Novel chromium(III) complexes containing imidazole-based chelate ligands with varying donor sets:: Synthesis and reactivity

Reaction of (THF)(3)RCrCl2 (R = Cl, Me) with tri- and bidentate bis(N-methylimidazole-2-yl) ligands gave the new Cr(III) complexes [Cr(N boolean ANDN boolean ANDY)Cl-3] (3a-c), [Cr(N boolean ANDN)Cl-3](2) (4a-c), and [Cr(Me)(N boolean ANDN boolean ANDY)Cl-2] (5a,b) in greater than or equal to 90% yield. Toluene solutions of 3,4/ MMAO convert ethylene into linear 1-alkenes with selectivities of up to 79%.