A theoretical study of catalytic hydration reactions of ethylene

The hydration reaction of ethylene, C₂H₄+H₂O → C₂H₅OH, catalyzed by oxoacids (H₃PO₄, H₂SO₄, and HClO₄) and metal cations (B³⁺, Al³⁺, Sc³⁺, Ga³⁺, La³⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Sr²⁺) are studied systematically by density functional theory with a BLYP functional. The reaction profiles of the main reaction and some side reactions, such as ester formation, dimerization of ethylene, and dehydrogenation of ethanol, have been determined with a variety of catalysts. In each case, the intermediate states, the transition states, and their energetics are calculated. Metal cations react more efficiently for the main reaction than oxoacids, but they also make the dehydrogenation reaction active. While the dimerization reaction is strongly affected by the acidity of the catalyst, both the acidity and basicity of the catalyst are important for the dehydrogenation reaction. Efficient formation of ethanol from ethylene over a catalyst is suggested. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 1292–1304, 2000     

Ethylene dimerization and polymerization over transition metal-exchanged montmorillonite catalysts

It has been found that dimerization of ethylene ton-butenes proceeds selectively over Ni²⁺-Mont. Over Cr³⁺-Mont, extensive polymerization occurs and the polyethylene produced shows a high melting point and density. The catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization and polymerization are closely correlated with the acidity of catalysts.     

Mechanism of the Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Formation of Strong Acid Sites in the Surface Layers of Sulfated Metal Oxides

Strong acid catalysts were synthesized by the impregnation of hydrated ZrO₂ and TiO₂ with sulfuric acid followed by thermal treatment at different temperatures. The surface acidity and crystallochemical characteristics of the catalysts were studied by potentiometry and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. It was found that the surface acidity gradually increased as the temperature of thermal treatment was increased from 350 to 600°C for SO^2– ₄/ZrO₂ or to 200°C for SO^2– ₄/TiO₂; this increase correlated with the degrees of crystallinity of the samples. A hypothesis was proposed to explain the gradual accumulation of acid sites in the surface layer in the course of thermal treatment. It was assumed that, because of crystallographic changes that caused the weakening or even rupture of Zr–O–S and Ti–O–S bonds in modified surface layers, these layers exhibited an enhanced reactivity in contact with water vapor. Subsequently, this resulted in the formation of strongly acidic grafted M–O–SO₃–H⁺ groups.     

Preparation of new dinuclear half-titanocene complexes with ortho- and meta-xylene linkages and investigation of styrene polymerization

Half-titanocene is well-known as an excellent catalyst for the preparation of SPS (syndiotactic polystyrene) when activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO). Dinuclear half-sandwich complexes of titanium bearing a xylene bridge, (TiCl₂L)₂{(μ-η⁵, η⁵-C₅H₄-ortho-(CH₂–C₆H₄–CH₂)C₅H₄}, (4 (L = Cl), 7 (L = O-2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)) and (TiCl₂L)₂{(μ-η⁵, η⁵-C₅H₄-meta-(CH₂–C₆H₄–CH₂)C₅H₄} (5 (L = Cl), 8(L = O-2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)), have been successfully synthesized and introduced for styrene polymerization. The catalysts were characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C NMR, and elemental analysis. These catalysts were found to be effective in forming SPS in combination with MAO. The activities of the catalysts with rigid ortho- and meta-xylene bridges were higher than those of catalysts with flexible pentamethylene bridges. The catalytic activity of four dinuclear half-titanocenes increased in the order of 4 < 5 < 7 < 8. This result displays that the meta-xylene bridged catalyst is more active than the ortho-xylene bridged and that the aryloxo group at the titanium center is more effective at promoting catalyst activity compared to the chloride group at the titanium center. Temperature and ratio of [Al]:[Ti] had significant effects on catalytic activity. Polymerizations were conducted at three different temperatures (25, 40, and 70 °C) with variation in the [Al]:[Ti] ratio from 2000 to 4000. It was observed that activity of the catalysts increased with increasing temperature, as well as higher [Al]:[Ti]. Different xylene linkage patterns (ortho and meta) were recognized to be a principal factor leading to the characteristics of the dinuclear catalyst due to its different spatial arrangement, causing dissimilar intramolecular interactions between the two active sites.     

Copolymerization of 2‐butene and ethylene with catalysts based on titanium and zirconium complexes

The polymerization of 2‐butene and its copolymerization with ethylene have been investigated using four kinds of dichlorobis(β‐diketonato)titanium complexes, [ArN(CH₂)₃NAr]TiCl₂ (Ar = 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) and typical metallocene catalysts. The obtained copolymers display lower melting points than those produced of homopolyethylene under the same polymerization conditions. ¹³C NMR analysis indicates that 9.3 mol‐% of 2‐butene units were incorporated into the polymer chains with Ti(BFA)₂Cl₂‐MAO as the catalyst system. With the trans‐2‐butene a higher copolymerization rate was observed than with cis‐2‐butene. A highly regioselective catalyst system for propene polymerization, [ArN(CH₂)₃NAr]TiCl₂ complex using a mixture of triisobutylaluminium and Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ as cocatalyst, was found to copolymerize a mixture of 1‐butene and trans‐2‐butene with ethylene up to 3.1 mol‐%. Monomer isomerization‐polymerization proceeds with typical metallocene catalysts to produce copolymers consisting of ethylene and 1‐butene.     

(Imido)vanadium Complexes as Efficient Catalyst Precursors for Olefin Polymerization/Oligomerization

(Arylimido)vanadium(V) complexes containing anionic ancillary donor ligands of type, V(NAr)Cl₂(L) (Ar = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃, L = aryloxo, ketimide phenoxyimine, etc.) exhibited high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of Al cocatalyst; V(NAr)Cl₂(O-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) showed the exceptionally high activities in the presence of halogenated Al alkyls such as Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, etc. (Arylimido)vanadium(V)-alkylidene complexes, V(CHSiMe₃)(NAr)(L′) (L′ = N=C ^t Bu₂, O-2,6- ⁱ Pr₂C₆H₃) exhibited the remarkable catalytic activities for ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene. (Imido)vanadium(V) complexes containing the (2-anilidomethyl)pyridine ligand, V(NR)Cl₂[2-Ar′NCH₂(C₅H₄N)] (R = 1-adamantyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, Ar′ = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃, 2,6- ⁱ Pr₂C₆H₃), exhibit the remarkable activities for ethylene dimerization in the presence of MAO, affording 1-butene exclusively (selectivity 90.4 to >99%). The steric bulk of the imido ligand plays an important role in the selectivity, and the electronic nature directly affects the activity.     

共沉淀法和浸渍法制备的HoCeMn/TiO2催化剂的脱硝性能

采用浸渍法和共沉淀法制备了Ho Ce Mn/Ti O₂脱硝催化剂并对其结构和性能进行了表征。结果表明共沉淀法增强了活性组分和载体的相互作用,从而增加了Ho Ce Mn Ti-C催化剂表面Ce³⁺、Mn⁴⁺以及吸附氧的含量,使其表现出优异的低温氧化还原性能。此外,共沉淀法制备的HoCeMnTi-C具有更多的表面酸性位点及更强的表面酸性。催化剂表面酸性和氧化还原性能的提高有助于氨的吸附和活化,从而显著提高其活性。表面酸性位点的增多还抑制了H₂O和SO₂在催化剂表面的吸附,提升了催化剂的抗水抗硫性能。催化剂上的选择性催化还原(SCR)反应遵循Eley-Rideal(E-R)机制,催化剂硫中毒是源于形成的硫酸盐覆盖或破坏了催化剂活性位。     

The effect of the nature of a modifying additive (Pt,Zn, Ga) on the activity of oxide and zeolite catalysts in ethane dehydrogenation and aromatization

The catalytic properties of Pt, Zn, and Ga deposited on supports of various natures (Al₂O₃, SiO₂, NaZSM, and HZSM) in the dehydrogenation and aromatization of ethane were investigated. Pt-containing catalysts are the most active in the conversion of ethane: the selectivity with respect to ethylene is 25–87 % depending on the nature of the support. In the presence of Zn- and Ga-containing catalysts the yield of ethylene is 2–3 times lower than with Pt-catalysts. With HZSM modified by Pt, Zn, or Ga aromatic hydrocarbons (ArH) and methane are the main products of ethane transformation. Ga/HZSM is the most efficient catalyst of the aromatization of ethane under the conditions studied (550 °C, 120 h^–1).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 606–609, April, 1994.     

共沉淀法和浸渍法制备的HoCeMn/TiO2催化剂的脱硝性能

采用浸渍法和共沉淀法制备了HoCeMn/TiO₂脱硝催化剂并对其结构和性能进行了表征。结果表明共沉淀法增强了活性组分和载体的相互作用，从而增加了 HoCeMnTi-C催化剂表面 Ce³⁺、Mn⁴⁺以及吸附氧的含量，使其表现出优异的低温氧化还原性能。此外，共沉淀法制备的HoCeMnTi-C具有更多的表面酸性位点及更强的表面酸性。催化剂表面酸性和氧化还原性能的提高有助于氨的吸附和活化，从而显著提高其活性。表面酸性位点的增多还抑制了 H₂O和 SO₂在催化剂表面的吸附，提升了催化剂的抗水抗硫性能。催化剂上的选择性催化还原(SCR)反应遵循Eley-Rideal(E-R)机制，催化剂硫中毒是源于形成的硫酸盐覆盖或破坏了催化剂活性位。     

Theoretical investigation on hydroformylation reactions: II. Hydrocarbonyliron intermediates in reppe synthesis

Extended Hückel theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the possible formation of stable π and σ complexes between olefins and some hydrocarbonylirons postulated as active catalysts in Reppe synthesis. It was found that H₂Fe(CO)₄ and HFe(CO)₄^- do not coordinate ethylene, unlike the corresponding CO deficient species H₂Fe(CO)₃ and HFe(CO)₃^-, which interact with the olefin to give stable π complexes. Moreover ethylene—H₂Fe(CO)₃ is more stable than ethylene—HFe(CO)₃^-, in line with the conclusions based on the experimental results. Stable alkyl intermediates are predicted starting from the coordinatively saturated hydrocarbonyls.     

Silane‐bridged diphosphine ligand for palladium‐catalyzed ethylene oligomerization

In this study, bis(diphenylphosphinemethyl)dimethyl silane ( L1 ) and its palladium(II) halide complex, L1 /PdCl₂ ( C1 ), were synthesized and characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of the complex revealed bidentate coordination at the Pd center. In combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co‐catalyst, C1 exhibited excellent catalytic activity and selectivity for ethylene dimerization toward butene. The maximum catalytic activity obtained from the C1 /MAO system for ethylene dimerization to yield butenes was 7.33 × 10⁵ g/(mol_Pd · h). The selectivity toward butene remained stable and high (> 96%) over the various conditions.     

Ho改性的Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂低温脱硝性能的评价和表征

作为引起酸雨、光化学烟雾、雾霾等大气污染问题的主要根源,氮氧化物(NOx)的防治已成为亟待解决的问题.选择性催化还原技术作为最成熟有效的脱硝技术,目前已经被广泛应用于各燃煤电厂.低温脱硝催化剂具有优秀的低温活性,使得脱硝装置可以安放在脱硫装置和除尘装置下游,受到了学者广泛的研究.目前低温脱硝催化剂的研究主要是对催化剂进行改性以提高催化剂的性能,已有许多研究报道了Sn、Ni、Co、Zr、Cr、Ni等对催化剂的改性影响.Ho作为一种改性元素被应用于光催化领域,能提高TiO2的光催化能力.但Ho应用于脱硝领域的研究鲜有报道,其氧化物具有酸性位点有助于脱硝反应,因此研究Ho对低温SCR催化剂的改性作用具有重要意义.本文采用浸渍法制备Ho掺杂的Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂,研究了Ho的掺杂对于Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂低温脱硝性能的影响,同时还研究了烟气中的SO2和H2O对催化剂活性的影响,并利用XPS、XRD、H2-TPR、NH3-TPD等表征方法从物理性质和化学性质两方面对Ho改性的影响机理进行了研究.研究发现,Ho的掺杂能提高Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂的脱硝能力,有助于催化剂N2选择性的提高.分析表明,Ho的掺杂有助于催化剂比表面积的提升,且能提高催化剂的酸性,有利于催化剂对NH3的吸附,从而提高催化剂的性能.XPS表征结果表明Ho掺杂后的催化剂具有更高的化学吸附氧浓度和较高的Mn4+/Mn3+比例, 使得脱硝反应更容易进行.改性后催化剂的抗水抗硫实验结果表明,Ho的掺杂能够提高催化剂的抗水抗硫性能.XRD结果表明,抗水抗硫实验后催化剂表面形成了硫酸铵盐,硫酸铵盐的形成会堵塞催化剂表面的活性位,限制脱硝反应的进行,从而影响催化剂的脱硝活性.同时,400°C下进行再生实验后的催化剂活性有所恢复,但是未能达到抗水抗硫实验前的活性,表明在抗水抗硫实验中催化剂表面形成了除硫酸铵盐以外的其他硫酸盐类.结合XPS和XRD表征结果,推断生成的盐类物质为硫酸锰和硫酸铈,从而导致再生后的催化剂的脱硝活性无法恢复到最初的活性水平.由此可以看出,硫酸盐的形成是催化剂在含硫气氛中失活的主要原因.     

Action of salt formation on the bifunctional nature of 12-molybdophosphoric acid and their relationship to the catalytic activity

The acidic properties and the catalytic activity of 12-molybdophosphates (M _x/n ⁿ⁺ H_3-x PMo₁₂O₄₀;M = Cu²⁺, Bi³⁺, Cr³⁺ andX=1–3) have been studied. The results are discussed as the effect of these catalyst components on the partial charge on oxygen atom which is in a relation with the acidity. It is shown that the oxygen-hydrogen bond is weakened as the value of partial charge on oxygen (– ₀) becomes more negative, while the vapor-phase dehydration activity of 2-propanol was explained on the basis of the reacting zone wideness taking into account the pseudo liquid phase nature of the heteropoly compounds. A correlation of the percentage conversion of 2-propanol with the fractional charge on the molybdenum atom was successful to interpret the effect of the redox properties of these catalysts on their catalytic activity.

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Auswirkung der Salzbildung auf die bifunktionelle Natur der 12-Molybdänphosphorsäure und ihre Beziehung zur katalytischen AKtivität

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die sauren Eigenschaften und die katalytische Aktivität von 12-Molybdänphosphaten (M _x/n ⁿ⁺ H_3-x PMo₁₂O₄₀;M = Cu²⁺, Bi³⁺, Cr³⁺ andX=1–3) untersucht. Die Ergebnisse werden bezüglich der Partialladung am Sauerstoffatom diskutiert, wobei gezeigt wird, daß die Sauerstoff—Wasserstoff-Bindung mit negativerem Sauerstoff schwächer wird, während die katalytische Dampfphasen-Dehydrierungsaktivität an 2-Propanol mit der Reaktionszone der pseudoflüssigen Struktur der Heteropolyverbindungen in Zusammenhang gebracht werden kann. Die Redox-Eigenschaften der Katalysatoren beim prozentuellen Umsatz der Reaktion von 2-Propanol sind direkt mit der fraktionellen Ladung am Molybdänatom zu korrelieren.

     

Synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO and H2 on SiO2 supported iron-cobalt clusters

Bimetallic catalysts (Fe+Co)/SiO₂ were prepared by impregnation of SiO₂ with solutions of carbonyl clusters [FeCo₃(CO)₁₂][(C₂H₅)₄N], [Fe₃Co(CO)₁₃][(C₂H₅)₄N], HFeCo₃(CO)₁₂, [Fe₅CoC(CO)₁₆][(C₂H₅)₄N], and Co₂(CO)₈, Fe(CO)₅. At 20 °C, no reaction occurs between the compounds supported and the surface of the support. The stability of the supported clusters to thermodecarboxylation in a hydrogen atmosphere depends on their composition and is the highest for the catalyst [FeCo₃(CO)₁₂]^–/SiO₂. The catalytic properties of supported clusters in CO hydrogenation are mostly determined by the preactivation technique. The properties of Fe-Co catalysts which were pretreated at high temperatures, are in general similar to those of standard metal catalysts. Product distribution for the same samples prepared without preactivation does not fit the Schulz-Flory equation. The catalyst HFeCo₃(CO)₁₂/SiO₂ favors the formation ofC ₁–C₁₁ hydrocarbons in the temperature range of 468–473 K; the catalyst [Fe₃Co(CO)₁₃]^–/SiO₂ gives ethylene in the temperature range of 453–473 K.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1079–1085, June, 1993.     

Mn负载量对nMnO_x/TiO_2催化剂NH_3-SCR催化性能的影响

MnO_x/TiO_2催化剂由于具有优异的低温脱硝性能,已成为SCR催化剂的研究热点之一.我们通过浸渍法制备了一系列不同Mn负载量的nMnO_x/TiO_2(n=2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%)(质量分数)催化剂,考察Mn负载量对催化剂脱硝性能的影响.利用N_2物理吸附, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM),Temperature Programmed Reduction with H_2(H_2-TPR),Temperature Programmed Desorption with NH_3(NH_3-TPD)和X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)对其结构进行表征.结果表明,催化剂的脱硝性能随着Mn负载量(2.5%～15%)(质量分数)的变化呈现"火山型"曲线,当Mn负载量为10%(质量分数)时,催化剂的脱硝性能最佳. H_2-TPR和XPS结果表明nMnO_x/TiO_2催化剂上表面氧比例和表面Mn~(4+)浓度均随着Mn负载量的增大,先增大后减小,具体顺序为10MnO_x/TiO_(2 ) 15MnO_x/TiO_(2 )5MnO_x/TiO_(2 ) 2.5MnO_x/TiO_2,与脱硝性能顺序完全一致.进一步关联表面氧的比例与T_(50)发现,催化剂的表面氧的比例与T_(50)呈线性关系,即表面氧比例越高, T_(50)越小,脱硝活性越高. NH_3-TPD结果表明,弱酸酸量的增加有助于低温脱硝活性的提高.这些结果揭示了Mn负载量影响脱硝性能的作用规律,为今后开发高效的锰基低温脱硝催化剂提供了技术支撑.     

Copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene with TiCl4/MgCl2 catalysts modified by 2,6-diisopropylphenol

A supported TiCl4/MgCl2 catalyst without internal electron donor (O-cat) was prepared firstly. Then it was modified by 2,6-diisopropylphenol to make a novel modified catalyst (M-cat). These two catalysts were used to catalyze ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization and 1-hexene homopolymerization. The influence of cocatalyst and hydrogen on the catalytic behavior of these two catalysts was investigated. In ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization, the introduction of 2,6-iPr2C6H3O-groups did not deactivate the supported TiCl4/MgCl2 catalyst. Although the 1-hexene incorporation in ethylene/1-hexene copolymer prepared by M-cat was lower than that prepared by O-cat, the composition distribution of the former was narrower than that of the latter. Methylaluminoxane (MAO) was a more effective activator for M-cat than triisobutyl-aluminium (TIBA). MAO led to higher yield and more uniform chain structure. In 1-hexene homopolymerization, the presence of 2,6-iPr2C6H3O-groups lowered the propagation rate constants. Two types of active centers with a chemically bonded 2,6-iPr2C6H3O-group were proposed to explain the observed phenomena in M-cat.     

Acid-Base Properties and Prototropic Tautomerism of Isomeric 1,2,4-Triazin-3- and -5-ones

The acidity and basicity constants of isomeric phenyl(aryl)-1,2,4-triazin-3- and -5-ones in aqueous solution were determined by spectrophotometry: pK _a = 7.3–6.2; pK _BH+= 0.1 to –2.2. 1,2,4-Triazin-3-ones are weaker bases than the corresponding 1,2,4-triazin-5-ones. According to the AM1 calculations, the most thermodynamically favorable tautomer in the gas phase is the oxo form: namely, 2H-tautomers of the neutral bases and 2,4-H,H ⁺-tautomers of the conjugate acids.     

Bismuthiol II as an analytical reagent

Summary The estimation of bismuth by the reagent Bismuthiol II is studied critically. The effect of acidity, reagent concentration and interfering ions are given in detail. The maximum acidity that may be tolerated for the complete precipitation of bismuth is 0.3 N in nitric acid, 0.5 N in hydrochloric acid and 1N in sulphuric acid. Higher acidity than 0.1 N decomposes the reagent present in excess. In 0.1 N nitric acid bismuth has been separated from a number of ions like Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Th⁴⁺, rare earths, Zr⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺, UO₂ ²⁺, Be²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mg, alkalis and alkaline earths, SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–, C₂O₄ ^2–- and from Fe²⁺ and Ce³⁺ in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. In presence of a citrate or a tartrate it can be separated from As³⁺, Ce⁴⁺, MoO₄ ^2–- and WO₄ ^2–-at p_H 1.5 to 2.5. When Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Pd²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺ and Tl⁺ are present they are first precipitated by the reagent at p_H 6 to 8 in presence of a citrate or a tratrate and the bismuth is estimated gravimetrically in the acidified filtrate. Ions as F^– and PO₄ ^3– that form insoluble compounds with bismuth, Sb³⁺ and Sn²⁺ that form less soluble compounds with the reagent and Fe³⁺, VO₃ ^–, CrO₄ ^2–, AsO₄ ^3– that act as oxidising agents, interfere.     

RE/TiO2光催化剂的谱学特性与气相光催化性能的研究

采用改进的sol-gel法和浸渍法制备了TiO₂掺杂稀土离子La³⁺、Y³⁺、Gd³⁺、Er³⁺、Nd³⁺、Pr³⁺的RE/TiO₂光催化剂,运用FTIR、XRD、TEM、低温氮吸附/脱附、TG/DTA、UV-Vis DRS、表面光电压谱(SPS)等进行表征,以气相光催化降解乙烯、溴代甲烷作为探针反应,阐明了RE/TiO₂光催化剂的谱学特性与气相光催化性能的关系。结果显示,稀土离子掺杂后,TiO₂的锐钛矿含量增加,比表面积增大,粒径变小,吸收边发生蓝移,表面光电压的响应阈值增大,此外,Pr³⁺除外的其它稀土离子掺杂的TiO₂的表面光电压信号增强;光催化降解实验表明,与纯TiO₂相比,La³⁺、Y³⁺、Gd³⁺、Er³⁺、Nd³⁺掺杂TiO₂样品上乙烯、溴代甲烷的光催化活性均有不同程度的增强,而且表现出较强的矿化能力。但是,掺杂Pr³⁺的TiO₂的光催化性能降低恰好对应较弱的表面光电压信号。所以,本文认为提高光生电子-空穴对的分离效率是改善光催化性能的关键因素。     

Copolymerization of ethylene with cyclopentene or 2‐butene with half titanocenes‐based catalysts

Half titanocenes (CpCH₂CH₂O)TiCl₂ (1), (CpCH₂CH₂OCH₃)TiCl₃ (2), and CpTiCl₃ (3), activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) were tested in copolymerization of ethylene with internal olefins such as cyclopentene. All the catalysts were able to give incorporation of cyclopentene in polyethylene matrix. ¹³C NMR analysis of obtained copolymers showed that the catalytic systems have low regiospecificity. In fact, in ethylene–cyclopentene copolymers, cyclic olefin inserts with both 1,2 and 1,3‐enchainment. X‐ray powder diffraction analysis of these copolymers confirmed that 1,2 inserted cyclopentene units are excluded from crystalline phase, whereas 1,3‐cyclopentene units are included, giving rise to expansion of unit cell of crystalline polyethylene. Titanium‐based catalysts were investigated also in the copolymerization of ethylene with E and Z‐2‐butene. Only complex (1) was able to give copolymers and ¹³C NMR analysis of products showed 2‐3, 1‐3, and 1‐2 insertion of 2‐butene. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis displayed that ethylene–cyclopentene, as well as ethylene‐2‐butene, copolymers are crystalline and their melting point decreases by increasing the comonomer content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4725–4733, 2008