Some newer concepts on ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization on heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts

Unsteady diffusion kinetics, recently advanced by this laboratory, is applied to the examination of some polymerization and molecular chain structure problems. Hitherto deemed “anomalous” phenomena, such as the faster rate of copolymerization of ethylene/α-olefin than the homopolymerization of ethylene and the enrichment in the incorporation of a higher α-olefin in its copolymerization with ethylene by a lower α-olefin, are reasonably explained by unsteady diffusion of monomers. Molecular chain structure of copolymers, such as compositional heterogeneity and its dependence on comonomer incorporation originates from the difference in diffusion coefficients of the monomers. A copolymer composition equation taking into consideration the unsteady diffusion was developed. In cases where simulated curves were compared with experimental curves, good agreements were found.     

Groups 3 and 4 single-site catalysts for styrene–ethylene and styrene–α-olefin copolymerization

Styrene–ethylene and styrene–α-olefin copolymers are relatively new materials that were developed since the early 1990s thanks to homogeneous single-site catalysts. A wide range of copolymers, differing in their compositions, microstructures and properties have been prepared by using several types of early transition (groups 3 and 4) metal catalysts, which are critically reviewed in this contribution. Structure–activity–control relationships are also discussed.     

Atmospheric reactivity of ethylene catalyzed by β‐diketiminato Ni(II)/methylaluminoxane system

Atmospheric ethylene reactions were studied with backbone fluorinated β‐diketiminato Ni(II) complexes CH{C(CF₃)NAr}₂NiBr (1, Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, and 2 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The catalytic systems exhibit the characteristics of catalyzing simultaneously polymerization and oligomerization of ethylene, indicating different active species involved in the reaction system. In an effort to investigate the alkylation species involved in the β‐diketiminato nickel (II)/MAO system, the reaction of 1 with methylaluminoxane were studied. With ¹⁹F{¹H NMR} spectra, two sets of new signals different from 1 were presented. Two alkylation products were proposed precursors of active species for producing oligomer and polymer of ethylene in the β‐diketiminato Ni(II)/MAO system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ethylene copolymerization with cyclic dienes using rac‐Et[Ind]2ZrCl2–Methylaluminoxane

The effect of the copolymerization temperature and amount of comonomer in the copolymerization of ethylene with 1,3‐cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, and 4‐vinyl‐1‐cyclohexene and the rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂–methylaluminoxane metallocene system was studied. The amount of comonomer present in the reaction media influenced the catalytic activity. Dicyclopentadiene was the most reactive comonomer among the cyclic dienes studied. In general, copolymers synthesized at 60 °C showed higher catalytic activities. Ethylene–dicyclopentadiene copolymers with high comonomer contents (>9%) did not show melting temperatures. 1,3‐Cyclopentadiene dimerized into dicyclopentadiene during the copolymerization, giving a terpolymer of ethylene, cyclopentadiene, and dicyclopentadiene. A complete characterization of the products was carried out with ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, heteronuclear chemical shift correlation, differential scanning calorimetry, and gel permeation chromatography. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 471–485, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10133     

Microstructure analysis of ethylene/1-hexene co-polymers with embeddedrac-Et[Ind]2ZrCl2 metallocene catalyst

Co-polymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene usingrac-Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst embedded in polystyrene in liquid slurry process was examined. The embedded catalyst was prepared by polymerizing a small amount of styrene. The specific activities and bulk densities of the copolymers produced by the embedded catalyst were higher than those of the homogeneous catalyst. The produced co-polymer with embedded catalyst had more random distribution of 1-hexene at the similar co-monomer content than that with homogeneous catalyst.     

α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization catalysed by novel ansa‐group IV complexes/MAO system

The catalytic properties of a set of ansa‐complexes (R‐Ph)₂C(Cp)(Ind)MCl₂ [R = ^tBu, M = Ti ( 3 ), Zr ( 4 ) or Hf ( 5 ); R = MeO, M = Zr ( 6 ), Hf ( 7 )] in α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization were explored in the presence of MAO (methylaluminoxane). Complex 4 with steric bulk ^tBu group on phenyl exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. It was 1.6‐fold more active than complex 11 [Ph₂C(Cp)(Ind)ZrCl₂] at 11 atm ethylene pressure and was 4.8‐fold more active at 1 atm pressure. The introduction of bulk substituent ^tBu into phenyl groups not only increased the catalytic activity greatly but also enhanced the content of 1‐hexene in ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The highest 1‐hexene incorporation was 25.4%. In addition, 4 was also active for propylene and 1‐hexene homopolymerization, respectively, and low isotactic polypropylene (mmmm = 11.3%) and isotactic polyhexene (mmmm = 31.6%) were obtained. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalytic activity during copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene via mixed TiO2/SiO2-supported MAO with rac-Et[Ind]2ZrCl2 metallocene catalyst

Activities during ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization were found to increase using the mixed titania/silica-supported MAO with rac-Et[Ind]2ZrCl2 metallocene catalyst. Energy Dispersive X-ray spectorcopy (EDX) indicated that the titania was apparently located on the outer surface of silica and acted as a spacer to anchor MAO to the silica surface. IR spectra revealed the Si-O-Ti stretching at 980 cm(-1) with low content of titania. The presence of anchored titania resulted in less steric hindrance and less interaction due to supporting effect.     

Copolymerization of ethylene with higher linear α-olefins—reactivity ratios

Copolymerization of ethylene with mixtures of linear α-olefins C₆–C₃₆ in the presence of two heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts, δ-TiCl₃–AlEt₃ and TiCl₄/MgCl₂–AlEt₃, at 90°C was studied by the GC method, and reactivity ratios for all paris ethylene–α-olefin were estimated from the data on olefin consumption in the reactions. In the case of the δ-TiCl₃–AlEt₃ system, the r₂ value decreases from ca. 0.05 for 1-decene to ca. 0.02 for α-C₂₂H₄₄ and then remains approximately constant. This change is similar to the dependence of the modified steric parameter E_S^C of the olefin alkyl group on the size of the alkyl group. In the case of the supported TiCl₄/MgCl₂–AlEt₃ system a similar variation of r₂ with the length of the alkyl group were observed but the absolute values of r₂ were six to ten times lower than those for the first catalytic system.     

Ethylene/hexene copolymerization with the heterogeneous catalyst system SiO2/MAO/rac‐Me2Si[2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind]2ZrCl2: The filter effect

The main focus of this study is the ethylene/hexene copolymerization with the silica supported metallocene SiO₂/MAO/rac‐Me₂Si[2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind]₂ZrCl₂. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at a reaction temperature of 40°C–60°C and the cocatalyst used was triisobutylaluminium (TIBA). The kinetics of the copolymerization reactions (reactivity ratios r_E/H, monomer consumption during reaction) were investigated and molecular weights M_w, molecular weight distributions MWD and melting points T_m were determined. A schematic model for the blend formation observed was developed that based on a filtration effect of monomers by the copolymer shell around the catalyst pellet.     

Azidokomplexe des Zirkoniums: ZrCl3N3, [ZrCl4N3]22⊝, [ZrCl4(N3)2]2⊝; die Kristallstruktur von (PPh4)2[ZrCl4N3]2

Azido Complexes of Zirconium: ZrCl₃N₃, [ZrCl₄N₃]₂^2?, [ZrCl₄(N₃)₂]^2?; Crystal Structure of (PPh₄)₂ [ZrCl₄N₃]₂ Highly explosive ZrCl₃N₃ is formed by the reaction of ZrCl₄ with iodine azide in dichloromethane suspension. According to the i.r. spectra, the compound is polymeric by azide and chlorine bridges. Zirconium tetrachloride reacts with one and two moles of tetraphenylphosphonium azide respectively, forming the thermally and mechanically stable complexes (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄N₃]₂ and (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄(N₃)₂]. The crystal structure of (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄N₃]₂ was determined by X-ray methods (1942 reflexions, R = 6.5%). The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with two formula units per unit cell. The structure consists of tetraphenylphosphonium cations and dimeric anions [ZrCl₄N₃]₂^2?, in which the Zr atoms are linked by the α-N atoms of the azide groups, forming a centrosymmetric Zr₂N₂ ring with symmetry D_2h. According to the i.r. spectra, the azide groups in the complex (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄(N₃)₂] are covalently bonded at the Zr atom in trans positions.     

Novel polymer-supported β-diketonate nickel catalysts for α-olefin activation

Styrene–divinylbenzene resins were used for the synthesis of different polymer-bound β-diketones, obtained by anchoring the chelating group through either the central or the lateral position. The heterogenized diketone ligand was subsequently reacted with Ni(COD)₂ analogously to the corresponding homogeneous catalysts active in α-olefin oligomerization. The heterogenized catalysts showed a good activity only when the central position of the chelate moiety was free. Heterogenization caused a significant change of selectivity: olefin oligomerization was accompanied by the formation of a large amount of polymeric products. This behavior is discussed in terms of steric effects caused by the bulky polymeric ligand. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temperature dependence of copolymerization parameters in ethene/1-octene copolymerization using homogeneous rac-Me2Si(2-MeBenz[e]Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO catalyst

Ethene was copolymerized with 1-octene using homogeneous MAO-activated rac-Me₂Si(2-MeBenz[e]Ind)₂ZrCl₂ at constant ethene concentration with temperature varying between 0 and 60°C to determine a temperature dependence of copolymerization parameters. At constant 1-octene and ethene concentration (constant ethene/1-octene feed molar ratio) 1-octene incorporation decreased with increasing temperature. Furthermore, when ethene/1-octene molar ratio was varied by varying the temperature keeping 1-octene concentration and ethene pressure constant, increasing temperature accounted for lower molecular masses without affecting 1-octene incorporation. An explanation for the observed temperature dependence of the copolymerization parameters is presented, considering the solution-enthalpy of the gaseous ethene in the solvent. In all cases amorphous poly(ethene-co-1-octene) with 1-octene content varying between 20 and 40 mol % was obtained. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization with bis(β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes activated with modified methylaluminoxane

Copolymerizations of ethylene with α‐olefins (i.e., 1‐hexene, 1‐octene, allylbenzene, and 4‐phenyl‐1‐butene) using the bis(β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes [(Ph)NC(R₂)CHC(R₁)O]₂TiCl₂ ( 1a : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = CH₃; 1b : R₁ = Ph, R₂ = CF₃; and 1c : R₁ = t‐Bu, R₂ = CF₃), activated with modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, have been investigated. The catalyst activity, comonomer incorporation, and molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of the polymers produced can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of the catalyst structure, α‐olefin, and reaction parameters such as the comonomer feed concentration. The substituents R₁ and R₂ of the ligands affect considerably both the catalyst activity and comonomer incorporation. Precatalyst 1a exhibits high catalytic activity and produces high‐molecular‐weight copolymers with high α‐olefin insertion. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6323–6330, 2005     

A chemiluminescence study on thermal and photostability of ethylene/α-olefin copolymers synthesized with rac-Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO catalyst system

Copolymers of ethylene and α-hexene or α-octadecene were synthesised, and the relationship between their degradation and the type and content of comonomer was investigated by chemiluminescence, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis. A clear effect of the length of branches on the thermal behaviour of copolymers was found. The insertion of octadecene caused the formation of a higher content of oxidised species in those copolymers. It may be related to the increase of length of branching which favoured the scission of the carbon–carbon bonds to form alkyl radicals in the earlier stages. It was observed that thermal stability decreased as the comonomer was incorporated. The isothermal CL curves under oxygen exhibited double stage, oxygen independent and oxygen diffusion controlled reactions. The intensity of CL of second stage, decreased and shifted to longer time as the comonomer content increased. This effect was attributed to crosslinking processes which are favoured with the increase of branching degree. Otherwise, for copolymers with high comonomer content, the chemiluminescence intensity enhanced and shifted to shorter time. It was associated to the decrease of the molecular weight, and as consequence, more reactive terminal groups which drives to the promotion of the initiation of thermal oxidation.Copolymers were UV-exposured and CL measured at different irradiation period of times. From the beginning, CL intensity slightly increased with time, followed by a drastically enhancement of emission intensity, and enhancement of chemiluminescence decay rate values, as result of degradation of samples and the higher mobility of peroxides to recombine. The results were supported by FTIR and TGA analysis, which revealed the higher degree of degradation for the copolymers as the comonomer content increased.     

Photochemical reactivity of α,β-unsaturated δ-lactams: Synthesis of seco-steroids. Photochemical reactions. XIII [1]

The UV. irradiation of 17 β-hydroxy-2-aza-4-androsten-3-one (1) , N-methyl-17 β-hydroxy-2-aza-4-androsten-3-one (3) , 17 β-hydroxy-4-aza-5 β-androst-1-en-3-one (2) and N-methyl-17 β-hydroxy-4-aza-5 β-androst-1-en-3-one (4) , gives rise to 1,10-seco (from 1 and 3 ) and 5, 10-seco (from 2 and 4 ) steroids.     

球形MgCl2负载的MAO/rac-Et[Ind]2ZrCl2催化剂催化丙烯 聚合

采用只在球形MgCl2上负载MAO,聚合前再同rac--Et[Ind]2ZrCl2预混的负载方式进行丙烯聚合。在少量AlEt3的活化下,很低的Al(MAO)/Zr摩尔比时即可获得比均相催化剂高一个数量级的活性,考察了温度、压力、Al(MAO)/Zr摩尔比和催化剂浓度对聚合的影响,同时用13^CNMR测定了均相和载体催化体系所制备的聚丙烯的微结构,发现负载型茂金属催化剂制得的聚丙烯立构规整性高于均相体系,其五元组立构序列[mmmm]可从均相的52.6%提高到负载催化剂的79.5%。扫描电镜观察表明,聚合物颗粒可较好地复制球形催化剂的颗粒形态。     

Insights into propylene/ω‐halo‐α‐alkenes copolymerization promoted by rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 and (pyridyl‐amido)hafnium catalysts

This article discussed the root causes of the interesting differences between rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and dimethyl (pyridyl‐amido)hafnium in catalyzing the propylene/ω‐halo‐α‐alkene copolymerization. Confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the larger spacial opening around the active center of rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ contributes to the coordination and insertion of the monomers, resulting in the higher catalytic activity, while the narrow spacial opening around the Hf center retards the chain transfer reaction, leading to the much higher molecular weights (M_ws) of the copolymers. The superior tolerability of Zr catalyst toward halogen groups might be attributed to that the dormant species generated from halogen coordination could be promptly reactivated. DFT calculations indicated the higher probability for the ω‐halo‐α‐alkene vinyl to coordinate with the Hf catalyst leading to the better ability to incorporate halogenated monomers. The high M_ws and the outstanding isotacticity achieved by the Hf catalyst determined the higher melting temperature values of the copolymers with a certain amount of halogen groups. In addition, the chain transfer schemes were employed to analyze why the presence of halogenated monomers greatly decreased the M_ws of the copolymers when rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ was used, while had no or little effect upon the M_ws in the copolymerization by the Hf catalyst. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3421–3428