Electronic influence of the thienyl sulfur atom on the oligomerization of the ethylene by cobalt, pyridine catalysis

The position of the sulfur atom in the thienyl group of 6-(thienyl)-2-(imino)pyridine ligands strongly affects the catalytic activity of the corresponding tetrahedral high-spin dihalide Co-II complexes in the oligomerization of ethylene to alpha-olefins upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO). Complexes with the sulfur atom in the 3-position of the thienyl ring catalyze the selective conversion of ethylene to 1-butene, while catalysts containing thien-2-yl groups give C-4-C-14 alpha-olefins. In situ EPR experiments showed the occurrence of a spin state changeover with the formation of low-spin Co-II species upon activation of the catalyst precursors by MAO. DFT calculations suggest that only thien-2-yl rings allow for the coordination of the sulfur atom to the cobalt center in the MAO-activated systems.