Multicentered self-immobilized ethylene polymerization catalysts based on functionalized titanium halide salicylaldiminate complexes for the synthesis of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene

Specific features of ethylene polymerization using a new group of catalytic systems based on ten methylalumoxane-activated titanium halide salicylaldiminato complexes functionalized with ??-vinylalkoxy groups and containing tert-butyl substituents in the phenoxide moiety were studied. The catalytic activity of the new group of activated complexes is strongly affected by the position of the ??-vinylalkoxy functional group and by the number and position of substituents in the phenoxide moiety. These factors determine the ratio of the homogeneous and heterogeneous steps of the polymerization as a result of the catalyst self-immobilization onto the polymer formed, and also the molecular characteristics of the polymer obtained at 20, 40, and 60°C and ethylene pressure of 0.4 MPa. The possibility and conditions of preparing ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene with improved morphology were revealed.     

Morphology,Nanostructure, and Processability of Reactor Powders of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Produced on Self-Immobilizing Catalytic Systems

The possibility of heterogenization of a polymer system by using new post-metallocene catalytic systems comprising phenoxy-imine titanium halide complexes with different ligand environments modified by oxyallyl groups was studied with the aim of decreasing sticking of the reactor powders of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE RPs) suitable for solid-phase processing. The effective use of selfimmobilizing systems for the manufacture of UHMWPE RPs with reduced sticking to the reactor walls and the stirrer, but with somewhat reduced strength of the UHMWPE RP-based articles is shown.     

Dichlorovanadium (IV) complexes with salen‐type ligands for ethylene polymerization

Vanadium complexes with tetradentate salen‐type ligands were first time explored in ethylene polymerizations. The effects of the vanadium complex structure, the alkyl aluminum cocatalysts type (EtAlCl₂, Et₂AlCl, Et₃Al, and MAO), and the polymerization conditions (Al/V molar ratio, temperature) on polyethylene yield were explored. It was found that EtAlCl₂ in conjunction with investigated vanadium complexes produced the most efficient catalytic systems. It was shown, moreover, that the structural changes of the tetradentate salen ligand (type of bridge which bond donor nitrogen atoms and type of substituent on aryl rings) affected activity of the catalytic system. The complexes containing ligands with cyclohexylene bridges were more active than those with ethylene bridges. Furthermore, the presence of electron‐withdrawing groups at the para position and electron‐donating substituents at the ortho position on the aryl rings of the ligands resulted in improved activity in relation to the systems with no substituents (with the exception of bulky t‐Bu group). The results presented also revealed that all vanadium complexes activated by common organoaluminum compounds gave linear polyethylenes with high melting points (134.8–137.6 °C), high molecular weights, and broad molecular weight distribution. The polymer produced in the presence of MAO possesses clearly lower melting point (131.4 °C) and some side groups (around 9/1000 C). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6940–6949, 2008     

Highly active ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with norbornene using bis(imino‐indolide) titanium dichloride–MAO system

A catalytic system of new titanium complexes with methylaluminoxane (MAO) was found to effectively polymerize ethylene for high molecular weight polyethylene as well as highly active copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene. The bis (imino‐indolide)titanium dichlorides (L₂TiCl₂, 1 – 5 ), were prepared by the reaction of N‐((3‐chloro‐1H‐indol‐2‐yl)methylene)benzenamines with TiCl₄, and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The solid‐state structures of 1 and 4 were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis to reveal the six‐coordinated distorted octahedral geometry around the titanium atom with a pair of chlorides and ligands in cis‐forms. Upon activation by MAO, the complexes showed high activity for homopolymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene. A positive “comonomer effect” was observed for copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene. Both experimental observations and paired interaction orbital (PIO) calculations indicated that the titanium complexes with electron‐withdrawing groups in ligands performed higher catalytic activities than those possessing electron‐donating groups. Relying on different complexes and reaction conditions, the resultant polyethylenes had the molecular weights M_w in the range of 200–2800 kg/mol. The influences on both catalytic activity and polyethylene molecular weights have been carefully checked with the nature of complexes and reaction conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3415–3430, 2007     

Effects of halide in homogeneous Cr(III)/PNP/MAO catalytic systems for ethylene tetramerization toward 1-octene

In homogeneous Cr(III)/methylaluminoxane/cyclopentyl-bisphosphineamine (PNP)/halide ethylene tetramerization catalyst systems, the effects of halide on the 1-octene formation selectivity and the catalytic activity were investigated. The comparative studies showed that both 1-octene formation selectivity and catalytic activity of the four-member catalytic systems containing dichloromethane were higher than those of containing trichloromethane and tetrachoromethane. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane showed much higher 1-octene formation selectivity improvement than 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The improvement of chloride on 1-octene formation selectivity and catalytic activity was much better than that of a corresponding bromide. So we can draw a conclusion that the steric hindrance, the molecular stability, the halides group configuration, and the types of the halides are important factors for ethylene tetramerization toward 1-octene. Some specific interaction modes of halogen groups with active Cr species in the catalytic cycle are proposed to explain the 1-octene selectivity improvement effects of halide in the ethylene tetramerization reaction.     

Palladium (II) complexes chelated by 1-substituted-4-pyridyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole ligands as catalyst precursors for selective ethylene dimerization

A series of neutral as well as cationic palladium methyl complexes bearing 1-substituted-4-pyridyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole ligands were prepared and fully characterized by a range of analytical techniques. Conventional and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis unambiguously determined the molecular structure of the complexes. The neutral complexes activated by methylaluminoxane were found to be effective catalysts in the ethylene dimerization reaction. The catalyst performance of the in-situ-generated active species was compared with the discrete cationic complexes of the same ligand scaffold. Activities and selectivities for the two systems were remarkably similar, pointing to similarities in the nature of the active species. Both catalytic systems showed a strong correlation of activity and selectivity with the nature of the ligand scaffold. Highest activities were attained when electron-withdrawing groups were incorporated into the triazole ring, while increasing steric bulk in the ortho-position on the pyridyl ring of the ligand led to the almost exclusive dimerization of ethylene with selectivities up to 94% observed toward 1-butene.     

Half‐titanocene complexes bearing dianionic 6‐benzimidazolylpyridyl‐2‐carboximidate ligands: Synthesis,characterization, and their ethylene polymerization

6‐Benzimidazolylpyridyl‐2‐carboximidic half‐titanocene complexes, Cp′TiLCl (Cp′ = C₅H₅, MeC₅H₄, C₅Me₅, L = 6‐benzimidazolylpyridine‐2‐carboxylimidic, C1–C13 ), were synthesized and characterized along with single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The half‐titanocene chlorides containing substituted cyclopentadienyl groups, especially pentamethylcyclopentadienyl groups were more stable, while those without substituents on the cyclopentadienyl groups were easily transformed into their dimeric oxo‐bridged complexes, (CpTiL)₂O ( C14 and C15 ). In the presence of excessive amounts of methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all half‐titanocene complexes showed high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization. The substituents on the Cp groups affected the catalytic behaviors of the complexes significantly, with less substituents favoring increased activities and higher molecular weights of the resultant polyethylenes. Effects of reaction conditions on catalytic behaviors were systematically investigated with catalytic systems of mononuclear C1 and dimeric C14 . With C1 /MAO, large MAO amount significantly increases the catalytic activity, while the temperature only has a slight effect on the productivity. In the case of C14 /MAO catalytic system, temperature above 60 °C and Al/Ti value higher than 5000 were necessary to observe good catalytic activities. In both systems, higher reaction temperature and low cocatalyst amount gave the polyethylenes with higher molecular weights. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3396–3410, 2008     

Half-zirconocene anilide complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with 1-hexene

A number of half-zirconocene anilide complexes of the type Cp*ZrCl(2)[N(2,6-R(1)(2)C(6)H(3))R(2)] [R(1) = (i)Pr (1, 3), Me (2); R(2) = Me (1, 2), Bn (3)] and Cp*ZrCl[N(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))Me](2) (4) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) were synthesized from the reactions of Cp*ZrCl(3) with the lithium salts of the corresponding anilide in diethyl ether at room temperature. All new zirconium complexes were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and elemental analysis. Molecular structures of complexes 1, 2 and 4 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Upon activation with Al(i)Bu(3) and Ph(3)CB(C(6)F(5))(4), complexes 1-4 exhibit good catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization, and produce polyethylene with a moderate molecular weight. Among these zirconium complexes, complex 1 shows the highest catalytic activity while complex 4 shows the lowest catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. Complexes 1-3 also exhibit moderate catalytic activity for copolymerization of ethylene with 1-hexene, and produce copolymers with relatively high molecular weight and reasonable 1-hexene incorporation. In addition, the activation procedure of these catalyst systems were studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy.     

New Bis(arylimino)pyridyl Complexes as Components of Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

A new series of 2,6-bis(arylimino)pyridineiron(II) complexes with cycloaliphatic (cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, and cyclododecyl) substituents in the ortho position of the aryl ring are synthesized and studied as components for ethylene polymerization catalysts. Methylaluminoxane is used as an activator for the complexes. The resulting catalytic systems are more active in polymerization at elevated temperatures (60–80°C) than previously described systems based on substituted 2,6-bis(arylimino)pyridines. The influence of the number of CH₂ groups in a cycloaliphatic substituent on the efficiency of the catalytic system is studied. Polymers formed are characterized by an increased molecular weight, high density, and high crystallinity.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Ethylene Oligomerization Behavior of Neutral Nickel Complexes Bearing N‐Fluorinated Phenyl Salicylaldiminato Chelate Ligands

A series of neutral nickel complexes featuring N‐fluorinated phenyl salicylaldiminato chelate ligands was synthesized, and the novel molecular structure of complex C14 was further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The neutral nickel complexes showed high activity up to 9.96×10⁵ g oligomers/(mol Ni·h) and high selectivity of C₆ in catalyzing ethylene oligomerization using methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. It was observed that the strong electron‐withdrawing effect of the fluorinated salicylaldiminato ligand was able to significantly increase the catalytic activity for oligomerization of ethylene. In addition, the influence of reaction parameters such as Al/Ni molar ratio, reaction temperature, a variety of cocatalyst and ethylene pressure on catalytic activity was investigated.     

Ethylene polymerization using catalysts based on binuclear phenoxyimine titanium halide complexes

Nine new binuclear titanium halide complexes were obtained on the basis of first synthesized tetradentate bis-phenoxyimine ligand precursors with different bridge linkages, including sterically hindered ones, between imine groups. Their binuclear character is confirmed by molecular weights, measured using vapor phase osmometry, MALDI–ToF and diffusion coefficients as determined by NMR–DOSY method. Catalytic activities of catalytic systems on the basis of the binuclear bis-salicylaldimine titanium complexes in ethylene polymerization were investigated. The studied catalytic systems appeared to be rather highly active, (10–70 kg(PE)/[mmol(Ti)·MPa·h]) and considerably more thermostable as compared to mononuclear analogs and made it possible to obtain polyethylenes of high and superhigh molecular weights. The effects of the bridge linkage between imine nitrogens and o-, p-substituents in the phenoxy-group were established.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic ethylene oligomerization of pyridine-imine palladium complexes

Two neutral five-membered pyridine-imine palladium complexes with the bulky dibenzhydryl (CH(Ph)2) substituted aniline were synthesized and fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystal diffraction.Well-defined cationic palladium complexes were further obtained by treatment of chloromethylpalladium complexes with sodium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate (NaBArF) in CH3CN.Cationic palladium complexes were capable of catalyzing ethylene oligomerization without any cocatalysts.The influences of catalyst structure,reaction temperature,and ethylene pressure on ethylene oligomerization were studied in detail.The introduction of bulky benzhydryl (CH(Ph)2) on the ortho position of the aniline moiety enhanced catalytic activity,thermal stability of the catalyst,and molecular weight of the obtained products.Highly branched oligomers with molecular weights of 600-800 g/mol and narrow polydispersities (1.03-1.12) were produced.     

Olefin polymerization behavior of titanium(IV) alkoxo complexes with fluorinated diolate ligands: The impact of the chelate ring size and the nature of organoaluminum compounds

Titanium(IV) coordination compounds are effectively used as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with other olefins. New titanium(IV) complexes 3b – d with ligands containing two diphenylcarbinol fragments linked by the perfluorinated hydrocarbon units –CF₂– or –C₂F₄– were synthesized. The structures of complexes 3b and 3d were determined by X-ray diffraction. Titanium atoms in 3b have a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination environment while spiro-complex 3d is characterized by tetrahedral molecular geometry. The catalytic behavior of complexes activated by mixtures of Bu₂Mg and alkylaluminium chlorides from among Me₂AlCl, Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, and Et₃Al₂Cl₃ were studied. The resulting catalytic systems catalyze ethylene polymerization to afford ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, suitable for modern processing methods, and the solvent-free solid state formation of super high-strength (1.37–2.75 GPa) and high-modulus (up to 138 GPa) oriented film tapes. The same catalytic systems catalyze ethylene copolymerization with 1-hexene to afford high molecular weight semicrystalline elastomeric polymers containing up to 20% of comonomer units.     

多氮螯合配位后过渡金属络合物烯烃聚合催化剂

A2二亚胺镍、钯络合物和吡啶二亚胺铁、钴络合物是近几年来发现的新一代烯烃均相聚合后过渡金属催化剂。这类催化剂具有活性高、选择性易调变、聚合物性质可控制的特点, 尤其是对官能团中的杂原子的稳定性方面优于前过渡金属催化剂。本文将近年来的有关报道归纳为4 个方面进行评述: 络合物的合成和结构; 配体结构因素对络合物催化性能的影响; 催化烯烃高聚、齐聚和共聚以及催化反应机理。     

Prospects and crucial problems in oligomerization and polymerization with iron and cobalt complex catalysts

<正>The discovery of highly active 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron and cobalt complexes provided a milestone of latetransition metal catalysts for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization with being currently investigated for the scale-up process.The crucial problems are remaining in the catalytic systems:the catalytic systems targeting ethylene polymerization produce more oligomers at elevated reaction temperatures,however,there is a recognizable amount of high-molecular-weight polyethylene remained in the modified catalytic system for the oligomerization process.Beyond the modification of bis(imino)pyridyl metal complexes,several alternative procatalysts' models have been developed in our group.This review highlighted the achievements in exploring new iron and cobalt complexes with tridentate NNN ligands as procatalysts for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization.     

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     

Vanadium(V) complexes containing tetradentate amine trihydroxy ligands as catalysts for copolymerization of cyclic olefins

A series of vanadium(V) complexes bearing tetradentate amine trihydroxy ligands [NOOO], which differ in the steric and electronic properties, have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X‐ray analysis showed that these complexes are five or six coordinated around the vanadium center in the solid state. Their coordination geometries are octahedral or trigonal bipyramidal. In the presence of Et₂AlCl, these complexes have been investigated as the efficient catalysts for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization at elevated reaction temperature and produced the polymers with unimodal molecular weight distributions (MWDs), indicating the single site behaviors of these catalysts. Both the steric hindrance and electronic effect of the groups on the tetradentate ligands directly influenced catalytic activity and the molecular weights of the resultant (co)polymers. Other reaction parameters that influenced the polymerization behavior, such as reaction temperature, ethylene pressure, and comonomer concentration, are also examined in detail. Furthermore, high catalytic activities of up to 3.30 kg polymer/mmol_V·h were also observed when these complexes were applied to catalyze the copolymerization of ethylene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐methanol, producing the high‐molecular‐weight copolymers (M_w = 157–400 kg/mol) with unimodal MWDs (M_w/M_n = 2.5–3.0) and high polar comonomer incorporations (up to 12.3 mol %). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1122–1132, 2010     

Iron(II)–ethylene polymerization catalysts bearing 2,6-bis(imino)pyrazine ligands: Part II. Catalytic behaviour, homogeneous and heterogeneous insights

A series of new iron(II) complexes bearing tridentate pyrazine-bis(2,6-arylimino) ligands where the aryl groups are 1-naphthyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl have been used as ethylene polymerization catalysts after activation with alkylaluminiums. The new complexes display a lesser catalytic activity than those bearing the corresponding pyridine-bis(2,6-arylimino) ligands. Varying the steric bulkiness of the aromatic groups in the tridentate ligands and the polymerization conditions affects the catalytic productivity.     

Bis(2‐(6‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐benzimidazolyl)titanium dichloride and titanium bis(6‐benzimidazolylpyridine‐2‐carboxylimidate): Synthesis,characterization, and their catalytic behaviors for ethylene polymerization

A series of 6‐(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐N‐organylpyridine‐2‐carboxamide were synthesized and transformed into 6‐benzimidazolylpyridine‐2‐carboxylimidate as dianionic tridentate ligands. Bis(2‐(6‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐benzimidazolyl)titanium dichloride ( C1 ) and titanium bis(6‐benzimidazolylpyridine‐2‐carboxylimidate) ( C2 – C8 ) were synthesized in acceptable yields. These complexes were systematically characterized by elemental and NMR analyses. Crystallographic analysis revealed the distorted octahedral geometry around titanium in both complexes C1 and C4 . Using MAO as cocatalyst, all complexes exhibited from good to high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization. The neutral bis(6‐benzimidazolylpyridine‐2‐carboxylimidate)titanium ( C2 – C8 ) showed high catalytic activities and good stability for prolonged reaction time and elevated reaction temperature; however, C1 showed a short lifetime in catalysis as being observed at very low activity after 5 min. The elevated reaction temperature enhanced the productivity of polyethylenes with low molecular weights, whereas the reaction with higher ethylene pressure resulted in better catalytic activity and resultant polyethylenes with higher molecular weights. At higher ratio of MAO to titanium precursor, the catalytic system generated better activity with producing polyethylenes with lower molecular weights. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3411–3423, 2008