Theoretical investigations on Ziegler-Natta catalysis: Alkylation of the TiCl4 catalyst

Theoretical ab initio methods have been used to study the alkylation reaction of the MgCl₂-supported TiCl₄ catalyst. Investigation of the reaction path indicated that the Al(CH₃)₃ co-catalyst inserts into the coordination sphere of the titanium atom of the catalyst so that a methyl group of Al(CH₃)₃ interacts with the titanium. The methyl group migrates from Al(CH₃)₃ to the vacant coordination site of the catalyst. When the catalyst loses one of its chlorine atoms to the co-catalyst during this reaction, the catalyst maintains its vacant site, but the position of the vacant site changes. The presence of the external electron donor coordinated to the co-catalyst makes the alkylation reaction energetically more favourable.