# Patent

## Title
Process for preparing imino compounds

## Abstract

Process for preparing imine compounds, in which a carbonyl compound is reacted with a primary amine. The imine compound obtained in this way can be reacted further with a metalalkyl and subsequently a carbonyl compound to form an imine compound.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application PCT/EP2007/000255, filed 12 Jan. 2007, claiming priority to German Patent Application 10 2006 001 960.1 filed 13 Jan. 2006 and provisional U.S. Appl. No. 60/798,866 filed 9 May 2006; the disclosures of International Application PCT/EP2007/000255, German Pat. Appl. 10 2006 001 960.1, and U.S. Appl. No. 60/798,866, each as filed, are incorporated herein by reference.


The present invention relates to a process for preparing imino compounds.
The use of metallocene catalysts in the polymerization of unsaturated compounds has a great influence on the preparation of polyolefins since it opens up a route to new types of polyolefinic materials or to materials having improved properties. There is therefore great interest in the development of novel families of catalysts for the polymerization of unsaturated compounds in order to obtain even better control over the properties of polyolefins and further novel products.
The use of transition metal catalysts comprising late transition metals is of particular interest due to their ability to tolerate heteroatom functions. Transition metal catalysts derived from late transition metals which are suitable for the polymerization of unsaturated compounds are known from the prior art. Among these, 1,2-diiminenickel and 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyliron complexes have been found to be particularly useful.
The preparation of unsymmetrical 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl compounds which bear two different imino groups is usually carried out via a first condensation of the corresponding diketo compounds with a primary amine. The intermediate obtained is then reacted with a second primary amine which is different from the first. In the first step, not only the monoimine but also the symmetrical diimine product are formed, so that the yield of the intermediate is usually very low. Particularly when primary amines having electron-pulling or relatively nonbulky groups are used, the yield of monoimine intermediate drops.
WO 98/27124 discloses the synthesis of unsymmetrical 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl compounds from the corresponding diketo compounds and anilines in toluene with addition of catalytic amounts of toluenesulfonic acid via monoimine intermediates. Monoimine intermediates having electron-pulling substituents are not disclosed.
When anilines which bear an electron-pulling substituent in the ortho position are used, the yield of monoimine intermediate is very low. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the synthesis of the monoimine intermediate, by means of which even primary amines having electron-pulling or relatively nonbulky substituents can be converted into the corresponding monoimine compounds in improved yields. These monoimine compounds are particularly well-suited as starting materials for the synthesis of unsymmetrical diimine compounds and lead to higher yields of unsymmetrical product.
We have accordingly found a process for preparing imine compounds of the formula I,




where the variables have the following meanings:

    A1 is chlorine, bromine or iodine,
    the radicals R1 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radical R1 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or the radical R1 may also be joined to R3 to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring,
    R3-R5 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, OR11, halogen, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R3-R5 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or two radicals R3-R5 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or two radicals R3-R5 may be joined to one another to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S,
    the radicals R11 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR123, where the organic radicals R11 may also be substituted by halogens and two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    the radicals R12 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring,
    G is C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C40-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radical G may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123,
    E1-E3 are each, independently of one another, carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus, in particular carbon, and
    u is 0 when E1-E13 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 when E1-E3 is carbon,

which comprises the following steps:

    A) reaction of a carbonyl compound of the formula II






with a primary amine G-NH2, where the variables are as defined above.
Furthermore, we have found imine compounds of the formula I.
In the process of the invention, a primary amine is any compound which bears an NH2 group, i.e. including hydrazines.
As primary amine, use is made of G-NH2, where the meaning of G and its preferred embodiments is the same as for the imine compound of the formula I. Examples of primary amines are methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, isopropylamine, n-butylamine, tert-butylamine, sec-butylamine, isobutylamine, tert-amylamine, n-pentylamine, n-hexylamine, n-octylamine, cyclohexylamine, aniline, 2-methylaniline, 2-chloroaniline, 2-bromoaniline, 2,6-dichloroaniline, 2,4-dichloro-6-methylaniline and 2,6-dibromoaniline. G preferably comprises a halogen-comprising substituent.
Preference is given to imine compounds of the formula Ia,




where the variables have the following meanings:

    A1 is chlorine, bromine or iodine,
    the radicals R1 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radical R1 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or the radical R1 may also be joined to R3 to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring,
    R3-R10 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, OR11, halogen, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R3-R10 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or two radicals R3-R5 or two radicals R6-R10 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or two radicals R3-R5 or two radicals R6-R10 may be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S,
    the radicals R11 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR123, where the organic radicals R11 may also be substituted by halogens and two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    the radicals R12 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring,
    E1-E3 are each, independently of one another, carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus, in particular carbon, and
    u is 0 when E1-E3 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 when E1-E3 is carbon.


Here, primary amines G-NH2 used are anilines of the formula III




where the variables are as defined above.

G is preferably




where the variables have the following meanings:

    R6-R10 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, OR11, halogen, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R6-R10 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or two radicals R6-R10 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or two radicals R6-R10 are joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S,
    the radicals R11 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR123, where the organic radicals R11 may also be substituted by halogens and two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    the radicals R12 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring.


The three atoms E1 to E3 of the imine compound of the formula I or Ia and of the carbonyl compound II can be identical or different. E1 to E3 are each nitrogen, phosphorus or carbon, in particular nitrogen or carbon and particularly preferably carbon.
The substituents R1 of the imine compound of the formula I or Ia and of the carbonyl compound of the formula II can be varied within a wide range. Possible carboorganic substituents R1 are, for example, the following: C1-C22-alkyl which may be linear or branched, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl or n-dodecyl, 5- to 7-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl group and/or C6-C10-aryl group as substituent, e.g. cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cyclononane or cyclododecane, C2-C22-alkenyl which may be linear, cyclic or branched and in which the double bond may be internal or terminal, e.g. vinyl, 1-allyl, 2-allyl, 3-allyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl or cyclooctadienyl, C6-C22-aryl which may be substituted by further alkyl groups, e.g. phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, anthranyl, o-, m-, p-methylphenyl, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 2,3,4-, 2,3,5-, 2,3,6-, 2,4,5-, 2,4,6- or 3,4,5-trimethylphenyl, or arylalkyl which may be substituted by further alkyl groups, e.g. benzyl, o-, m-, p-methylbenzyl, 1- or 2-ethylphenyl, where, if appropriate, a radical R1 may also be joined to R3 to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring which may also be a heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S. The organic radicals R1 may also be substituted by halogens such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine, by amino NR112, for example dimethylamino, n-pyrrolidinyl or picolinyl, by alkoxy or aryloxy OR11, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy or isopropoxy, or organosilicon substituents SiR123, e.g. trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, butyldimethylsilyl, tributylsilyl, tri-tert-butylsilyl, triallylsilyl, triphenylsilyl or dimethylphenylsilyl. Possible substituents R11 are the same carboorganic radicals as described above for R1, where, if appropriate, two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a 5- or 6-membered ring and/or may be substituted by halogen. In organosilicon substituents SiR123, possible radicals R12 are the same carboorganic radicals described above for R1, where, if appropriate, two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a 5- or 6-membered ring.
Preferred radicals R1 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, benzyl or phenyl, in particular methyl.
The substituents R3-R10 of the imine compound of the formula I or Ia, of the carbonyl compound of the formula II and of the aniline of the formula III can also be varied within a wide range. Possible carboorganic substituents R3-R10 are, for example, the following: C1-C22-alkyl which may be linear or branched, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl or n-dodecyl, 5- to 7-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl group and/or C6-C10-aryl group as substituent, e.g. cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cyclononane or cyclododecane, C2-C22-alkenyl which may be linear, cyclic or branched and in which the double bond may be internal or terminal, e.g. vinyl, 1-allyl, 2-allyl, 3-allyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl or cyclooctadienyl, C6-C22-aryl which may be substituted by further alkyl groups, e.g. phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, anthranyl, o-, m-, p-methylphenyl, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 2,3,4-, 2,3,5-, 2,3,6-, 2,4,5-, 2,4,6- or 3,4,5-trimethylphenyl, or arylalkyl which may be substituted by further alkyl groups, e.g. benzyl, o-, m-, p-methylbenzyl, 1- or 2-ethylphenyl, where, if appropriate, two radicals R3-R5 or two radicals R6-R10 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S and/or the organic radicals R3-R10 may also be substituted by halogens such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine, amino NR112, for example dimethylamino, N-pyrrolidinyl or picolinyl, alkoxy or aryloxy OR11, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy or isopropoxy, or SiR123. Furthermore, R3-R10 may be amino NR112, for example dimethylamino, N-pyrrolidinyl or picolinyl, alkoxy or aryloxy OR11, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy or isopropoxy, or halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine. Possible substituents R11 are the same carboorganic radicals described above for R1-R2, where, if appropriate, two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a 5- or 6-membered ring and/or be substituted by halogen. In organosilicon substituents SiR123, possible radicals R12 are the same carboorganic radicals described above for R1-R2, where, if appropriate, two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a 5- or 6-membered ring, e.g. trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, butyldimethylsilyl, tributylsilyl, tri-tert-butylsilyl, triallylsilyl, triphenylsilyl or dimethylphenylsilyl.
Preferred radicals R3-R5 are hydrogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, benzyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine and bromine, in particular hydrogen.
Preferred radicals R6-R7 are hydrogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, benzyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine and bromine. R6 is particularly preferably fluorine, chlorine and bromine and R7 is particularly preferably a C1-C20-alkyl group, with R7 preferably being bound to the aryl ring via a primary or secondary, preferably primary, carbon atom.
Preferred radicals R8 and R10 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluorine, chlorine and bromine, in particular hydrogen. R8 and R10 are preferably identical.
Preferred radicals R9 are hydrogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, benzyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine and bromine, in particular hydrogen, methyl, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, very particularly preferably chlorine.
For the purposes of the present patent application, a primary carbon atom is a carbon atom having the following substitution pattern —CH2-R, where R is a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical having 1-30 carbon atoms, preferably C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or hydrogen, particularly preferably C1-C19-alkyl or hydrogen.
For the purposes of the present patent application, a secondary carbon atom is a carbon atom having the following substitution pattern —CH—R2, where R is a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical having 1-30 carbon atoms, preferably C1-C19-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or hydrogen, particularly preferably C1-C19-alkyl or hydrogen.
Preferred anilines of the formula III are 2-chloroaniline, 2-bromoaniline, 2,6-dichloroaniline, 2,4-dichloro-6-methylaniline or 2,6-dibromoaniline. Preference is given to R6 or R7 being a halogen, in particular chlorine or bromine.
The molar ratio of the carbonyl compound II to the amine G-NH2 used or the aniline of the formula III is generally from 1:5 to 1:0.8, preferably from 1:2 to 1:0.9 and particularly preferably from 1:1 to 1:1.2. The order of addition of the individual components is not critical. Thus, for example, the carbonyl compound can be initially charged and the amine G-NH2 or the aniline of the formula III can be added thereto.
To accelerate the reaction, it is possible to add a catalytic amount of an acid catalyst, for example C1-C10-carboxylic acids such as formic acid or acetic acid, sulfonic acids such as para-toluenesulfonic acid, also HCl, HBr, HI or H2SO4. The molar ratio of carbonyl compound II to acid catalyst is preferably in the range from 1:0.00001 to 1:0.01, preferably from 1:0.0001 to 1:0.001. Furthermore, it is possible to add reagents for absorbing the water formed in the reaction, for example molecular sieves, phosphorus pentoxide or Si(OR)4, where R is a C1-C10-alkyl group.
The phosphorus pentoxide can be used as the pure substance or as a mixture with an inert solid such as aluminum oxide, silica gel or aluminosilicate. Such mixtures are commercially available under the trade name Sicapent. The molar ratio of carbonyl compound II to phosphorus pentoxide is preferably in the range from 1:0.1 to 1:100, preferably from 1:1 to 1:10 and particularly preferably from 1:1.5 to 1:3. The ratio of Sicapent (about 50% by weight water uptake capacity) to carbonyl compound II is preferably in the range from 1 g of Sicapent per 0.1 mmol of carbonyl compound II to 1 g of Sicapent per 100 mmol of carbonyl compound II, preferably from 1 g of Sicapent per 1 mmol of carbonyl compound II to 1 g of Sicapent per 10 mmol of carbonyl compound II and particularly preferably from 1 g of Sicapent per 1.8 mmol of carbonyl compound II to 1 g of Sicapent per 6 mmol of carbonyl compound II.
The order of addition of the phosphorus pentoxide is not critical; it is preferably added to the mixture of carbonyl compound II and primary amine G-NH2. The total amount of phosphorus pentoxide to be used can be added at the beginning of the reaction, or it can be added at intervals in a plurality of portions during the ongoing reaction. It has been found that the process proceeds particularly quickly when the total amount of phosphorus pentoxide is added at the beginning of the reaction.
The order of addition of the acid catalyst and/or the reagent for the absorption of water is not critical; it is preferably added to the mixture of carbonyl compound II and amine G-NH2.
As solvents, use is usually made of aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane such as n-pentane, hexane such as n-hexane and isohexane, heptane such as n-heptane, octane such as n-octane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane or oxygen-comprising hydrocarbons such as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, ethylene glycol ethers, methanol, ethanol or isopropanol or mixtures thereof. Preference is given to using methanol, toluene or heptane when catalytic amounts of an acid catalyst are added. Preference is given to using ethers and in particular tetrahydrofuran when phosphorus pentoxide is added.
It has been found to be advantageous, particularly in the preparation of imine compounds of the formula Ia having halogen-comprising substituents on the aniline, to carry out the synthesis under a protective gas atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon.
The reaction is generally carried out at from 18 to 150° C., preferably from 30 to 110° C. and particularly preferably from 50 to 90° C. The reaction time is usually in the range from 30 minutes to 15 days, preferably from 5 hours to 5 days, particularly preferably from 8 hours to 3 days.
The work-up is carried out in a customary manner, e.g. by the filtering of the product before or after removing the solvent under reduced pressure. Purification of the product obtained can subsequently be carried out in the usual ways, for example by means of chromatography or recrystallization. An advantage of the reaction in aliphatic, nonaromatic solvents is the purity of the product obtained directly after filtration, which makes a further work-up unnecessary.
Carbonyl compounds of the formula II are prepared, for example, from 2,6-dibromopyridine as described in J. Organomet. Chem. 1973, 56, pp. 53-66.
The imine compound of the formula I can be reacted with carbonyl compounds of the formula V to form imine compounds of the formula IV.
We have accordingly found a process for preparing imine compounds of the formula IV,




where the variables have the following meanings:

    R1-R2 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R1-R2 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or the two radicals R1-R2 may also be joined to R3-R5 to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring,
    R3-R5 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, OR11, halogen, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R3-R5 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or two radicals R3-R5 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or two radicals R3-R5 may be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S,
    the radicals R11 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR123, where the organic radicals R11 may also be substituted by halogens and two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    the radicals R12 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring.
    G is C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C40-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radical G may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123,
    E1-E3 are each, independently of one another, carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus, in particular carbon, and
    u is 0 when E1-E3 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 when E1-E3 is carbon,

which comprises the following steps:

    a) reaction of an imine compound of the formula I,






with a metal alkyl of the formula M1AR1AX1An,

where

    M1A is Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, in particular Li,
    X1A is C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydrogen, NR2A2, OR2A, SR2A, SO3R2A, OC(O)R2A, CN, SCN, where the organic radical X1A may also be substituted by halogens,
    R1A-R2A are each C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, where the organic radicals R1A-R2A may also be substituted by halogens, and
    n is 0 when MIA is Li, Na or K and is 1 when MIA is Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba

and

    b) subsequent reaction of the product obtained from step a) with a carbonyl compound of the formula V

R3A—C(O)X2A,

where

    X2A is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, OM3A, NR4A2, OR4A, SR4A or OC(O)R4A, where the organic radical X2A may also be substituted by halogens,
    R3A is hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR4A3, where the organic radical R3A may also be substituted by halogens, and
    the radicals R4A are each, independently of one another, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R4A may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    M2A is Li, Na or K.


Preference is given to using imine compounds of the formula Ia, giving imine compounds of the formula IVa




where the variables have the following meanings:

    R1-R2 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R1-R2 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or the two radicals R1-R2 may also be joined to R3-R5 to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring,
    R3-R10 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, NR112, OR11, halogen, SiR123 or a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S, where the organic radicals R3-R10 may also be substituted by halogens, NR112, OR11 or SiR123 and/or two radicals R3-R5 or two radicals R6-R10 may also be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and/or two radicals R3-R5 or two radicals R6-R10 may be joined to one another to form a five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S,
    the radicals R11 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or SiR123, where the organic radicals R11 may also be substituted by halogens and two radicals R11 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring and
    the radicals R12 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and two radicals R12 may also be joined to form a five- or six-membered ring,
    E1-E3 are each, independently of one another, carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus, in particular carbon, and
    u is 0 when E1-E3 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 when E1-E3 is carbon.


The definition of the variables R1-R12, G and E1-E3 and their preferred embodiments is the same as given further above for the imine compounds of the formulae I and Ia.
The metal alkyls M1R1AX1An are commercially available from FlukaAldrich or can be obtained, for example, by reaction of the corresponding R1A halide with the metal M1A. Particular preference is given to lithium alkyls having a C1-C22-alkyl group, in particular a C1-C8-alkyl group, e.g. n-butyllithium or tert-butyllithium.
The halogen atom A of the imine compound I or Ia is usually replaced by M1X1An by metal-halogen exchange with the metal alkyl M1R1AX1An. Particularly suitable metal alkyls are lithium alkyls, magnesium alkyls, magnesium (alkyl) halides or mixtures thereof. The molar ratio of metal alkyl to imine compound I or Ia is usually in the range from 0.4:1 to 100:1, preferably in the range from 0.9:1 to 10:1 and particularly preferably from 0.95:1 to 1.1:1. Examples of such reactions are described, inter alia, by Furukawa et al. in Tet. Lett. 28 (1987), 5845.
As solvents in reaction step a), it is possible to use all aprotic solvents, in particular aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as n-pentane, n-hexane, isohexane, n-heptane, isoheptane, decalin, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene or xylene or ethers such as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane or diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and mixtures thereof. The reaction can be carried out at temperatures of from −100 to +160° C., in particular from −80 to 100° C. At temperatures above 40° C., preference is given to using aromatic or aliphatic solvents which contain no ethers or have only small proportions of ethers as solvents.
The product obtained from step a) can be isolated and purified or be used directly without further work-up in step b). The product obtained from step a) is preferably used in step b) without further work-up and without isolation.
As carbonyl compounds of the formula V, preference is given to using carboxamides in which X2A is NR4A2. The carbonyl compounds V are, for example, commercially available from FlukaAldrich.
The molar ratio of carbonyl compound V to imine compound I or Ia is usually in the range from 0.4:1 to 100:1, preferably in the range from 0.9:1 to 10:1 and particularly preferably from 0.95:1 to 1.1:1. Examples of such reactions are described, inter alia, by Brandsma, Preparative Polar Organic Chemistry, pp. 30-31 and pp. 142-143, Springer Verlag 1987.
As solvents in reaction step b), it is possible to use all aprotic solvents, in particular aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as n-pentane, n-hexane, isohexane, n-heptane, isoheptane, decalin, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene or xylene or ethers such as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane or diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and mixtures thereof. The reaction can be carried out at temperatures of from −100 to +160° C., in particular from −80 to 100° C. At temperatures above 40° C., preference is given to using aromatic or aliphatic solvents which contain no ethers or have only small proportions of ethers as solvents.
The process of the invention is particularly useful for anilines of the formula III having at least one halogen atom in the ortho position. Such anilines give only low yields of imine compound IV in toluene or alcohol.
The imine compounds of the formula IV or IVa obtained in this way can be reacted with further amine G-NH2 or with further aniline of the formula III to give bis(imino) compounds. This synthetic route is particularly useful for preparing unsymmetrical bis(imino) compounds.
For the present purposes, unsymmetrical bis(imino) compounds are compounds which comprise at least two imino groups whose aryl radicals are not identically substituted. This is based on the substituents or the substitution pattern of the substituents under the theoretical assumption that the aryl radicals can rotate freely.
The preparation of the unsymmetrical bis(imino) compounds from imine compounds of the formula IV or IVa and further amine G-NH2 or aniline of the formula III can be carried out under the same conditions as have been described for the process of the invention for preparing the imine compounds of the formula I or Ia.
Particularly preferred unsymmetrical bisimine compounds made from imine compounds of the formula IV are 2-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2,4-dichloro-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2,4-dichloro-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-chloro-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-chloro-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-chloro-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2,4-dibromo-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-bromo-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2-[1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl-imino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-bromo-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine and 2-[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(2-bromo-6-methylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine.
The unsymmetrical bis(imino) compounds can be reacted further to form the corresponding titanium, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, iron or cobalt complexes. These are suitable as catalysts for the polymerization of olefins.
The process of the invention enables, in particular, even anilines having electron-pulling substituents to be converted into the corresponding monoimine compounds in good yields.
The imine compounds IVa are thermodynamically very stable and can be reacted with further aniline to form the unsymmetrical bisimine compounds. If imine compounds which are not substituted by electron-pulling radicals in the ortho position are used as starting materials, a further reaction with further aniline usually leads to mixtures of various symmetrical and unsymmetrical bisimine compounds.
A further advantage is that the process is also very well suited to the preparation of commercial quantities. Furthermore, 2,6-dibromopyridine is a cheaper starting material than, for example, 2,6-diacetylpyridine.
The following experimental examples serve to illustrate the invention without restricting the scope of the invention.


EXAMPLES
Example 1
Preparation of 1-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)ethylidene](2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenyl)amine




1.00 g (0.0050 mol) of 1-acetyl-6-bromopyridine, 1.32 g (0.0085 mol) of 2,4-dimethyl-6-chloroaniline and 1 g of Sicapent were heated under reflux in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran for 7.5 hours. After cooling, the insoluble solid was filtered off and washed with tetrahydrofuran. The solvent was distilled off from the filtrate obtained in this way and the residue was purified by column chromatography (aluminum oxide, neutral) (heptane:ethyl acetate=4:1), rf=0.1. This gave 0.80 g (0.0024 mol) of the product in a yield of 48%.
Example 2
Preparation of 1-{6-[1-(2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridin-2-yl}ethanone




2.00 g (0.0059 mol) of [1-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)ethylidene](2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenyl)amine were dissolved in 25 ml of diethyl ether and cooled to −70° C. 3.70 ml (0.0059 mol) of a 1.6 M solution of butyllithium in hexane were added dropwise over a period of 15 minutes. The temperature rose to −40° C. and the mixture was stirred for another 30 minutes. The mixture was cooled to −70° C. and 0.52 g (0.0059 mol) of N,N-dimethylacetamide was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for another three hours. The reaction mixture was stirred with 5 ml of a saturated ammonium chloride solution. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with diethyl ether. The combined organic phases were dried over Na2SO4, filtered and the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. This gave 0.83 g (0.0028 mol) of the product in a yield of 47%.
Comparative Example 1
Preparation of 1-{6-[1-(2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridin-2-yl}ethanone in methanol
10 g of 2,6-diacetylpyridine (0.0613 mol), 9.54 g of 2-chloro-4,6-dimethylaniline (0.0613 mol) and 0.6 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were heated under reflux in 400 ml of methanol for 90 minutes using a water separator. The solvent was distilled off completely and the residue was recrystallized twice from 50 ml of isopropanol. This gave 0.92 g (0.0031 mol) of 1-{6-[1-(2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridin-2-yl}ethanone in a yield of 5%.
The GC/MS indicated a product purity of 72%.

## Claims

1. A process for making a 6-acetyl-(2-arylimino)pyridine, useful as an intermediate for making unsymmetric bis(arylimino)pyridines, said process comprising:
(a) reacting a 6-halo-2-acetylpyridine with an aniline in the presence of an acid catalyst and a dehydrating agent to give a 6-halo-2-(arylimino)pyridine; and
(b) converting the 6-halo-2-(arylimino)pyridine to a 6-acetyl-(2-arylimino)pyridine by metallation, acetyl transfer, and acidic workup.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the aniline has at least one halogen atom in the ortho position.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the aniline is selected from the group consisting of 2-chloroaniline, 2-bromoaniline, 2,6-dichloroaniline, 2,4-dichloro-6-methylaniline, and 2,6-dibromoaniline.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the resulting 6-acetyl-(2-arylimino) pyridine is converted to an unsymmetric bis(arylimino)pyridine.

5. A process for preparing imine compounds of the formula:



wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or C1-C22-alkyl and G is C6-C40-aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, where G may also be substituted by halogens;
said process comprising:
(a) reacting an imine compound of the formula





wherein A1 is chlorine, bromine or iodine; and R1 and G are as defined above; with a metal alkyl of the formula M1AR1A, wherein M1A is Li, Na, or K; and R1A is C1-C22-alkyl; and
(b) reacting the product from step (a) with a carbonyl compound of the formula R3A-C(O)NR4A2, where R3A is hydrogen or C1-C22-alkyl; and R4A is C1-C22-alkyl.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein M1A is Li.

7. The process of claim 4 wherein G has at least one halogen atom in the ortho position.