Sol-gel material as a support of organometallic catalyst for ethylene polymerization

The sol-gel procedure was applied to obtain powdery materials with different structures and morphology. It was possible to produce almost non-porous silica powder, with an extremely low surface area (ca. 4 m²/g) and very high uniformity of spherical particles as well as materials with various uniformity of particles and different porosity, most likely associated with increasing pore volume. Dependent on the properties of the carrier, the resulting supported vanadium catalysts (VOCl₃/AlEt₂Cl) showed significant differences concerning activity and stability. It was confirmed that improved hydrophobicity of the carrier’s surface may be useful and improve the activity of the system in the polymerization. It was found that the two-step modification procedure, involving a reaction with alkylaluminum, acts beneficially for the efficiency of supported catalysts. The system supported on sol-gel material with methyl groups, additionally pre-treated with diethylaluminum chloride, showed the highest activity as well as the lowest deactivation rate constant among all those studied.     

One-pot synthesis of VO x /Al 2 O 3 as efficient catalysts for propane dehydrogenation

Vanadium oxides, as highly efficiently catalysts, are widely applied in various catalytic reactions, such as the dehydrogenation of light alkanes and epoxidation of alkenes. In this paper, a series of VO _x /Al ₂ O ₃ catalysts were fabricated by the 1-pot method for catalytic propane dehydrogenation. The results indicated that the VO _x /Al ₂ O ₃ catalysts with loading of 10 wt.% vanadium exhibited optimized catalytic performance. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by N ₂ adsorption-desorption, XRD, TEM, H ₂ -TPR, and XPS to explore the texture properties, morphology, and electronic environment of vanadium. In addition, several vanadium catalysts were also prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) method to compare their catalytic performance with the 1-pot synthesized catalysts. The catalysts synthesized by the 1-pot method exhibited higher selectivity of propylene and longer catalyst lifetime at high propane conversion when compared to the counterpart synthesized by the IWI method.     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by AlR3–VCln catalysts. I. Influence of preparative conditions of the catalysts

The polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the VCl_n–AIR₃ system was carefully studied. The vanadium components were prepared by the reaction between VCl₄ and AlEt₃ or n-BuLi as a reducing agent. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₂·2LiCl are the effective catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. When VCl₃·LiCl is combined with AlR₃, a new catalytic system is formed. The effect of the preparative conditions of the various vanadium component in the AlR₃–VCl_n system shows that the effective vanadium component is trivalent. In the polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl–Al (i-Bu)₃ system, a change of the polymerization mechanism may occur at Al(i-Bu)₃/VCl₃·LiCl ratio at around 5. When the ratio is lower than 5, a cationic polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl takes place predominantly, while at ratios higher than 5, it is suggested that the polymerization proceeds by means of a VCl₃·LiClA–Al(i-Bu)₃ complex by a coordinated anionic mechanism. The polymers obtained by these catalysts are highly crystalline. Styrene was also polymerized by using the same catalysts. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₃·LiCl–THF complex yielded amorphous polymer by cationic polymerization. When VCl₃·LiCl was combined with 6 mole-eq of Al(i-Bu)₃, the resulting polystyrene was highly crystalline and had an isotactic structure, while the VCl₂·2LiCl–Al(i-Bu)₃ (1:6) system yielded traces of polymer of extremely low stereoregularity. The results indicate that the effective vanadium component at Al/V ≧ 6 is trivalent and that the mechanism is a coordinated anionic one.     

Ethylene polymerization catalysts from supported organotransition metal complexes: I. Pentadienyl derivatives of Ti,V, and Cr

A new class of ethylene polymerization catalysts, namely the bis-(2,4-dimethyl pentadienyl) derivatives of titanium, vanadium, and chromium, have been synthesized and tested. When supported on a variety of inorganic carriers, these compounds yielded 0.2–1.0 million g polymer/g metal/h under typical slurry conditions. Sensitivity to H₂ as a molecular weight regulator varied among the three metals, but in the absence of H₂ all produced ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene. The molecular weight distribution varied from moderately narrow to very broad (bimodal) depending on the metal and the carrier. Catalyst synthesis and polymer properties are discussed.     

Ethylene polymerization with FI complexes having novel phenoxy‐imine ligands: Effect of metal type and complex immobilization

A series of bis(phenoxy‐imine) vanadium and zirconium complexes with different types of R³ substituents at the nitrogen atom, where R³ = phenyl, naphthyl, or anthryl, was synthesized and investigated in ethylene polymerization. Moreover, the catalytic performance was verified for three supported catalysts, which had been obtained by immobilization of bis[N‐(salicylidene)‐1‐naphthylaminato]M(IV) dichloride complexes (M = V, Zr, or Ti) on the magnesium carrier MgCl₂(THF)₂/Et₂AlCl. Catalytic performance of both supported and homogeneous catalysts was verified in conjunction with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or with alkylaluminium compounds (Et_nAlCl_3?n, n = 1–3). The activity of FI vanadium and zirconium complexes was observed to decline for the growing size of R³, whereas the average molecular weight (MW) of the polymers was growing for larger substituent. Moreover, vanadium complexes exhibited the highest activity with EtAlCl₂, whereas zirconium ones showed the best activity with MAO. All immobilized systems were most active in conjunction with MAO, and their activities were higher than those for their homogeneous counterparts, and they gave polymers with higher average MWs. That effect was in particular evident for the titanium catalyst. The vanadium complex 3 was also a good precursor for ethylene/1‐octene copolymerization; however, its immobilization reduced its potential for incorporation of a comonomer into a polyethylene chain. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Polymerization of ethylene at high temperature by vanadium-based heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I. Study of the deactivation process

Kinetics of the polymerization of ethylene initiated by heterogeneous vanadium-based Ziegler-Natta catalysts (VCI₃-1/3 AICI₃) have been studied at high temperature (160°C, 5 bars) and compared with a titanium-based system. For the V catalyst, the dependence of the polymerization activity versus time, with the nature and the concentration of the associated aluminum alkyl, has been investigated. Kinetic results have also been correlated with the oxidation state of vanadium in the polymerization conditions. Despite the relatively high initial activity a low productivity is obtained; it can be attributed to a very fast deactivation of the active sites due to the reduction of vanadium III into vanadium II. The effect of the nature of the alkyl aluminum component of the catalytic system on the reduction process is shown. A kinetic model for the polymerization is proposed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ethylenebis(5‐chlorosalicylideneiminato)vanadium dichloride immobilized on MgCl2‐based supports as a highly effective precursor for ethylene polymerization

Ethylenebis(5‐chlorosalicylideneiminato)vanadium dichloride supported on MgCl₂(THF)₂ or on the same carrier modified by Et_nAlCl_3?n, where n = 1–3, was used in ethylene polymerization in the presence of MAO or a common alkylaluminium compounds as a cocatalyst. The support type alter vanadium loading and also change the characteristic of the catalytic active sites. Et₂AlCl is the best activator for a catalyst which has been immobilized on a nonmodified support, whereas the systems which contain a carrier which has been modified by an organoaluminium compound reveal the highest activity in conjunction with MAO. That difference, together with different temperature effects on polymerization efficiency (i.e., decrease and increase of catalytic activity for increasing temperatures, respectively) suggest the formation of different types of active sites in the catalytic systems supported on modified and nonmodified magnesium carrier. However, all supported precatalysts possess a long lifetime, still being active towards ethylene polymerization after 2 h. All the systems yield wide MWD polyethylene, while bimodal MWD is found for some part of analyzed samples. Polyethylene with bimodal particle size distribution is formed with the system which contain modified carriers at higher temperatures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3480–3489, 2009     

Ethylene polymerization with a supported vanadium catalyst obtained by the molecular deposition method

An active-phase monolayer has been deposited on SiO₂ using replacement of the surface OH groups by VOCl₃ vapour. The amount of vanadium fixed on the SiO₂ surface depends on the initial concentration of the silanol groups and ranges from 3.36 to 1.43%. In combination with diethyl aluminium chloride, the products are active catalysts for ethylene polymerization. The effects of the reaction conditions (the time of catalyst-complex formation, the catalyst life time and the temperature of polymerization) as well as the effect of the vanadium content, the A1:V ratio and the presence of diphenyl magnesium on the activity of the catalyst system have been investigated. The catalyst activity was found to depend strongly on the amount of vanadium fixed on the support surface. The maximum productivity obtained is about 22,000 gPE/g vanadium. Some basic characteristics of the synthesized polymer such as tensile strength, elongation at break, density and crystallization degree are given.     

A novel zirconocene/ultradispersed diamond black powder supported catalytic system for ethylene polymerization

A novel carrier of ultradispersed diamond black powder (UDDBP) was used to support metallocene catalyst. Al₂O₃ was also used as carrier in order to compare with UDDBP. Supported catalysts for ethylene polymerization were synthesized by two different reaction methods. One way was direct immobilization of the metallocene on the support, the other was adsorption of MAO onto the support followed by addition of the metallocene. Four supported catalysts Cp₂ZrCl₂/UDDBP, Cp₂ZrCl₂/Al₂O₃, Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/UDDBP and Cp₂ZrCl₂/Al₂O₃/MAO were obtained. The content of the zirconium in the supported catalyst was determined by UV spectroscopy. The activity of the ethylene polymerization catalyzed by supported catalyst was investigated. The influence of Al/Zr molar ratio and polymerization temperature on the activity was discussed. The polymerization rate was also observed.     

Olefin metathesis polymerization: Some recent developments in the precise polymerizations for synthesis of advanced materials (by ROMP,ADMET)

Recent results for synthesis of end-functionalized polymers (EFP) by using olefin metathesis polymerization have been introduced including basic characteristics in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclic olefins and acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization for synthesis of conjugated polymers. Several approaches were demonstrated for synthesis of EFP by living ROMP using molybdenum (exclusive coupling with aldehyde) and ruthenium catalysts (sacrificial ROMP, chain transfer). Cis specific (Z selective) ROMPs were achieved by molybdenum, ruthenium, and vanadium catalysts by the ligand modification. The catalytic synthesis of EFP with high cis selectivity has been achieved by combined ROMP with chain transfer by V(CHSiMe₃)(N-2,6-Cl₂C₆H₃)[OC(CF₃)₃](PMe₃)₂. The ADMET polymerization using molybdenum and ruthenium catalysts afforded defect-free, high molecular weight poly(arylene vinylene)s containing all trans olefinic double bonds. The methods for precise synthesis of EFPs, exhibiting unique optical properties combined with the end groups, were developed. The catalytic one-pot syntheses for EFPs have also been developed.     

Olefin polymerization catalyzed by amide vanadium(IV) complexes: The stereo‐ and regiochemistry of propylene insertion

The reaction of VCl₃(THF)₃ with 1 equiv of the lithium salt of ligand ArNH(Me₂SiCH₂CH₂SiMe₂)NHAr or ArNH(SiMe₃) (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃) afforded the corresponding V(IV) amide complexes, [1,2‐CH₂CH₂(Me₂SiNAr)₂]VCl₂ ( 3 ) and (Me₃SiNAr)₂VCl₂ ( 4 ). The activation of 3 and 4 with the alkyl aluminum compound Al₂Et₃Cl₃ or AlEt₂Cl produced active ethylene polymerization catalysts exhibiting productivity values among the highest reported for vanadium amide based catalysts. Moreover, syndiotactic specific propylene polymerization was successfully conducted at ?40 °C in the presence of 3 /Al₂Et₃Cl₃ and 4 /Al₂Et₃Cl₃. Syndiotactic polypropylenes with moderate stereoregularity ([rr] = 0.66) and a concentration of regioirregular propylene of 6.9 mol % were obtained. Monomodal molecular weight distributions and polydispersity indices lower than 2 were observed in the polymerization runs carried out in heptane solutions. Thus, ethylene–propylene copolymers with propylene concentrations up to 45 mol % were synthesized and characterized by ¹³C NMR and thermal analysis. Good alternation and random distribution of the two monomers were actually obtained. Samples with elevated concentrations of propylene were completely amorphous, with a glass‐transition temperature of ?50 °C. The properties and structure of the copolymers produced with amide vanadium catalysts 3 and 4 were similar to those reported for ethylene–propylenes produced with industrial vanadium‐based catalysts, suggesting the presence of the same active catalyst species. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3279–3289, 2006     

Vanadium Modification Effects on the (SiO2/MgO/MgCl2)•TiClx Ziegler–Natta Polyethylene Catalyst

A novel vanadium‐modified (SiO₂/MgO/MgCl₂)·TiCl_x Ziegler–Natta ethylene polymerization catalyst with much better catalytic performance is successfully developed. The catalyst is prepared by co‐impregnation of aqueous solution of water‐soluble magnesium and vanadium compounds on SiO₂, and a supported thin layer of magnesium and vanadium oxides is formed over the surface of SiO₂ after high temperature calcination in dry air, followed by further reaction with titanium tetrachloride to synthesize the magnesium dichloride carrier in situ and to support the titanium species simultaneously. By characterization of the catalysts and the polymers and investigation of the polymerization behaviors, it is found that compared with the original (SiO₂/MgO/MgCl₂)·TiCl_x ZN catalyst, the introduction of vanadium species induce improved catalytic performance with 27% higher activity, 48% higher hydrogen response, and 60% higher 1‐hexene incorporation ability with better short chain branch distribution.

     

Single-site catalyst immobilization using magnesium chloride supports

Immobilization and activation of a broad range of titanium-, chromium-and nickel-based single-site catalysts for ethylene polymerization has been carried out using supports of type MgCl₂/AlR_n(OEt)_{3 − n} , prepared by reaction of AlR₃ with adducts of magnesium chloride and ethanol. The spherical particle morphology of the support is retained and replicated during catalyst immobilization and polymerization, yielding polyethylenes with controlled particle size and morphology. The single-site nature of these catalysts is also retained, giving polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, very high catalyst activities can be obtained as a result of a stabilizing effect of the support, which prevents the rapid decay in activity often observed in homogeneous polymerization with these catalysts. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Vanadium oxide monolayer catalysts. I. Preparation,characterization, and thermal stability

Vanadium oxide catalysts of the monolayer type have been prepared by means of chemisorption of vanadate(V)-anions from aqueous solutions and by chemisorption of gaseous V₂O₃(OH)₄. Using Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, TiO₂, CeO₂ and ZrO₂, catalysts with an approximately complete monomolecular layer of vanadium(V) oxide on the carrier oxides can be prepared, if temperature is not too high. Divalent metal oxides like CdO and ZnO may already form threedimensional surface vanadates at moderate temperature. The thermal stability of a monolayer catalyst is related to the parameter z/a, i. e. the ratio of the carrier cation charge to the sum of ionic radii of carrier cation and oxide anion. Thus, monolayer catalysts will be thermally stable only under the condition that z/a is not too high (aggregated catalyst) nor too small (ternary compound formation).     

Organometallic vanadium-based heterogeneous catalysts for ethylene polymerization. Study of the deactivation process

Slurry polymerizations of ethylene over vanadium catalysts (based on VCl₄ and VOCl₃) and their MgCl₂(THF)₂-supported equivalents were studied. Unsupported vanadium catalysts were found to be unstable while the vanadium active sites deposited on the MgCl₂(THF)₂ complex are stable. A sharply outlined correlation was found between the concentration of vanadium(III) and catalyst productivity. The high activity and stability of the vanadium catalyst when supported on the magnesium complex is attributed to the increase of resistance to reduction of active vanadium(III) to inactive vanadium(II) by an organoaluminium co-catalyst.     

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.     

Catalytic properties of the VO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">х</Emphasis></Subscript>/Ce<Subscript>0.46</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.54</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> oxide system in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Ce_0.46Zr_0.54O₂ solid solution prepared using a cellulose template was employed as a carrier for vanadium catalysts of the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The properties of VO _х /Ce_0.46Zr_0.54O₂ catalyst (5 wt % vanadium) are compared with the properties of the neat support. The carrier and catalyst are studied by means of BET, SEM, DTA, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that the CeVO₄ phase responsible for the ODH process is formed upon interaction between vanadate ions and cerium ions on the surface of the solid solution. The catalytic properties of the catalyst and the support are studied in the propane oxidation reaction at temperatures of 450 and 500°C with pulse feeding of the reagent. It is found that the complete oxidation of propane occurs on the support with formation of CO₂ and H₂O. Three products (propene, CO₂, and H₂O) form in the presence of the vanadium catalyst. It is suggested that there are two types of catalytic centers on the catalyst’s surface. It is concluded that the centers responsible for the complete oxidation of propane are concentrated mainly on the carrier, while the centers responsible for propane ODH are on the CeVO₄.     

Characterization of vanadium-based olefin polymerization catalyst precursors by solid-state 51v-nmr

Several VOCL₃-based ethylene polymerization catalyst precursors were prepared on silica and studied by solid-state ⁵¹V-NMR. The structure of the vanadium species in these samples, as determined by ⁵¹V-NMR, did not have any significant effect on the resultant polyethylene MI or MWD. This result is significant since conventional wisdom says the attachment of the transition metal to the silica plays a key role in polymer properties. VOCl₃ reacted with hexamethyldisilazane-treated silica and with 250°C dried silica results in double attachment of the vanadium to the silica, yet the catalysts which formed had different reactivities and produced polyethylene with different HLMIs. On the other hand, VOCl₃ reacted with 600°C dried silica results in single attachment of the vanadium to the silica, yet this catalyst had a similar reactivity and produced polymer properties similar to the doubly attached vanadium on 250°C dried silica. Two theories are offered to explain the lack of correlation between catalyst precursor structure and catalyst performance. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oxidation of 3- and 4-methylpyridines on modified vanadium oxide catalysts

The partial oxidation of 3- and 4-methylpyridines on V₂O₅ and vanadium oxide catalysts doped with TiO₂, Al₂O₃, and ZrO₂ was studied. The catalytic activities of the studied catalysts were correlated with the calculated proton affinities of the vanadyl oxygen. A possible mechanism of the surface stages of the partial oxidation of 3- and 4-methylpyridines on the vanadium oxide catalysts was discussed.     

Morphospecific polymerization: Polyoxymethylene copolymers

Homopolymerization and copolymerization of trioxane by use of various catalysts have been investigated. When MoO₂(AcAc)₂ is employed, crystalline homopolymers and copolymers as formed from polymerization exhibit significantly higher melting points than corresponding polymers prepared by use of ordinary cationic catalysts. The higher melting points are attributed to different morphology of the polymer chains formed during polymerization. We now call this phenomenon morphospecific polymerization. This communication describes our results in the copolymerization of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane and some outstanding properties of the copolymers. A polymerization mechanism is also proposed.