Immobilized organometallic catalysts in the catalytic polymerization of olefins

Studies in the field of supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts employed for the polymerization of olefins that were begun by works performed under the guidance of Prof. Chirkov are reviewed in brief. The development of immobilization procedure for metallocene catalysts including the synthesis of alkylaluminoxanes heterogenized on the support surface via the partial hydrolysis of AlR₃ by water contained in the support and subsequent supporting of a metallocene is described. It is revealed how the immobilization of various metallocenes on the solid surface affects the activity of the catalysts and the structure and molecular mass of the polymers. The use of immobilized organometallic catalysts for the polymerization filling of polyolefin matrices aimed at the design of new polymer composites with special characteristics and preparation of polyolefin nanocomposites is considered.     

Enthalpies of elementary chain propagation steps in the oxidation of organic compounds

A calculation of the enthalpies of elementary steps of the intra- and intermolecular chain propagation for model oxidation reactions of ethers, esters, ketones and hydrocarbons has been carried out. The heats of the intermolecular and intramolecular transfer of free valence with participation of peroxy radicals and C−H bond of the oxygen-containing compounds are shown to be comparable.     

Niobium complexes as catalytic precursors for the polymerization of olefins

Until now niobium compounds have been very rarely applied for the polymerization of olefins, notwithstanding their moderate cost, limited toxicity and the large availability of stable oxidation states, which makes them versatile precursors. The data reported to date on ethylene and norbornene polymerization catalysts are discussed, with particular reference to the evolution of the approach to the design of these systems, starting from isoelectronic, isolobal or isostructural relationships with Group 4 metallocene catalysts. The catalytic performances in ethylene and norbornene polymerization of the niobium precursors with cyclopentadienyl, diene, amido, amidinate, pyrazolylborate ligands have been compared. The most recent results have been discussed, comparing the reported activities for complexes with phenolate, bis(imino)pyridine and N,N-dialkylcarbamate ligands.Significant improvements in norbornene ROMP have been recently achieved, whilst for ethylene polymerization the process of optimization of the niobium-based catalytic systems still needs hard work.     

Catalytic polymerization of olefins

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Catalytic polymerization of olefins

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Catalytic polymerization of olefins

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic olefins

The polymerization and the polymerizabilities of indene, benzofuran, and 1,2-dihydronaphthalene are discussed from the point of view of ring strain, ring stabilization, and steric hindrance in the transition state. Monomer reactivities of these olefins were estimated from copolymerization with styrene and from the rate of addition of iodine bromide in acetic acid. Rates and degrees of polymerization are compared with monomer reactivities and resonance energies of indene, 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, and benzofuran as a measure of ring strain and stabilization. It is found that indence is 1.5–2.0 times more reactive than styrene. This high reactivity of indene is attributed to the ring strain in the monomer state and to the low amount of steric hindrance in the transition state of the coplanar five-membered cyclic olefin. 1,2-Dihydronaphthalene is strained and therefore reactive, but propagation to higher molecular weight products is impeded due to the steric hindrance. The reactivity of benzofuran is decreased by conjugative stabilization of C?C double bonds at the reaction site.     

Initiation and propagation steps in the equibinary polymerization of butadiene by bis(h3-allylnickel trifluoroacetate)

Polymerization of butadiene by bis(h³-allylnickel trifluoroacetate) in benzene and o-dichlorobenzene solvents yields an equibinary 1,4-polybutadiene, containing equal amounts of cis and trans isomers. Initiation proceeds by addition of the allylic moiety of the initiator to a butadiene molecule. The rate of initiation is high enough to ensure complete consumption of the catalyst for a monomer/catalyst molar ratio of about 10 at 5°C. The propagation exhibits the characteristics of a “living” polymerization: the molecular weight is proportional to the conversion, and at the end of the reaction, the average degree of polymerization is equal to the monomer/catalyst molar ratio. Living polybutadienyl-nickel trifluoroacetate is able to reinitiate not only butadiene polymerization but also allene polymerization. However, for high [monomer]/[catalyst] ratios, conversion-dependent transfer reactions limit the molecular weight to 7000 in benzene and to 70,000 in bulk polymerization in the presence of small amounts of o-dichlorobenzene.