Schiff's base condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-R-phenol and 4,4"-diamino-3,3",5,5"-R'₄-o-terphenyl affords 34-membered macrocyclic tetraiminodiphenol compounds, o-C_(6)H₄{(R'₂C_(6)H₂)-N=CH-[RC_(6)H₂(OH)]-HC=N(R'₂C_(6)H₂)}₂(o-C_(6)H₄) (R = H and R' = iPr, 1; R = Me and R' = iPr, 2; R = F and R' = iPr, 3; R = Me and R' = Et, 4; R = F and R' = Et, 5) in good yields (47-62%), from which dinuclear nickel complexes, o-C_(6)H₄{[(R'₄C_(6)H₂)-N=CH-(RC_(6)H₂-O)-HC=N(R'₂C_(6)H₂)-k²-N,O]Ni(μ1-CH₂Ph)(PMe₃)}₂(o-C_(6)H₄) (R = H and R' = iPr, 6; R = Me and R' = iPr, 7; R = F and R' = iPr, 8) are prepared. Molecular structures of 2, dipotassium salt of 1, and 7 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Addition of B(C_(6)F_(5))₃ to a toluene solution of 6-8 gives insoluble precipitates which show good activity for ethylene polymerization.
