Polymerization of butadiene and vinyl ether with catalyst prepared from π-allyl nickel halide and organic peroxide

The π-allyl nickel halide–organic peroxide system has been found to be active as catalyst for the stereospecific polymerization of butadiene and polymerization of vinyl ether. Benzoyl peroxide is most effective. The catalyst from π-allyl nickel chloride or π-allyl nickel bromide and benzoyl peroxide yields predominantly cis-1,4 polymer with high activity, whereas the catalyst from π-allyl nickel iodide affords predominantly trans-1,4 polymer. The catalyst system can be divided into two parts, a benzene-soluble and a sentially insoluble component. It is concluded that the catalyst activity originates esbenzene-from the insoluble nickel complex which is composed of halogen atom, benzoyloxy group of conjugated structure, allyl group, and nickel. A structure is proposed for the complex.     

Polymerization of isoprene initiated by the reaction products of η3-allyl complexes of transition metals and titanium chlorides

The main path of the interaction of chromium and nickel η³-allyl complexes and titanium tetrachloride is the transfer of allyl ligands to titanium with the concomitant reduction of TiCl₄ to η-TiCl₃ and the formation of the products initiating isoprene polymerization. The stereospecific effect of the system is because of the formation of bimetallic complexes with bridged metal—carbon bonds which are the most probable centers of stereospecific cis-1,4-polyisoprene chain propagation.     

Equimolecular binary polydines. V. Equibinary poly(cis-1,4–trans-1,4)butadiene from bis(π-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate)

The preparation of equibinary poly(cis-1,4–trans-1,4)butadiene was investigated in the presence of bis(π-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate) modified with suitable additional ligands. The behavior of the catalytic species in the polymerization reaction as well as the specific basic properties of the equibinary polybutadiene produced support obviously a regular distribution of the cis and trans isomers in the polymer chains.     

Polymerization of 1,3-butadiene on cobalt and nickel halides

Butadiene polymerizes to cis-1,4 polymer on irregularly stacked, halogen-deficient crystals of cobalt(II) or nickel(II) halides. Halogen is removed from the halides by heating the salts under high vacuum or by photolyzing them in the presence of butadiene. Intrinsic viscosity and solubility of the polymer reach a steady state during polymerization. Cobalt chloride produces polymer of higher intrinsic viscosity than nickel chloride, but polymerization on nickel chloride is faster. Catalytic activity is attributed to the presence of ≤0.1% of nickel and cobalt monohalides in the catalyst.     

Polymerization by transition metal derivatives. XII. Factors controlling activity and stereospecificity in the 1,4 polymerization of butadiene by monometallic nickel catalysts

In the course of investigations of polymerization of diolefins by transition metal derivatives, we have synthesized various monometallic nickel coordination catalysts. The complexes were prepared by reacting 2,6,10-dodecatriene-1,12-diyl nickel with protonic acids; they were shown to initiate the stereospecific polymerization of 1,3-butadiene. The study of these catalysts showed the strong influence of the nature of the counteranion used on the stereospecificity and the polymerization rate. Moreover, by adding various ligands, we were able to modify the behavior of the catalytic systems and to prepare either pure cis-1,4 or pure trans-1,4 or cis–trans equibinary polybutadienes, starting from the same complex and keeping a high 1,4 specificity. Some of these modifications were shown to be reversible.     

Polymerization of butadiene with the NiCl2‐methylaluminoxane catalyst

The polymerization of butadiene (Bd) with the soluble and insoluble parts of the NiCl₂‐methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst was investigated. Both parts initiate the polymerization of Bd to give a high molecular weight polymer consisting of mainly cis‐1,4‐structure. The activity of the soluble part for the polymerization is higher than that of the insoluble part. We presume that NiCl₂ reacts with MAO to give a soluble alkyl‐nickel complex that shows high activity for the polymerization of Bd.     

Some aspects of copolymerization of dienes under the influence of π-allyl complexes of nickel

π-Allyl complexes of nickel induce stereospecific homopolymerization of cyclohexadiene-1,3 and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene with the formation of crystalline polymers. These polymers consist of 1,4-monomer units in cis-configuration for polycyclohexadiene and in trans-configuration for poly-2,3-dimethylbutadiene. Peculiarities of copolymerization of cyclohexadiene-1,3 with butadiene and isoprene and of 2,3-dimethylbutadiene with butadiene under the influence of various π-allyl complexes of nickel are studied. By i.r.- and NMR-spectroscopy and radiochemical methods, the composition of copolymers for the above pairs of monomers are determined and the reactivity ratios are found. Influence of the monomers on the microstructure of the chain in copolymerization is established; the mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.     

Metal-containing initiator systems. VI. Polymerization of butadiene with metal–organic halide systems

The polymerization of butadiene with binary initiator systems consisting of some activated metals and organic halides was investigated at 60°C. From the results obtained, it was found that systems of reduced nickel and methyltrichlorosilane or dimethyldichlorosilane were most effective for the polymerization, and those of reduced nickel and carbon tetrachloride, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide and benzoyl chloride, showed moderate activity. The polybutadienes obtained with these systems were observed to contain product of more than 80% cis-1,4 microstructure. From detailed studies on the reduced nickel–methyltrichlorosilane system, these polymerization mechanisms were explained by the hypothesis that the initiation occurred through the reaction of the dissociated transition state complex with the monomer or with a trace amount of water, and then the propagation proceeded via a coordinated cationic mechanism. These systems did not show a good activity for the cis-1,4 polymerization of isoprene.     

2-alkyl-1,3-butadiene polymerization under the influence of π-allylic complexes of transition metals

Stereoregulation in the polymerization of 2-alkyl-1,3-butadienes with transition metal π-allylic complexes has been studied. The direction of isoprene polymerization is shown to be a function of the nature of the metal and ligands in the allylic compound. The presence of acidic ligands in π-allylic complexes of Zr, Cr, Mo, and Co contributes to 1,4-addition and increases the selectivity of π-allylic nickel complexes, favoring cis-1,4-structure formation. Investigation of the model reaction of 2-alkyl-1,3-butadienes with bis(π-perdeuterocrotyl nickel iodide) revealed that active sites have an π-allylic type structure. The mechanism of formation of π-allylic adducts and the main factors which determine the dependence of direction and rate of polymerization on the nature of a monomer in the diene series: 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene(isoprene), 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-isopropyl-1,3-butadiene, and 2-tert-butyl-1,3-butadiene, are discussed.     

π-烯丙基稀土配合物的合成、结构及其催化烯烃聚合反应机理的研究——Ⅱ.LiY(π-C_3H_5)_4·2.5D催化异戊二烯聚合反应机理的研究

<正> 在稀土配位共轭双烯烃聚合反应机理的研究中,一般认为按π-烯丙基机理进行,但迄今为止尚缺乏足够的实验证据。我们曾用~1H-NMR、一维~(13)C-NMR和二维~(13)C-NMR系统地研究了(CF_3COO)_2LnCl·EtoH-(i-Bu)_2AIH-共轭双烯烃(Ln=La、Pr、Nd、Sm、Tb、Ho、Sc和Y)均相聚合体系的聚合机理,提出了η~4-共轭双烯(顺式-反式-)和η~3-烯丙基(同式-对式-)机理。但由于广烯丙基稀土配合物稳定性差,难于合成,加之聚合体系中很难直接分离出π-烯丙基稀土配合物活性体,为此,至今尚未能用模型π-烯丙基稀土配合物对上述机理进行研究。我们已合成一系列π-烯丙基稀土配合物LiLn     

~(13)C-NMR STUDY ON THE CHAIN TERMINAL STRUCTURE OF POLY-1,3-PENTADIENE POLYMERIZED WITH RARE EARTH CATALYST

The sequence distribution and the terminal structures of poly-1,3-pentadiene chains obtained by rare earth catalyst and effect of polymerization temperature on microstructure of the polymer have been investigated by ~(13)C-NMR method. According to experimental results it was supposed that terminal active growing chain of the polymer would be four types of anti- and syn-η~3-allyl structures. When polymerization temperature was reduced, the content of cis-1,4-poly-1,3-pcntadiene increases. It can be explained by isomerization between anti- and syn-η~3-allyl. The process forming trans-1,2 unit instead of 3,4-unit were also described.     

Polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐Pentadiene and (E)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐pentadiene with neodymium catalysts: Examination of the factors that affect the stereoselectivity

(E)‐1,3‐Pentadiene (EP) and (E)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐pentadiene (2MP) were polymerized to cis‐1,4 polymers with homogeneous and heterogeneous neodymium catalysts to examine the influence of the physical state of the catalyst on the polymerization stereoselectivity. Data on the polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐hexadiene (EH) are also reported. EP and EH gave cis‐1,4 isotactic polymers both with the homogeneous and with the heterogeneous system, whereas 2MP gave an isotactic cis‐1,4 polymer with the heterogeneous catalyst and a syndiotactic cis‐1,4 polymer, never reported earlier, with the homogeneous one. For comparison, the results obtained with the soluble CpTiCl₃‐based catalyst (Cp = cyclopentadienyl), which gives cis‐1,4 isotactic poly(2MP), are examined. A tentative interpretation is given for the mechanism of the formation of the stereoregular polymers obtained and a complete NMR characterization of the cis‐1,4‐syndiotactic poly(2MP) is reported. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3227–3232     

Pyrolysis of polyisoprenes. I. Differentiation between natural and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes

Two methods of differentiating between natural rubber and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes have been examined. Both techniques depend on the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalyst residues in the synthetic polymers. The major pyrolysis product of cis-1,4-polyisoprenes at 350°C is 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohexene. This can undergo disproportionation to yield 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)benzene and methyl-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexenes. It is this disproportionation reaction, catalyzed by Ziegler-Natta catalyst residues or by carbon black, that is responsible for the different product ratios obtained on pyrolysis of natural rubber and Ziegler-Natta catalyzed cis-1,4-polyisoprenes. Lithium alkyl-polymerized polyisoprenes undergo this secondary disproportionation reaction only in the presence of carbon black. Derivative thermogravimetric traces of black-filled sulfur vulcanizates of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprenes are significantly different because polymerization catalyst residues promote cyclization of the polymer.     

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF cis-,4-POLYBUTADIENE CONTAINING A FRACTION OF trans-1,4-POLYBUTADIENE

Polymerization of butadiene catalysed first with V(acac)_3-Al(i-Bu)_2Cl, then with Co(acac)_3-H_2O-Al(i-Bu)_2Cl has been studied. The polymer obtained was identified to be a new variety of cis-1,4-polybutadiene which contained a fraction of trans-1,4-polybutadiene chemically bonded to the cis-1,4-polybutadiene chains. Its molecular weight and trans-1,4 content can be regulated by varying the catalyst composition and concentration as well as other polymerization conditions. The trans-1,4 fraction, although it presents only in 9—16%, forms a crystalline phase in the matrix at room temperature and facilitates the crystallization of the polymer.     

Alternate Transition Metal Complex Based Diene Polymerization

Abstract

In the last decade, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of reports on transition metal complex-mediated butadiene homo- and copolymerization. While typical classical titanium, nickel, cobalt, and neodymium based catalysts have been almost exclusively applied to the production of high cis-1,4-polybutadiene, alternative catalyst systems are currently being developed which enable tuning of the polybutadiene microstructure and permit defined changes in polymer properties such as molecular weight distribution and changes in the polymer glass temperature. Besides new products such as high trans-1,4-polybutadiene or a polymer containing a defined amount of 1,2-polybutadiene, there are butadiene copolymers with different amounts of styrene, isoprene, or ethylene. These new materials should lead to new applications especially in the area of tires, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), and ABS. This review elucidates the new developments in the area of transition metal complex-based butadiene homo- and copolymerization focusing mainly on the transition metal catalyst, the polymerization process and the resulting polymers. Mechanistic details are discussed briefly and wherever useful for the understanding of the polymerization reaction.     

Homo- and copolymerization of butadiene and styrene with neodymium tricarboxylate catalysts

Homo- and copolymerizations of butadiene (BD) and styrene (St) with rare-earth metal catalysts, including the most active neodymium (Nd)-based catalysts, have been examined, and the cis-1,4 polymerization mechanism was investigated by the diad analysis of copolymers. Polymerization activity of BD was markedly affected not only by the ligands of the catalysts but also by the central rare-earth metals, whereas that of St was mainly affected by the ligands. In the series of Nd-based catalysts [Nd(OCOR)₃:R = CF₃, CCl₃, CHCl₂, CH₂Cl, CH₃], Nd(OCOCCl₃)₃ gave a maximum polymerization activity of BD, which decreased with increasing or decreasing the pKa value of the ligands. This tendency was different from that for Gd(OCOR)₃ catalysts, where the CF₃ derivative led to the highest polymerization activity of BD. For the polymerization of St and its copolymerization with BD, the maximum activities were attained at R = CCl₃ for both Nd- and Gd-based catalysts. The copolymerization of BD and St with Nd(OCOCCl₃)₃ catalyst was also carried out at various monomer feed ratios, to evaluate the monomer reactivity ratios as r_BD = 5.66 and r_St = 0.86. The cis-1,4 content in BD unit decreased with increasing St content in copolymers. From the diad analysis of copolymers, it was indicated that Nd(OCOCCl₃)₃ catalyst controls the cis-1,4 structure of the BD unit by a back-biting coordination of the penultimate BD unit. Furthermore, the long range coordination of polymer chain by the neodymium catalyst was suggested to assist the cis-1,4 polymerization. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 241–247, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

Synthesis and characterization of high cis-polybutadiene: influence of monomer concentration and reaction temperature

This paper reports the study of the dependence of reaction conversion, catalyst activity, polymer microstructure, molecular weight, molecular weight distribution curves and Mooney viscosity on reaction temperature and monomer concentration in the reaction medium used in the synthesis of high cis-polybutadiene. A ternary catalyst system composed by neodymium versatate, trans-butyl chloride and diisobutylaluminum hydride was used in its synthesis. The highest molecular weights were obtained at polymerization temperatures in the range from 70 to 80 °C. The highest content of cis-1,4 repeating units (about 99%) was observed when the polymerization was carried out at the lowest initial monomer concentration (0.56 mol/l).     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. III. Polymerization with VCl3 • LiCl

The polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by vanadium trichloride in n-heptane was studied. VCl₃ ? LiCl was prepared by the reduction of VCl₄ with stoichiometric amounts of BuLi. This type of catalyst induces stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether without the action of trialkyl aluminum to an isotactic polymer when a rise in temperature during the polymerization was depressed by cooling. It is suggested that the cause of the stereospecific polymerization might be due to the catalyst structure in which LiCl coexists with VCl₃, namely, VCl₃ ? LiCl or VCl₂ ? 2LiCl as a solid solution in the crystalline lattice, since VCl₃ prepared by thermal decomposition of VCl₄ and a commercial VCl₃ did not produce the crystalline polymer and soluble catalysts such as VCl₄ in heptane and VCl₃ ? LiCl in ether solution did not yield the stereospecific polymer. It was found that some additives, such as tetrahydrofuran or ethylene glycol diphenyl ether, to the catalyst increased the stereospecific polymerization activity of the catalysts. Influence of the polymerization conditions such as temperature, time, monomer and catalyst concentrations, and the kind of solvent on the formed polymer was also examined.     

Polymérisation radicalaire du pentadiène-1,3. II. Microstructure des résidus pentadiéniques dans les homo- et copolymères des cis et trans pentadiènes-1,3 avec l'acrylonitrile

The microstructure of diene units was investigated in radical homopolymers of the cis and trans isomers of 1,3-pentadiene and copolymers with acrylonitrile, synthetized in bulk and emulsion. Experiments were carried out by infrared spectroscopy, 100 MHz ¹H-NMR, and 25 MHz ¹³C-NMR studies. No difference between the bulk and emulsion samples was noted. The microstructure of poly(1,3-pentadiene) is practically independent of the cis or trans configuration of the diene monomer and is as follows: 56–59% trans-1,4, 15–17% cis-1,4, 16–20% trans-1,2 7–10% cis-1,2 and 0% 3,4. On the other hand, up to about 30% of incorporated acrylonitrile (10% in the feed), the microstructure of the pentadiene fraction in the copolymers is not affected. This finding suggests that the penultimate unit has very little influence on the polymerization process involving the terminal pentadienly unit. Beyond 10% of acrylonitrile in the feed, the proportions of the structural units were linearly dependent upon the acrylonitrile content: trans-1,4 content increased whereas the amounts of cis-1,4 trans-1,2 and cis-1,2 decreased (except the cis-1,2 fraction, constant in the copolymers from the cis-diene). These results are discussed on the assumption that the microstructure of pentadiene residues is strongly associated with the acrylonitrile comonomer in the feed.