Pr-i)(2), ((PPhPr2)-Pr-i)(2), 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane (dippe)) and [Ni(eta-2-MeInd)(P)(2)] [BPh4] (2-MeInd = 2-methylindenyl; (P)(2) = ((PMePr2)-Pr-i)(2), ((PPhPr2)-Pr-i)(2), dippe) have been prepared and characterized. These materials are catalyst precursors for the nonliving polymerization of styrene to polystyrene without the need of a cocatalyst such as methylaluminoxane. The polymerization reactions are carried out in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane, using a 1:1000 catalyst to styrene ratio, yielding essentially atactic polystyrenes with M-n in the range 14 500-155 000 Da and polydispersities between 1.89 and 9.70. The mass properties of the polymers and the overall yield depend much on the nature of the catalyst precursor.
The cationic complexes [Ni(eta(3)-CH2C(R)CH2)(P)(2)] [BPh4] (R = Me, H; (P)(2) = ((PMePr2)-Pr-i)(2), ((PPhPr2)-Pr-i)(2), 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane (dippe)) and [Ni(eta-2-MeInd)(P)(2)] [BPh4] (2-MeInd = 2-methylindenyl; (P)(2) = ((PMePr2)-Pr-i)(2), ((PPhPr2)-Pr-i)(2), dippe) have been prepared and characterized. These materials are catalyst precursors for the nonliving polymerization of styrene to polystyrene without the need of a cocatalyst such as methylaluminoxane. The polymerization reactions are carried out in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane, using a 1:1000 catalyst to styrene ratio, yielding essentially atactic polystyrenes with M-n in the range 14 500-155 000 Da and polydispersities between 1.89 and 9.70. The mass properties of the polymers and the overall yield depend much on the nature of the catalyst precursor.