Copolymerization of propylene with 1,3‐butadiene using isospecific zirconocene catalysts

Poly(propylene‐ran‐1,3‐butadiene) was synthesized using isospecific zirconocene catalysts and converted to telechelic isotactic polypropylene by metathesis degradation with ethylene. The copolymers obtained with isospecific C₂‐symmetric zirconocene catalysts activated with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) had 1,4‐inserted butadiene units ( 1,4‐BD ) and 1,2‐inserted units ( 1,2‐BD ) in the isotactic polypropylene chain. The selectivity of butadiene towards 1,4‐BD incorporation was high up to 95% using rac‐dimethylsilylbis(1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride (Cat‐A)/MMAO. The molar ratio of propylene to butadiene in the feed regulated the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) and the butadiene contents of the polymer produced. Metathesis degradations of the copolymer with ethylene were conducted with a WCI₆/SnMe₄/propyl acetate catalyst system. The ¹H NMR spectra before and after the degradation indicated that the polymers degraded by ethylene had vinyl groups at both chain ends in high selectivity. The analysis of the chain scission products clarified the chain end structures of the poly(propylene‐ran‐1,3‐butadiene). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5731–5740, 2007     

Composition distribution of ethylene or propylene–norbornene copolymers obtained with zirconocene catalysts

Copolymerization of ethylene or propylene and norbornene (NB) was carried out with stereospecific zirconocene catalysts rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride, rac‐dimethylsilylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 2 ), rac‐dimethylsilylenebis(2‐methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride, and diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(9‐fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride combined with cocatalysts at 40 °C. Temperature‐rising elution fractionation of the copolymers was carried out with cross‐fractionation chromatography with o‐dichlorobenzene as a solvent, and a broad distribution of the copolymer composition was detected. The fraction eluted at lower temperature contained higher NB. The effect of the polymerization time was examined in the ethylene–NB copolymerization with catalyst 2 , and the higher‐temperature elution fraction increased with increasing polymerization time. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 441–448, 2003     

THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTITUENTS IN METALLOCENE ON PROPYLENE POLYMERIZATION*

Two new unbridged zirconocenes, bis(2,4,7-trimethyl indenyl)zirconium dichloride (Met-Ⅰ) andbis(2-methyl-4,7-diethyl indenyl)zirconium dichloride (Met-Ⅱ) were prepared in order to investigate thesteric effects of substituents on the nature of the catalysts for the polymerization of propylene. A mixture ofmethyl aluminoxane (MAO) and triisobutylaluminum [Al(iBu)_3] was used as cocatalyst to activate thesecatalysts. The decrease in steric bulkiness of substituents at 4 and 7 positions of the indenyl ring resulted inan increase of both activity and molecular weight as well as the isotacticity.     

Long‐chain‐branched polyethene by the copolymerization of ethene and nonconjugated α,ω‐dienes

Ethene was copolymerized (1) with 1,5‐hexadiene with rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (MAO) used as a catalyst and (2) with 1,7‐octadiene with bis(n‐butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO and rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)hafnium dichloride (Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂)/MAO used as catalysts at 80 °C in toluene. The copolymer microstructure and the influence of diene incorporation on the rheological properties were examined. Ethene and 1,5‐hexadiene formed a copolymer in which a major fraction of the 1,5‐hexadiene was incorporated into rings and a small fraction formed 1‐butenyl branches. The copolymerization of ethene with 1,7‐octadiene resulted in a higher selectivity toward branch formation. Some of the branches formed long‐chain‐branching (LCB) structures. The ring formation selectivity increased with decreasing ethene concentration in the polymerization reactor. Melt rheological properties of the diene copolymers resembled those of metallocene‐catalyzed LCB homopolyethenes and depended on the vinyl content, the catalyst, and the polymerization conditions. At high diene contents, all three catalysts produced crosslinked polyethene. This was especially pronounced with Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂, where only 0.2 mol % 1,7‐octadiene in the copolymer was required to achieve significantly modified rheological properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3805–3817, 2001     

Highly active copolymerization of ethylene with 10‐undecen‐1‐ol using phenoxy‐based zirconium/methylaluminoxane catalysts

Activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), phenoxy‐based zirconium complexes bis[(3‐^tBu‐C₆H₃‐2‐O)‐CH?NC₆H₅]ZrCl₂, bis[(3,5‐di‐^tBu‐C₆H₂‐2‐O)‐PhC?NC₆H₅] ZrCl₂, and bis[(3,5‐di‐^tBu‐C₆H₂‐2‐O)‐PhC?N(2‐F‐C₆H₄)]ZrCl₂ for the first time have been used for the copolymerization of ethylene with 10‐undecen‐1‐ol. In comparison with the conventional metallocene, the phenoxy‐based zirconium complexes exhibit much higher catalytic activities [>10⁷ g of polymer (mol of catalyst)^?1 h^?1]. The incorporation of 10‐undecen‐1‐ol into the copolymers and the properties of the copolymers are strongly affected by the catalyst structure. Among the three catalysts, complex c is the most favorable for preparing higher molecular weight functionalized polyethylene containing a higher content of hydroxyl groups. Studies on the polymerization conditions indicate that the incorporated commoner content in the copolymers mainly depends on the comonomer concentration in the feed. The catalytic activity is slightly affected by the Al_(MAO)/Zr molar ratio but decreases greatly with an increase in the polymerization temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5944–5952, 2005     

Copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile promoted by novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands

A series of novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands was synthesized by the treatment of phthaldialdehyde, substituted phenol with TiCl₄, ZrCl₄, and YCl₃ in THF. The structures and properties of the catalysts were characterized by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. These catalysts were used for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile after activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The effects of copolymerization temperature, Al/M (M = Ti, Zr, and Y) ratio in mole, concentrations of catalyst and comonomer on the polymerization behaviors were investigated in detail. These results revealed that these catalysts were favorable for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile. Cat. 3 was the most favorable one for the copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile, and the catalytic activity was up to 2.19 × 10⁴ g PE/mol.Ti.h under the conditions: polymerization temperature of 50 °C, Al/Ti molar ratio of 300, catalyst concentration of 1.0 × 10^–4 mol/L, and toluene as solvent. The resultant polymer was characterized by FTIR, cross‐polarization magic angle spinning, ¹³C NMR, WAXD, GPC, and DSC. The results confirmed that the obtained copolymer featured high‐weight–average molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution about 1.61–1.95, and high‐acrylonitrile incorporation up to 2.29 mol %. Melting temperature of the copolymer depended on the content of acrylonitrile incorporation within the copolymer chain. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Olefin terpolymerizations. III. Symmetry,sterics, and monomer structure in ansa-zirconocenium catalysis of EPDM synthesis

Ethylenebis (η⁵-fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride ( 1 ) and rac-dimethylsilylene bis (1-η⁵-in-denyl) zirconium dichloride ( 2 ) were activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) to catalyze ethylene (E) propylene (P) copolymerizations. The former produces high MW copolymer at 20°C rich in ethylene with reactivity ratio values of r_E = 1.7 and r_P <0.01, whereas the latter produces lower MW random copolymers with r_E = 1.32 and r_p = 0.36. Ethylidene norbornene (ENB) complexes with 1/MAO but does not undergo insertion in the presence of E and P. In contrast, 2/MAO catalyzes terpolymerization incorporating 9-15 mol % of ENB with slightly lower MW and activity than the corresponding copolymerizations. In comparison, 1,4–hexadiene was incorporated by 2/MAO with much lower A and MW . Terpolymerizations were also conducted with vinylcyclohexene using both catalyst systems. The steric and electronic effects in these processes were discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Homo‐ and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene with bis(β‐diketiminato) titanium complexes activated with methylaluminoxane

Homo‐ and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene were investigated with bis(β‐diketiminato) titanium complexes [ArNC(CR₃)CHC(CR₃)NAr]₂TiCl₂ (R = F, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl 2a; R = F, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl 2b ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl 2c ; R = H, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl 2d) in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influence of steric and electric effects of complexes on catalytic activity was evaluated. With MAO as cocatalyst, complexes 2a–d are moderately active catalysts for ethylene polymerization producing high‐molecular weight polyethylenes bearing linear structures, but low active catalysts for norbornene polymerization. Moreover, 2a – d are also active ethylene–norbornene (E–N) copolymerization catalysts. The incorporation of norbornene in the E–N copolymer could be controlled by varying the charged norbornene. ¹³C NMR analyses showed the microstructures of the E–N copolymers were predominantly alternated and isolated norbornene units in copolymer, dyad, and triad sequences of norbornene were detected in the E–N copolymers with high incorporated content of norbornene. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 93–101, 2008     

Synthesis of zirconocenes bearing benz[f]indenyl ligand and their use as a catalyst in ethylene polymerization

Benz[f]indenyl zirconium complexes have been successfully synthesized and characterized. Their catalytic activities were evaluated for the polymerization of ethylene. The complexes combined with MAO can be highly active single site catalysts, which display activities comparable with that of the Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO system and provide very high molecular weight polyethylenes. The melting point of the polymers indicates the formation of linear polyethylene.     

Living copolymerization of ethylene with norbornene mediated by heteroligated (Salicylaldiminato)(β‐enaminoketonato)titanium catalysts

Three heteroligated (salicylaldiminato)(β‐enaminoketonato)titanium complexes [3‐Bu^t‐2‐OC₆H₃CH?N(C₆F₅)][(p‐XC₆H₄)N?C(Bu^t)CHC(CF₃)O]TiCl₂ ( 3a : X = F, 3b : X = Cl, 3c : X = Br) were synthesized and investigated as the catalysts for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization. In the presence of modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, these unsymmetric catalysts exhibited high activities toward ethylene polymerization, similar to their parallel parent catalysts. Furthermore, they also displayed favorable ability to efficiently incorporate norbornene into the polymer chains and produce high molecular weight copolymers under the mild conditions, though the copolymerization of ethylene with norbornene leads to relatively lower activities. The sterically open structure of the β‐enaminoketonato ligand is responsible for the high norbornene incorporation. The norbornene concentration in the polymerization medium had a profound influence on the molecular weight distribution of the resulting copolymer. When the norbornene concentration in the feed is higher than 0.4 mol/L, the heteroligated catalysts mediated the living copolymerization of ethylene with norbornene to form narrow molecular weight distribution copolymers (M_w/M_n < 1.20), which suggested that chain termination or transfer reaction could be efficiently suppressed via the addition of norbornene into the reaction medium. Polymer yields, catalytic activity, molecular weight, and norbornene incorporation can be controlled within a wide range by the variation of the reaction parameters such as comonomer content in the feed, reaction time, and temperature. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6072–6082, 2009     

Bis(pyrrolide-imine) Ti complexes with MAO: A new family of high performance catalysts for olefin polymerization

This contribution reports on the syntheses, structures and olefin polymerization behavior of Ti complexes having a pair of chelating pyrrolide-imine [N⁻,N] ligands. X-ray analyses as well as ¹H NMR studies demonstrate that bis(pyrrolide-imine) Ti complexes (named PI Catalysts) contain approximately octahedrally coordinated metal centers with mutually trans-pyrrolide-Ns, cis-imine-Ns and cis-Cls. DFT studies suggest that PI Catalysts, when activated, provide a metal alkyl in the cis position to a vacant coordination site for monomer binding. These theoretical studies also show that the active species derived from PI Catalysts normally possess higher electrophilicity and a sterically more open nature compared with those produced using bis(phenoxy-imine) Ti complexes (Ti-FI Catalysts) which are known as high performance olefin polymerization catalysts. These structural as well as electronic features suggest that PI Catalysts have high potential for the polymerization of olefinic monomers.Unlike high performance Ti-FI Catalysts, PI Catalysts do not require the presence of steric bulk in close proximity to the anionic donor. PI Catalysts combined with MAO display high ethylene polymerization activities (max. 33,200 kg-polymer/mol-cat/h, 25 °C, atmospheric pressure) comparable to those obtained with early group 4 metallocene catalysts (e.g., Cp₂TiCl₂ 16,700 kg-polymer/mol-cat/h) under identical conditions. As expected, PI Catalysts exhibit higher incorporation capability for propylene and 1-hexene relative to FI Catalysts though the incorporation levels are lower than those for Cp₂TiCl₂. To our surprise, PI Catalysts/MAO show remarkably high norbornene (NB) incorporation, superior to that seen with the [Me₂Si(Me₄Cp)N-tBu]TiCl₂ (CGC) catalyst system, and they readily form ethylene-NB copolymers with high NB contents. The highly electrophilic and sterically open nature is probably responsible for the high NB affinity. Additionally, PI Catalysts/MAO possess characteristics of living ethylene polymerization (though under limited conditions) and afford high molecular weight PEs with very narrow molecular weight distributions (M_n 225,000, M_w/M_n 1.15, 10-s polymerization, 25 °C). Moreover, these catalysts can copolymerize ethylene and NB in a highly controlled living manner to afford monodisperse alternating copolymers with very high molecular weights (M_n > 500,000, M_w/M_n < 1.2) at room temperature. This unique living nature allows the preparation of a number of ethylene- and NB-based block copolymers, including PE-b-poly(ethylene-co-NB) and poly(ethylene-co-NB)_a-b-poly(ethylene-co-NB)_b, in which each segment contains a different NB content. These are probably the first examples of the syntheses of block copolymers from ethylene and NB. Consequently, the discovery and application of PI Catalysts has exercised a significant influence on olefin polymerization catalysis and polymer synthesis.     

High molar mass ethene/1‐olefin copolymers synthesized with acenaphthyl substituted metallocene catalysts

The influence of ligand structure on copolymerization properties of metallocene catalysts was elucidated with three C₁‐symmetric methylalumoxane (MAO) activated zirconocene dichlorides, ethylene(1‐(7, 9)‐diphenylcyclopenta‐[a]‐acenaphthadienyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐cyclopentadienyl)ZrCl₂ ( 1 ), ethylene(1‐(7, 9)‐diphenylcyclopenta‐[a]‐acenaphthadienyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐fluorenyl)ZrCl₂ ( 2 ), and ethylene(1‐(9)‐fluorenyl‐(R)1‐phenyl‐2‐(1‐indenyl)ZrCl2 ( 3 ). Polyethenes produced with 1 /MAO had considerable, ca. 10% amount of trans‐vinylene end groups, resulting from the chain end isomerization prior to the chain termination. When ethene was copolymerized with 1‐hexene or 1‐hexadecene using 1 /MAO, molar mass of the copolymers varied from high to moderate (531–116 kg/mol) depending on the comonomer feed. At 50% comonomer feed, ethene/1‐olefin copolymers with high hexene or hexadecene content (around 10%) were achievable. In the series of catalysts, polyethenes with highest molar mass, up to 985 kg/mol, were obtained with sterically most crowded 2 /MAO, but the catalyst was only moderately active to copolymerize higher olefins. Catalyst 3 /MAO produced polyethenes with extremely small amounts of trans‐vinylene end groups and relatively low molar mass 1‐hexene copolymers (from 157 to 38 kg/mol) with similar comonomer content as 1 . These results indicate that the catalyst structure, which favors chain end isomerization, is also capable to produce high molar mass 1‐olefin copolymers with high comonomer content. In addition, an exceptionally strong synergetic effect of the comonomer on the polymerization activity was observed with catalyst 3 /MAO. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 373–382, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of ethylene‐propylene‐1‐pentene terpolymers

Ethylene (E), propylene (P), and 1‐pentene (A) terpolymers differing in monomer composition ratio were produced, using the metallocenes rac‐ethylene bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO), isopropyl bis(cyclopentadienyl)fluorenyl zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂/MAO, and bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, supported on silica impregnated with MAO (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂/MAO) as catalytic systems. The catalytic activities at 25 °C and normal pressure were compared. The best result was obtained with the first catalyst. A detailed study of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, triad sequences distributions, monomer‐average sequence lengths, and reactivity ratios for the terpolymers is presented. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 947–957, 2008     

Synthesis of novel branched ethylene/cyclopentene copolymers with only cis‐1,3‐enchained cyclopentene units using α‐diimine nickel(II) complexes in the presence of methylaluminoxane

The copolymerization of ethylene with cyclopentene catalyzed by three α‐diimine nickel(II) complexes in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) was investigated. High‐molecular‐weight branched ethylene/cyclopentene copolymers with only cis‐1,3‐enchained cyclopentene units, which has not been reported previously, were obtained. The catalytic activity, cyclopentene incorporation, copolymer molecular weight, and molecular‐weight distribution could be controlled over a wide range through the variation of the catalyst structure and polymerization conditions, including cyclopentene concentration in the feed and polymerization temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2186–2192, 2008     

Metallocene complexes as homogeneous catalysts in olefin polymerization

Ansa metallocene dichloride complexes of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium can be activated by methyl aluminoxane (MAO) to give excellent catalysts for the homogeneous polymerization of ethylene and propylene. The symmetry of the corresponding metaliocene dichloride complexes is essential for the stereospecific polymerization of propylene (isotactic, syndiotactic or atactic). The application of fluorenyl groups instead of cyclopentadienyl groups greatly increases the activity of the catalysts. The first ansa bis(fluorenyl) complexes of zirconium and hafnium, (C₁₃H₈-C₂H₄-C₁₃Hs)MCl₂ (M = Zr, Hf), have been prepared. It was found that after the activation by MAO the zirconium derivative demonstrates a very high activity. Several model complexes are presented in order to discuss the mechanism of the polymerization.This paper was presented at the INEOS-94 Workshop The Modern Problems of Organometallic Chemistry (Moscow, May 21–27, 1994).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 7–14, January, 1995.     

茂－茚锆金属络合物催化乙烯/1－己烯共聚和丙稀均聚研究

Complexes （R^1Cp）（R^2Ind）ZrCl2, the catalysts previously reported active for ethylene polymerization showed high activity in ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization and propylene polymerization in the presence of MAO. The content of 1-hexene in copolymers ranged from 1.2% to 3.2%. In propylene polymerization the complex 1 showed the highest activity, up to 1.2×10^6 g of polypropylene per mol of catalyst per hour. Based on the analysis of NMR spectral data, the relationships between complex structures and polymerization results were explored.     

Hexene-1 polymerization by homogeneous zirconocene and heterogeneous-supported TiCl3 catalysts

MgCl₂-supported TiCl₃ catalysts, with and/or without electron donor modifier (internal B_i or external B_e), were compared with rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 1 ) activated with either MAO or the cation forming agent, triphenyl carbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate ( 2 ), with triethylalumium (TEA). The activities of the heterogeneous catalysts depend on the presence or absence of the Lewis base, were relatively insensitive to the temperature of polymerization, and produce poly(hexene) with molecular weights up to 10⁶. The 1 /MAO catalyst has about five times higher activity at 50°C but is almost inactive at ?30°C; the overall activation energy is 12.4 kcal mol^?1. In contrast, the activity for hexene polymerization by the 1/2 /TEA catalyst is actually slightly greater at lower temperature. The MW's of poly(hexene) obtained with the zirconocenium catalysts are only in the tens of thousands because of rapid β-hydride elimination by the electrophilic cationic Zr center. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

COPOLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE AND PROPYLENE WITH CpCH2CH2CH=CH2)2MCl2(M=Zr,Hf)AND Cp2ZrCl2 CATALYSTS

(CpCH_2CH_2CH = CH_2)_2MCl_2(M=Zr, Hf)/MAO and Cp_2ZrCl_2/MAO (Cp=cyclopentadienyl; MAO=methylaluminoxane) catalyst systems have been compared for ethylene copolymerization to investigate the influence of theligand and transition metal on the polymerization activity and copolymer properties. For both CH_2CH_2CH=CH_2 substitutedcatalysts the catalytic activity decreased with increasing propene concentration in the feed. The activity of the hafnocenecatalyst was 6～8 times lower than that of the analogous zirconocene catalyst, ~(13)C NMR analysis showed that the copolymerobtained using the unsubstituted catalyst Cp_2ZrCl_2 has greater incorporatien of propene than those produced byCH_2CH_2CH=CH_2 substituted Zr and Hf catalysts. The melting point, crystallinity and the viscosity-average molecularweight of the copolymer decreased with an increase of propenc concentration in the feed. Both CH_2CH_2CH= CH_2 substitutedZr and Hf catalysts exhibit little or no difference in the melting point and crystallinity of the produced copolymers. However,there are significant differences between the two zirconocene catalysts. The copolymer produced by Cp_2ZrCl_2 catalyst havemuch lower T_m and X_c than those obtained with the (CpCH_2CH_2CH=CH_2)_2ZrCl_2 catalyst. The density and molecular weightof the copolymer decreased in the order: (CpCH_2CH_2CH=CH_2)_2HfCl_2>(CpCH_2CH_2CH=CH_2)_2ZrCl_2>Cp_2ZrCl_2. The kineticbehavior of copolymerizaton with Hf catalyst was found to be different from that with Zr catalyst.     

Fluorinated bis(phenoxy-imine) Ti complexes with MAO: Remarkable catalysts for living ethylene and syndioselective living propylene polymerization

Based on new results as well as the reported data, the ethylene and propylene polymerization behavior of bis(phenoxy-imine) Ti complexes (Ti-FI Catalysts) combined with MAO (particularly that of their fluorinated versions) is discussed, with an emphasis on the characteristics and mechanisms of living ethylene and syndioselective living propylene polymerization. Unlike common living olefin polymerization catalysts, fluorinated Ti-FI Catalysts with MAO display thermally robust living behavior and polymerize ethylene in a highly controlled manner at temperatures as high as 50 °C. Additionally, despite being C₂-symmetric catalysts, fluorinated Ti-FI Catalysts/MAO mediate highly syndioselective living propylene polymerization. Fluorinated Ti-FI Catalysts that we developed are the first examples of catalysts that induce the living polymerization of both ethylene and propylene. In addition, they are also the first examples of living and, at the same time, highly stereoselective propylene polymerization catalysts. The versatile and robust living nature of the fluorinated Ti-FI Catalysts allows the preparation of a wide variety of unique living polymers; some of which can even be produced catalytically. On the basis of theoretical calculations as well as experimental results, we conclude that these unusual polymerization features of fluorinated Ti-FI Catalysts originate from an attractive interaction between the ligand and a growing polymer chain and/or the fluxional character of the catalyst coupled with 2,1-regiochemistry. This is in stark contrast to group 4 metallocene catalysts, which control olefin polymerization mainly by repulsive interactions based on the rigidly organized ligand frameworks.     

Copolymerization of ethylene and propylene catalyzed by magnesium chloride supported vanadium/titanium bimetallic Ziegler-Natta catalysts

Magnesium chloride supported vanadium/titanium bimetallic Ziegler-Natta catalysts with di-i-butyl phthalate as internal donor for copolymerization of ethylene and propylene were prepared.The effects of reaction temperature, ethylene/propylene molar ratio,aluminium/vanadium（Al/V）molar ratio and titanium/vanadium molar ratio on the catalytic activity were investigated.The molecular weight,molecular weight distribution,sequence composition and crystallinity of the products were measured by gel permeation chromatography,¹³C-NMR and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively.In comparison to the vanadium and titanium catalysts,the bimetallic catalyst showed higher catalytic activity and better copolymerization performance.The obtained ethylene/propylene copolymers have high molecular weight （10⁵）,broad molecular weight distribution,high propylene content with random or short blocked sequence structures （r_Er_P=1.919）,low melting temperatures and low crystallinities（X_c<20%）.