Mapolie, S.F.Malgas, RehanaDept. of ChemistryFaculty of Science2013-09-102024-05-092007/07/062007/07/062013-09-102024-05-092007https://hdl.handle.net/10566/14464Magister Scientiae - MScG1 and G2 dendrimeric salicylaldimine ligands containing both substituted and unsubstituted aryl rings were synthesized via a Schiff base condensation of the appropriate salicylaldehyde and the peripheral amino groups of the corresponding G1 and G2 polypropyleneimine dendrimers. The new ligands were characterized using FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and ESI mass spectrometry. The dendrimeric ligands were converted to multinuclear nickel complexes by reaction with nickelacetate. The metal complexes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and ESI mass spectrometry.Some of the dendritic complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors in the oligomerization of α-olefins such as ethylene and 1-pentene, using aluminium alkyls such as EtAlCl2 and modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as activators. All the dendrimeric catalysts evaluated are active in the oligomerization reactions. From the oligomerization results it was observed that there is a clear dendritic effect, in that both catalyst activity as well as selectivity are impacted by the dendrimer generation. In most cases it was observed that the second generation complexes show higher activity than the corresponding first generation complexes.The dendrimeric complexes were also evaluated as catalyst precursors in the vinyl polymerization of norbornene. In this case methylaluminoxane (MAO) were employed as an activator. Once again it was noted that a dendritic effect is operative, with second generation metallodendrimers having a higher activity than the first generation complexes.enLigandComplex compoundsThesisUniversity of the Western Cape