Study of the supported zirconocene catalysts by means of UV/vis and DRIFT spectroscopy

UV/vis in diffusion reflection mode (DRS) and DRIFT spectroscopy have been used to study the surface zirconocene species formed at the interaction of Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrMe₂ complexes with the MAO/SiO₂ support. Effect of additional activation of these catalysts with TIBA has been studied as well.

Structure of type Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrMe]⁺MeMAO]⁻ (C) is formed at the reaction of Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrMe₂ complex with MAO/SiO₂ (a.b. at 456 nm in UV/vis spectra). Interaction of this complex with TIBA results in the formation of new structure (D) with a.b. at 496 nm in UV/vis spectra.

The surface species of different composition and structures are formed at interaction of Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ complex with MAO/SiO₂. The ratio between these species depends on the zirconium content in the Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂ catalysts. According to the DRIFTS data (CO and ethylene adsorption) and ethylene polymerization data these catalysts contain active ZrMe bonds but activity of these catalysts at ethylene polymerization is low. Interaction of Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂ with TIBA leads to the formation of the new cationic structure of type (D) with a.b. at 496 nm in UV/vis spectra and great increasing of activity at ethylene polymerization.