Preparation and characterisation of some nickel(II) tetra-aza macrocyclic complexes bearing pendant polymerisable groups as part of the ligand superstructure

The synthesis and characterisation of some new nickel(II) macrocyclic complexes of the 'lacunar' type have been performed where the ligand has, as part of the ligand superstructure, either 4-vinylphenyl or allyl groups capable of undergoing polymerisation reactions with selected comonomers. The n.m.r. spectra of a number of these new complexes show them to be fluxional on the n.m.r. time-scale and the nature of this fluxional behaviour is discussed. Some copolymerisation reactions of these complexes, with styrene or methyl methacrylate comonomers, have been performed.