LAUSR

Abstract The ligand N,N-bis(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-ethoxy phenyl)butane-2,3-diimine via a multi-step reaction and the correspond palladium(II) α-diimine catalyst were synthesized, characterized and used in polymerization of ethylene. The effects of polymerization condition were investigated which the α-diimine catalyst was active up to 80 °C. The highest activity of the catalyst (330 kg of PE (mol Pd −1  h −1 ) was obtained at 2 equivalent NaBAF (cocatalyst), T p  = 40 °C and P Et  = 5 bar. GPC analysis revealed that the Mw ¯ of polyethylene virtually was equal to 8.1 × 10 4  g/mol along with PDI = 1.83. The structure of complex was optimized and the theoretical parameters were presented. The synthesized PE/MWCNT nanocomposite via in-situ polymerization showed the higher thermal stability (27 °C in presence of 3.88% MWCNT) than neat PE. Investigation of samples morphology by SEM, showed the morphology of the catalyst and PE were virtually spherical according to replication phenomenon and the MWCNTs acted as a bridge and end-cap in the polymer matrix.