Ethylene polymerization studies with supported cyclopentadienyl,arene, and allyl chromium catalysts

Highly active catalysts for low pressure ethylene polymerization are formed when chromocene, bis (benzene)- or bis (cumene)-chromium or tris- or bis (allyl)-chromium compounds are deposited on high surface area silica-alumina or silica supports. Each catalyst type shows its own unique behavior in preparation, polymerization, activity, isomerization, and response to hydrogen as a chain transfer agent. The arene chromium compounds require an acidic support (silicaalumina) or thermal aging with silica to form a highly active catalyst. At 90°C polymerization temperature arene chromium catalysts produced high molecular weight polyethylene and showed, in contrast to supported chromocene catalysts, a much lower response to hydrogen as a chain transfer agent. An increase in polymerization temperature caused a significant decrease in polymer molecular weight. Addition of cyclopentadiene to supported bis (cumene)-chromium catalyst led to a new catalyst which showed a chain transfer response to hydrogen typical of a supported chromocene catalyst. Polymerization activity with tris- or bis (allyl)-chromium appears to depend on the divalent chromium content in the catalyst. Changes in the silica dehydration temperature of supported allyl chromium catalyst have a significant effect on the resulting polymer molecular weight. High molecular weight polymers were formed with catalysts that were prepared using silica dehydration temperatures below about 400°C. Dimers, trimers, and oligomers of ethylene were usually formed with catalysts that were prepared on silica dehydrated much above 400°C. The order of activity of the different types of catalysts was chromocene/silica > chromocene/silica-alumina > bis (arene)-chromium/silica-alumina ? allyl chromium/silica.     

Chemistry of olefin polymerization reactions with chromium‐based catalysts

Detailed GC analysis of oligomers formed in ethylene homopolymerization reactions, ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization reactions, and homo‐oligomerization reactions of 1‐hexene and 1‐octene in the presence of a chromium oxide and an organochromium catalyst is carried out. A combination of these data with the analysis of ¹³C NMR and IR spectra of the respective high molecular weight polymerization products indicates that the standard olefin polymerization mechanism, according to which the starting chain end of each polymer molecule is saturated and the terminal chain end is a C?C bond (in the absence of hydrogen in the polymerization reactions), is also applicable to olefin polymerization reactions with both types of chromium‐based catalysts. The mechanism of active center formation and polymerization is proposed for the reactions. Two additional features of the polymerization reactions, co‐trimerization of olefins over chromium oxide catalysts and formation of methyl branches in polyethylene chains in the presence of organochromium catalysts, also find confirmation in the GC analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5330–5347, 2008     

A chemical study of thermally activated chromic titanate on silica ethylene polymerization catalysts

Thermally activated ethylene polymerization catalysts which contain chromium and titanium on silica differ from those catalysts which contain only chromium on silica. The characteristics of chromium-titanium catalysts vary with the method of incorporating the titanium and the thermal activation procedure. Titanated catalysts of the kind examined in this article have faster initiation and a higher polymerization rate per unit catalyst weight than corresponding catalysts without titanium. High-density polyethylene produced by this type of titanium-chromium catalyst tends to have a higher melt index and a broader molecular weight distribution than polyethylene made with chromium on silica catalysts. Iodometric titration showed that reduction from the initial hexavalent chromium to trivalent occurs when the dry, catalyst starting material is treated with titanium tetraisopropoxide. A study of the reaction between chromium trioxide and titanium tetraisopropoxide in carbon tetrachloride revealed that (1) it is not necessary to have a reaction between surface silanols and titanium tetraisopropoxide for the reduction to occur, and (2) the reaction product has an absorption near 660 nm in the visible range. Comparison of spectra showed that chromium trioxide on silica reduced by isopropyl alcohol has a shifted absorption, i.e., 600 nm. These findings are interpreted to mean that titanium atoms come sufficiently close to chromium atoms to change their electron density in the starting material and remain close neighbors in the activated catalysts. The interpretation is further supported by ESCA data and leads to the proposal that in this case the activated catalysts contain titanium chromate structures.     

SIMULATION MODELING ON THE COORDINATION MECHANISM OF ETHYLENE MONOMER ON VARIOUS PREREDUCED Cr(II)Ox/SiO2 PHILLIPS POLYETHYLENE MODEL CATALYSTS

As one of the most important catalysts in polyethylene industry,Phillips catalyst(CrOx/SiO2) was quite unique for its activation by ethylene monomer without using any activator like alkyl-aluminium or MAO.In this Work.the density functional theory (DFT) calculation combined with paired interacting orbitals(PIO) method was applied for the theoretical studies on coordination reaction mechanism between ethylene monomer and two model catalysts namely Cr(II)(OH)2(M1) and silsesquioxane-supported Cr(II)(M2) as surface Cr(II) active site precursors on Phillips catalyst at the early stage of ethylene polymerization.Unexpected multiplicity of the coordination states of ethylene monomer on both M1 and M2 model catalysts had been first reported on a molecular level.In general,increasing the coordination numbers of ethylene.the corresponding binding energy per ethylene for all the complexes was decreased.The supporting eflfect of chromium oxide onto silica gel surface was found to be destabilizing the corresponding complexes and decreasing the multiplicity of the coordination states as well due to both electronic and steric effect.Moreover.tri-and tetra-or higher ethylene coordination states could not be possibly formed on the supported catalyst as on the Cr(II)(OH)2.The optimized complex geometries were adopted for determining the intermolecular orbital interactions.In-phase overlap orbiral interaction for all the molecular complexes indicated favorable coordination between ethylene and Cr(II)sites.The molecular orbital origin of the π-bonded Cr(II),and mono-and di-C2H4 M1 complexes had been elucidated by PIO method showing high possibility of the formation of metallacyclopropane or metallacyclopentane active sites in the subsequent initiation of polymerization stage.     

烯烃配位聚合催化剂的研究进展

较全面地综述了配位聚合催化剂和聚合机理的研究进展:高效Ziegler-Natta催化剂催化丙烯、乙烯等烯烃高效聚合,可合成多种高性能聚烯烃,等规聚丙烯的等规度大于98.5%,不同结构和性能的聚乙烯包括线性低密度聚乙烯(LLDPE)、超低密度聚乙烯(VLDPE)、中密度聚乙烯(MDPE)、高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)、双/宽峰分布聚乙烯、超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)和超低密度双/宽峰分布聚乙烯等;茂金属催化剂催化苯乙烯、乙烯、丙烯、1-丁烯等烯烃的均聚合和共聚合,并概括了其聚合机理;非茂金属催化剂合成多组分、多立体结构嵌段的聚烯烃,极性聚烯烃及超支化聚烯烃等,介绍了链行走和链穿梭机理。展望了配位聚合的发展趋势,认为聚合过程的环境友好、产品使用过程的环境友好、聚烯烃的高性能化和功能化是从事配位聚合工作的全体人员努力的方向。     

Activation processes and polyethylene formation on a phillips model catalyst studied by laser ablation, laser desorption, and static secondary ion mass spectrometry

Since the discovery of the Phillips catalysts, there still is much uncertainty concerning their activation, their molecular structure, the nature of the active chromium sites, and the polymerization mechanisms. Surface techniques are not easy to be used for such study according to the nonconductive behavior of the support. Therefore, model Phillips catalyst is elaborated by spin coating a trivalent chromium precursor on a silicon wafer. The surface characterization of this model catalyst is conducted by laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MS), laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS), and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (s-SIMS), at different steps of its preparation. To validate our approach, a comparison is also made between the model and the real Philips catalyst. Moreover, the model catalyst efficiency for polyethylene synthesis is evaluated and allows us to discuss the validity of the mechanisms previously proposed to explain the catalytic process. The characterization of Phillips model catalyst by mass spectrometry allows us to better understand the activation processes of such catalyst. Depending on the activation temperature, chromium oxide species are formed and anchored at the support surface. They consist mainly in mono-chromium sites at high temperature. The chromium valence is hexavalent. This model catalyst is active for the polymerization of ethylene. A pseudo-oligomer molecular weight distribution is observed by LA-MS, whereas s-SIMS allows us to elucidate the anchorage of the polymer at activate chromium surface sites.     

Supported bis(indenyl)– and bis(fluorenyl)–chromium catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Silica-supported bis(indenyl)– and bis(fluorenyl)–chromium catalysts show good activity in ethylene polymerization. For maximum productivity with the indenyl chromium catalyst, the silica must be dried, with higher dehydration temperatures giving a significant increase in polymerization activity. Less deactivation on thermal aging of the supported bis(indenyl)–chromium catalyst allows ethylene polymerization to proceed for many hours, which provides polyethylenes of low residual chromium content. In contrast to the behavior of supported chromocene catalysts, the indenyl–and fluorenyl–chromium catalysts require a higher hydrogen/ethylene ratio to achieve a specific polymer melt index. Nevertheless, highly saturated polyethylenes are produced with these new catalysts. This result indicates that chain transfer to hydrogen remains the major chain transfer reaction. Addition of cyclopentadiene to a supported indenyl–chromium catalyst provided a catalyst with a much higher transfer response to hydrogen. This result suggests that ligand exchange occurred, producing a supported chromocene catalyst. These overall results are consistent with an active-site model which comprises a supported divalent chromium center attached to an indenyl or fluorenyl ligand during the polymerization process. Polymerization is believed to occur by a coordinated anionic mechanism of the type previously discussed for a supported chromocene catalyst.     

MgCl_2/AlEt_n(OEt)_(3-n)负载单茂钛催化剂催化乙烯聚合研究

以MgCl2/AlEtn(OEt)3-n为载体,分别负载五甲基茂基三氯化钛(Cp*TiCl3)和五甲基茂基三苄氧基钛(Cp*Ti(OBz)3),得到两种负载催化剂,在较廉价的AlEt2Cl为助催化剂常压下可以高效地催化乙烯聚合.报道了载体的制备、聚合条件(不同的烷基铝助催化剂、聚合温度、铝钛摩尔比)对催化剂的聚合行为以及聚合物结构的影响.研究结果表明,两种负载催化体系对乙烯聚合具有较高的催化活性,可达105g PE/(molTi·h)数量级,所得聚乙烯的黏均分子量在105以上.经过13C-NMR和DSC分析,两种负载催化剂得到的均为线型聚乙烯.与均相催化剂相比,负载后的单茂钛催化体系的聚合反应动力学表现高效而平稳.这表明载体的微孔结构使活性中心得到了有效的分散,有效地提高了催化剂的活性,同时载体的受限空间有效抑制了聚乙烯增长链的β-H消除反应.     

Bimetallic Chromium Catalysts with Chain Transfer Agents: A Route to Isotactic Poly(propylene oxide)s with Narrow Dispersities

Bimetallic chromium catalysts are investigated for the enantioselective polymerization of propylene oxide. The catalyst is composed of two salen chromium species linked by an alkyl chain, the length of which significantly impacts the rate of polymerization. While the use of a chloride initiator on the catalyst resulted in bimodal molecular weight distributions, switching to a trifluoroacetate initiating group and adding a diol chain transfer agent afforded polymers of controllable molecular weight with low, unimodal dispersities.     

双组分茂金属催化剂催化乙烯聚合的研究

选择能形成支链的不对称桥联茂金属化合物Me2 C[(Cp) (Ind) ]ZrCl2 和非桥联的不同结构的茂金属化合物二氯二 (烯基取代环戊二烯 )锆如 ( Cp) 2 ZrCl2 ,(Cp) 2 ZrCl2 和 (Cp) 2 ZrCl2 ,以MAO为助催化剂 ,分别组成三组双组分茂金属催化剂的催化体系 ,催化乙烯聚合 .结果表明 ,两类催化剂组成的双组分茂金属催化体系催化乙烯聚合能得到支化的宽分子量分布的聚乙烯 ;聚合温度和改变两种茂金属催化剂的摩尔比对催化活性和分子量有很大影响 .因此可以利用改变双组分茂金属催化剂的摩尔比例和聚合温度来调控聚合物的分子量和分子量分布 .改变两种茂金属催化剂的摩尔比和聚合温度也能使聚合物的结晶度发生改变     

A Flat Model Approach to Tethered Bis(imino)pyridyl Iron Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts

A surface science model for a silica supported bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes is applied to reveal the surface chemistry of these heterogeneous polymerization catalysts. The polymerization activity of these models and the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer are comparable to similar catalysts supported on amorphous silica. The catalyst deactivates partially during the first hour of ethylene polymerization. Based on photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) we attribute this deactivation to iron extrusion by the aluminium alkyl activator.     

Characterization of a model Phillips catalyst by mass spectrometry

A model Phillips catalyst for ethylene polymerization, prepared by spin coating a Cr(III)(Cr(acac)3) precursor on a silicon wafer, was submitted to an oxidative activation. Laser ablation Fourier transform mass spectrometry provided direct information on molecular species at the silicon wafer surface during activation. At 350 degrees C the chromium precursor was degraded, while chromium oxide species were formed. The chromium concentration decreased with temperature. The activated model catalyst was active for ethylene polymerization. Using complementary techniques (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), the polymer was identified as crystalline polyethylene. After 1 h of polymerization at 160 degrees C, dome-like structures were observed by atomic force microscopy. Their morphologies were constituted of regions of parallel aligned lamellae of polymer.     

The CrOx/SiO2/Si(100) catalyst – a surface science approach to supported olefin polymerization catalysis

Depositing catalytically active particles onto flat, thin and oxidic support forms an attractive way to make supported catalyst suitable for surface science characterization. Here we show how this approach has been applied to the Phillips (CrO_x/SiO₂) ethylene polymerization catalyst. The model catalyst shows a respectable polymerization activity after thermal activation in dry air (calcination). Combining the molecular information from X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) we can draw a molecular level of the activated catalyst that features exclusively monochromate species, which are anchored to the silica support via ester bonds with the surface silanol groups. These surface chromates form the active polymerization site upon contact with ethylene. Upon increasing calcination temperature we observe a decrease in chromium coverage as some of the surface chromate desorbs from the silica surface. Nevertheless, we also find an increasing polymerization activity of the model catalyst. We attribute this increase in catalytic activity to the isolation of the supported chromium, which prevents dimerization of the coordinatively unsaturated active site. Diluting the amount of chromium to 200 Cr‐atoms/nm² of silica surface enables the visualisation of polyethylene produced by a single active site.     

Synthesis of polyethylene with bimodal molecular weight distribution by supported iron‐based catalyst

Through immobilization of two iron‐based complexes, [((2,6‐MePh)N = C(Me))₂C₅H₃N]FeCl₂ ( 1 ) and [((2,6‐iPrPh)N = C(Me))₂C₅H₃N]FeCl₂ ( 2 ), on SiO₂ pretreated with tetraethylaluminoxane (TEAO), two supported iron‐based catalysts, 1 /TEAO/SiO₂ ( 3 ) and 2 /TEAO/SiO₂ ( 4 ), were prepared. These two supported catalysts 3 and 4 could be used to catalyze ethylene polymerization with moderate polymerization activity and prepare linear high‐density polyethylene with bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD). It was demonstrated that immobilization of catalyst could significantly improve molecular weight (MW) of high‐MW fraction of the resultant polyethylene, as well as maintain bimodal MWD of polyethylene produced by the corresponding homogeneous catalysts. Such bimodal MWD of polyethylene produced by supported iron‐based catalysts could be well tailored by varying polymerization conditions, such as ethylene pressure and molar ratio of Al to Fe. It has been proven that TEAO is an efficient activator for both homogeneous and heterogeneous iron‐based catalysts for producing polyethylene with bimodal MWD. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5662–5669, 2004     

核壳结构Ziegler-Natta复合催化剂的制备及其乙烯聚合

采用溶胶-凝胶法,将聚(苯乙烯-co-丙烯酸)(PSA)膜材料和氯化镁的复合物包覆在以硅胶为载体的TiCl3催化剂上,负载TiCl4后制得Ziegler-Natta复合催化剂.采用红外光谱、激光粒度仪和扫描电镜对催化剂进行了表征,结果表明该复合催化剂呈核壳结构.同时,考察了复合催化剂中膜的厚度和反应中的氢气含量对催化剂的聚合活性和聚乙烯性能的影响,实验发现,膜厚约为3μm的核壳结构复合催化剂活性良好,其具有带诱导期的平稳型动力学曲线;膜厚1.5μm的复合催化剂的活性接近于实验所用的以硅胶为载体的TiCl3催化剂,且其具有相似的衰减型动力学曲线.研究同时表明,不同的膜厚能够调节复合催化剂的氢调性能及所得聚乙烯的分子量分布.     

Performance of the Cr[CH(SiMe3)2]3/SiO2 catalyst for ethylene polymerization compared with the performance of the Phillips catalyst

The catalysis of a silica‐supported chromium system {Cr[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₃/SiO₂} was compared with a silica‐supported chromium oxide catalyst, the Phillips catalyst (CrO₃/SiO₂). This catalyst was prepared by the calcining of the typical silica support used for the Phillips catalyst at 600 °C and by the support of tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]chromium(III) {Cr[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₃} on the silica. In the slurry‐phase polymerization, this catalyst conducted the polymerization of ethylene at a high activity without organoaluminum compounds as cocatalysts or scavengers. The activity per Cr was about 6–7 times higher than that of the Phillips catalyst. Upon the introduction of hydrogen to the system, the molecular weight of polyethylene did not change with the Phillips catalyst, but it decreased with the Cr[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₃/SiO₂ catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 413–419, 2003     

Synthesis of LPPE by gas-phase copolymerization of ethylene with 1-butene: A highly efficient chromium oxide supported catalyst

A modified chromium oxide supported catalyst has been developed and applied in industry for the manufacture of LPPE via the gas-phase (co)polymerization of ethylene. The catalyst contains surface chromium oxide in the oxidation number Cr²⁺, two modifiers (aluminum oxide and fluorine surface compounds), and silicon dioxide as a support. The activity of the new chromium oxide catalyst in the gas-phase copolymerization of ethylene with 1-butene is higher by a factor of 4–5 than that of the traditional commercial catalytic system based on the supported bis(triphenylsilylchromate) catalyst. An increased reactivity of 1-butene in its copolymerization with ethylene in the presence of the chromium oxide catalyst makes it possible to reduce the consumption of 1-butene in the synthesis of a linear medium-density PE (0.937–0.938 g/cm³). Gas pipes made of PE prepared with the new catalyst are characterized by improved resistance to crack propagation.     

Theoretical evaluation of ethylene insertion into chromium alkyl bonds of Cp-donor-based olefin polymerization catalysts

We propose routes for the catalytic cycle and possible termination reactions for the polymerization of ethylene with cationic chromium complexes of the type [CpCr(L)R](+) which contain donor ligands with phosphorus or nitrogen (L = PR(3) or NR(3)). We confirm the rate-determining character of the insertion of ethylene into the chromium-alkyl bond. Contrary to the situation with late transition metals, the resulting agostic isomers will readily isomerize. The termination of the polymerization reaction by β-hydrogen elimination to the chromium center and subsequent dissociation of the resulting olefin is found to require about 25 kcal/mol and to be thermodynamically much less feasible than the alternative termination process by β-hydrogen transfer to a monomer. The latter process involves spin change; two minimum-energy crossing points as well as further transition states and intermediates have been identified. Our calculations predict that adduct formation with the polymerization additive 9-BBN should be feasible both from a Cp-quinoline-based chromium catalyst and a zirconocene catalyst. However, only the latter undergoes exergonic chain transfer, which is in accordance with the experimentally observed formation of ultrahigh M(W) polyethylene when using 9-BBN as polymerization additive in combination with Cr catalysts. For the first time, quantum dynamics simulations of such open-shell systems have been performed, which give a lifetime of the Cr-alkyl complex with regard to ethylene insertion of only 500 fs. The simulations indicate that the dissociation of ethylene from the chromium center should be relatively insignificant compared to migratory insertion.     

Influence of Polyethylene Glycol Unit on Palladium‐ and Nickel‐Catalyzed Ethylene Polymerization and Copolymerization

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed copolymerization of olefins with polar functionalized co‐monomers represents a major challenge in the field of olefin polymerization. It is extremely difficult to simultaneously achieve improvements in catalytic activity, polar monomer incorporation, and copolymer molecular weight through ligand modifications. Herein we introduce a polyethylene glycol unit to some phosphine‐sulfonate palladium and nickel catalysts, and its influence on ethylene polymerization and copolymerization is investigated. In ethylene polymerization, this strategy leads to enhanced activity, catalyst stability, and increased polyethylene molecular weight. In ethylene copolymerization with polar monomers, improvements in all copolymerization parameters are realized. This effect is most significant for polar monomers with hydrogen‐bond‐donating abilities.     

Supported Chromium Oxide Catalyst for Olefin Polymerization. XI. Comparison between Ethylene and Propylene Polymerization

It is shown that the new model of an active site of chromium oxide catalyst supported on silica-alumina, previously proposed for ethylene polymerization, is also valid for propylene polymerization. The new model involves a set of three chromium atoms with different oxidation degrees located at the border of the flat chromium oxide domains spread onto the support. The main differences between the behavior of the two monomers are caused by the much higher reducing power of the propylene and also by its mode of adsorption which is stronger. Some copolymerization experiments are described.