Development of novel MgCl2 supported catalyst with trivalent titanocene complex of CP2TiCl2AlCl2 for propylene polymerization

Three kinds of MgCl₂‐supported trivalent titanocene catalyst (Cat. 1: Cp₂TiCl₂AlCl₂/MgCl₂, Cat. 2: CpCp*TiCl/MgCl₂, Cat. 3: Cp₂TiCl/MgCl₂) were prepared and tested for propylene polymerization. It was found that Cat. 1, combined with ordinary alkylaluminum as cocatalyst, produced PP containing 31.8 wt % of isotactic PP in fairly good yield. On the other hand, Cats. 2 and 3 hardly showed any activity. The effects of diisopropyldimethoxysilane (DIPDMS) on isospecificity of the Cat. 1 also were investigated. The isotactic index (I.I.) of PP was improved drastically by the addition of DIPDMS as external donor and reached the value as high as 98.4%, even in the absence of any internal donors. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3355–3359, 2000     

Cyclopolymerization of 1,5‐hexadiene catalyzed by various stereospecific metallocene compounds

Cyclopolymerization of 1,5‐hexadiene has been carried out at various temperatures in toluene by using three different stereospecific metallocene catalysts—isospecific rac‐(EBI)Zr(NMe₂)₂ [EBI: ethylenebis(1‐indenyl), Cat 1], syndiospecific Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe₂ (Cp = 1‐cyclopentadienyl, Flu = 1‐fluorenyl, Cat 2), and aspecific CpZrMe₂ (Cp*: pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Cat 3) compounds in the presence of Al(i‐Bu)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]—in order to study the effect of polymerization temperature and catalyst stereospecificity on the property and microstructure of poly(methylene‐1,3‐cyclopentane) (PMCP). The activities of catalysts decrease in the following order: Cat 1 > Cat 2 > Cat 3. PMCPs produced by Cat 1 are not completely soluble in toluene, but those by Cat 2 and Cat 3 are soluble in toluene. trans‐Diisotactic rich PMCPs are produced by Cat 1 and Cat 2, and cis‐atactic PMCP by Cat 3. The cis/trans ratio of PMCP by Cat 1 and Cat 2 is relatively insensitive to the polymerization temperature, but that by Cat 3 is highly sensitive to the polymerization temperature. Melting temperatures of PMCP produced increase with the cis to trans ratio of rings. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1520–1527, 2000     

Gas-phase polymerization of ethylene over Ti-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts prepared from different magnesium sources

This study focuses on gas-phase polymerization of ethylene using the titanium-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts prepared from different magnesium sources including MgCl₂ (Cat A), magnesium powder (Cat B), and Mg(OEt)₂ (Cat C). During polymerization, different cocatalysts were also used. It was found that Cat C with triethylaluminum as a cocatalyst exhibited the highest activity. This was likely attributed to optimal distribution of active sites on the catalyst surface. It can be observed by increased temperature in the reactor due to highly exothermic reaction during polymerization. By the way, the morphologies of the polymer obtained from this catalyst were spherical, which is more preferable. Besides the catalytic activity, crystallinity and morphology were also affected by the different magnesium sources used to prepare the catalysts.     

Kinetic features of ethylene polymerization over supported catalysts [2,6‐bis(imino)pyridyl iron dichloride/magnesium dichloride] with AlR3 as an activator

The effects of polymerization temperature, polymerization time, ethylene and hydrogen concentration, and effect of comonomers (hexene‐1, propylene) on the activity of supported catalyst of composition LFeCl₂/MgCl₂‐Al(i‐Bu)₃ (L = 2,6‐bis[1‐(2,6‐dimethylphenylimino)ethyl] pyridyl) and polymer characteristics (molecular weight (MW), molecular‐weight distribution (MWD), molecular structure) have been studied. Effective activation energy of ethylene polymerization over LFeCl₂/MgCl₂‐Al(i‐Bu)₃ has a value typical of supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts (11.9 kcal/mol). The polymerization reaction is of the first order with respect to monomer at the ethylene concentration >0.2 mol/L. Addition of small amounts of hydrogen (9–17%) significantly increases the activity; however, further increase in hydrogen concentration decreases the activity. The IRS and DSC analysis of PE indicates that catalyst LFeCl₂/MgCl₂‐Al(i‐Bu)₃ has a very low copolymerizing ability toward propylene and hexene‐1. MW and MWD of PE produced over these catalysts depend on the polymerization time, ethylene and hexene‐1 concentration. The activation effect of hydrogen and other kinetic features of ethylene polymerization over supported catalysts based on the Fe (II) complexes are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5057–5066, 2007     

Kinetics and Mechanism Comparison between Cr/Ti‐Based Bimetallic and Ti‐Based Monometallic Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

Two (SiO₂/MgR₂/MgCl₂)·TiCl_x model catalysts are made by refluxing TiCl₄ with 0.35 wt% Cr modified silica gel/alkyl Mg adducts or silica gel/alkyl Mg adducts, which are named as Cr/Ti‐based bimetallic Cat‐1 and Ti‐based monometallic Cat‐2, respectively. The kinetics, active center counting, morphology, and polymer characterizations are studied to disclose the effect of low loading Cr active sites on the Cr/Ti‐based bimetallic Cat‐1 polymerization under mild conditions. The activity of Cat‐1 is 120.4% higher than that of Cat‐2, with a 114.1% higher [C*]/[M] value. Morphology results show the Cat‐1 fragmentation in the first 3 min is highly accelerated, which helps to release buried clustered Ti sites. Differential scanning calorimetry results show that low‐temperature heat absorbing shoulder of polyethylene (PE) from Cat‐2 demonstrates the signal of low crystallinity polymer made by Cat‐2 during the first 60 s, verifying the fluffy polymer in morphology results. GPC results show PE from Cat‐1 has a higher M_w in the first 3 min while a lower M_w in the end. The Cat‐1, which release active sites faster, has a high M_w in the early time. Lower M_w in the 900 s attributes to the effect of relative lower M_w polymer made by Cr sites, compared with Cat‐2.     

Propylene polymerization with catalysts containing divalent titanium

The behavior in propylene polymerization of divalent titanium compounds of type [η⁶-areneTiAl₂Cl₈], both as such and supported on activated MgCl₂, has been studied and compared to that of the simple catalyst MgCl₂/TiCl₄. Triethylaluminium was used as cocatalyst. The Ti–arene complexes were active both in the presence and in the absence of hydrogen, in contrast to earlier reports that divalent titanium species are active for ethylene but not for propylene polymerization. ¹³C-NMR analysis of low molecular weight polymer fractions indicated that the hydrogen activation effect observed for the MgCl₂-supported catalysts should be ascribed to reactivation of 2,1-inserted (“dormant”) sites via chain transfer, rather than to (re)generation of active trivalent Ti via oxidative addition of hydrogen to divalent species. Decay in activity during polymerization was observed with both catalysts, indicating that for MgCl₂/TiCl₄ catalysts decay is not necessarily due to overreduction of Ti to the divalent state during polymerization. In ethylene polymerization both catalysts exhibited an acceleration rather than a decay profile. It is suggested that the observed decay in activity during propylene polymerization may be due to the formation of clustered species that are too hindered for propylene but that allow ethylene polymerization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2645–2652, 1997     

Kinetics of polymerization of 1-octene with Mgcl2-supported Ticl4 catalysts

A number of TiCl₄ catalysts supported on MgCl₂ which was activated by the recrystallization method using different alcohols were prepared with ethyl benzoate or dibutyl phthalate as the internal electron donor. All the catalysts were characterized by BET, x-ray diffraction, and hydrolysis–GC analysis. Kinetics of polymerization of 1-octene was studied with three of the above catalysts (having different internal electron donors) activated by AlEt₃. The rate of polymerization increased linearly with increasing temperature, and catalyst and monomer concentrations. From the Arrhenius plot, the overall activation energies of polymerization were determined and the dependence of rate on the AlEt₃ concentration could be explained by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. ¹³C-NMR was used to study the effect of internal electron donors on the % isotacticity of poly(1-octene). The catalytic activities of all the catalysts were compared in 1-octene polymerization. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hexene-1 polymerization by homogeneous zirconocene and heterogeneous-supported TiCl3 catalysts

MgCl₂-supported TiCl₃ catalysts, with and/or without electron donor modifier (internal B_i or external B_e), were compared with rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 1 ) activated with either MAO or the cation forming agent, triphenyl carbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate ( 2 ), with triethylalumium (TEA). The activities of the heterogeneous catalysts depend on the presence or absence of the Lewis base, were relatively insensitive to the temperature of polymerization, and produce poly(hexene) with molecular weights up to 10⁶. The 1 /MAO catalyst has about five times higher activity at 50°C but is almost inactive at ?30°C; the overall activation energy is 12.4 kcal mol^?1. In contrast, the activity for hexene polymerization by the 1/2 /TEA catalyst is actually slightly greater at lower temperature. The MW's of poly(hexene) obtained with the zirconocenium catalysts are only in the tens of thousands because of rapid β-hydride elimination by the electrophilic cationic Zr center. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cationic polymerization of n‐hexyloxyallene by using halogen‐bonding organocatalysts

The cationic polymerization of n‐hexyloxyallene was investigated by using halogen‐bonding organocatalysts ( Cat A – Cat D ). Although the neutral catalyst Cat C showed a poor polymerization activity, iodine‐carrying bidentate cationic catalyst Cat A brought about the smooth polymerization giving rise to a polymer with M_n of 2710 under [ Cat A ]:[IBVE‐HCl]:[monomer] = 10:10:500 in mM concentrations. Judging from the color change of polymerization system and electrospray ionization mass spectra of recovered catalyst, the decomposition of organocatalyst was suggested. When α‐bromodiphenylmethane was used as an initiator, the relatively controlled polymerization proceeded at the low monomer conversion likely due to the weak halogen‐bonding interaction of Cat A with the bromide anion. On the other hand, bromine‐carrying bidentate catalyst Cat D gave low‐molecular‐weight polymers (M_n < 1550) to be less suitable for polymerization. From the ¹H‐NMR spectrum, it was found that the 1,2‐polymerization unit and 2,3‐polymerization unit are included in 75:25. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2436–2441     

Titanium (IV) chloride complexes with salen ligands supported on magnesium carrier: Synthesis and use in ethylene polymerization

The magnesium support with the formula MgCl₂(THF)_0.32(Et₂AlCl)_0.36 was used for immobilization of salen complexes of titanium [Ti(salen)Cl₂, Ti(salen(OMe)₂)Cl₂]. The effects of the catalyst composition (i.e. type of titanium complex and type of activator), polymerization temperature, polymerization time, and the effect of comonomer (1‐octene) on the activity of the obtained supported catalysts, on the polymer characteristics (molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, melting point), and on the polymer morphology were studied. The findings were compared to those obtained for corresponding unsupported systems. Catalysts immobilization results in considerable changes in catalysts activity and in properties of resultant polymers. The studied supported catalysts are highly active in ethylene polymerization, their activity increases with increasing temperature and lasts at least 2 hours. Their copolymerizing ability towards 1‐octene is rather low. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6693–6703, 2009     

Metallocene derivatives as active supports of zirconium‐based catalysts for ethene polymerization

Cyclopentadienyl magnesium chloride (MgClCp) and its functionalized derivatives represent original and interesting supporting materials to heterogenize metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerizations. The synthesis of MgClCp, its functionalization, and the preparation of a catalytic system in which the ZrCl₂(Flu)⁺ moiety is joined on the support through a cyclopentadienyl ligand are reported. This catalyst was tested in ethene polymerization, and both the catalytic activity and properties of the produced polymer were measured. Its performance was compared with that shown by the catalyst ZrCl₂CpFlu employed under the same conditions for both unsupported and conventional supports, such as MgCl₂. The results showed a remarkable improvement in terms of the activity and polymer properties with these heterogenized catalysts. Moreover, this system showed stability toward leaching processes and was characterized by good morphological control of the growing polymer. Finally, catalysts in which [HB(3,5‐Me₂pyrazolyl)₃]ZrCl and [HB(3,5‐Me₂pyrazolyl)₃]ZrClOtBu⁺ moieties were bonded to a functionalized MgClCp^? support were also synthesized and tested. The results showed that the proposed supports could be usefully used to heterogenize tailored metallocene homogeneous catalysts. In fact, new catalysts were prepared that combined the peculiar advantages of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts and overcame the disadvantages of the latter, such as a lack of morphology and reactor fouling. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4243–4248, 2001     

Experimental and Computational Approaches on the Isospecific Role of Monoester-Type Internal Electron Donor for TiCl4/MgCl2 Ziegler-Natta Catalysts

In this work, a combination of experimental and computational approaches on the isospecific role of monoester-type internal electron donors (ED) such as phenylpropionate (PhP), ethylheptanoate (EH), methylbenzoate (MB), ethylbenzoate (EB) for TiCl₄/ED/MgCl₂ Ziegler-Natta catalysts had been performed. The propylene polymerization results revealed that the isospecificity of catalysts increases in the following order: PhP < EH < MB < EB. The subsequent molecular modeling on the electronic properties of the donors and two kinds of cluster model catalysts: TiCl₄/ED/MgCl₂ and TiCl₄/ED/(MgCl₂)₄ based on density functional theory (DFT) method was carried out. Two kinds of ED coordination on MgCl₂ clusters through either O or  O within the monoester-type ED had been disclosed. A perfect correlation between the dipole moment of ED, the coordination bond length of O … Mg, the competitive coordination from  O with Mg ion and the isospecificity of the catalysts had been established.     

Copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile promoted by novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands

A series of novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands was synthesized by the treatment of phthaldialdehyde, substituted phenol with TiCl₄, ZrCl₄, and YCl₃ in THF. The structures and properties of the catalysts were characterized by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. These catalysts were used for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile after activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The effects of copolymerization temperature, Al/M (M = Ti, Zr, and Y) ratio in mole, concentrations of catalyst and comonomer on the polymerization behaviors were investigated in detail. These results revealed that these catalysts were favorable for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile. Cat. 3 was the most favorable one for the copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile, and the catalytic activity was up to 2.19 × 10⁴ g PE/mol.Ti.h under the conditions: polymerization temperature of 50 °C, Al/Ti molar ratio of 300, catalyst concentration of 1.0 × 10^–4 mol/L, and toluene as solvent. The resultant polymer was characterized by FTIR, cross‐polarization magic angle spinning, ¹³C NMR, WAXD, GPC, and DSC. The results confirmed that the obtained copolymer featured high‐weight–average molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution about 1.61–1.95, and high‐acrylonitrile incorporation up to 2.29 mol %. Melting temperature of the copolymer depended on the content of acrylonitrile incorporation within the copolymer chain. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Preparation of ultra high molecular weight amorphous poly(1‐hexene) by a Ziegler–Natta catalyst

High molecular weight polymers such as poly (α‐olefin)s play a key role as drag‐reducing agents which are commonly used in pipeline industry. Heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalyst system of MgCl₂.nEtOH/TiCl₄/donor was prepared using a spherical MgCl₂ support and utilized in synthesis of poly(1‐hexene)s with a viscosity average molecular weight (M_v) up to 3.5 × 10³ kDa. The influence of effective parameters including Al/Ti ratio, polymerization temperature, monomer concentration, effect of alkylaluminus type on the productivity, and molecular weight of the products was evaluated. It was suggested that the reactivity of the Al‐R group and the bulkiness of the cocatalyst were correlated to the performance of the Ziegler–Natta catalyst at different polymerization time and temperatures, affecting the catalyst activity and M_v of polymers. Moreover, bulk polymerization method leads to higher viscosity average molecular weights, revealing the remarkable effect of polymerization method on the chain microstructure. Fourier transform infrared, ¹³C Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and DSC thermogram of the prepared polymers confirmed the formation of poly(1‐hexene). The properties of the polymers measured by vortex test showed that these polymers could be used as a drag‐reducing agent. Drag‐reducing behaviors of the polymers exhibited a dependence on the M_v of the obtained polymers that was changed by variation in polymerization parameters. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Superactive and stereospecific catalysts. I. Structures and productivity

Two series of catalysts were made, one from MgCl₂–A solution containing MgCl₂, EH (2-ethylhexanol), and EB (ethyl benzoate) dissolved in decane and another from MgCl₂–B solution containing MgCl₂, EH, and phthalic anhydride which reacted to form the corresponding phthalic ester. Reactions of these solutions with TiCl₄ with or without another ester produced a family of eight catalysts. They form two groups, one having monoesters as modifiers, and the other containing diesters as modifiers. The surface area, pore volume, x-diffractions, polymerization activity, and catalytic stereospecificity of these catalysts have been compared. The diester catalysts differ from the monoester catalysts in every respect. By comparison the corresponding member of the diester catalysts have half as much Ti per Mg, more than 10 times the pore volume, more than a 100-fold the surface area, about 50% more productivity, and greatly increased steroespecificity.     

Ethylene polymerization over supported catalysts [2,6‐bis(imino)pyridyl iron dichloride/magnesium dichloride] with AlR3 as an activator

Data on ethylene polymerization over supported LFeCl₂/MgCl₂ catalysts {L = 2,6‐bis[1‐(2,6‐dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridyl} containing AlR₃ (R = Me, Et, i‐Bu, or n‐Oct) as an activator are presented. These catalysts are highly active (100–300 kg of polyethylene/g of Fe h bar of C₂H₄) and stable in ethylene polymerization at 70–80 °C. Data on the effects of the iron content, AlR₃ type, Al(i‐Bu)₃ concentration, and hydrogen presence on the catalyst activity are presented. The molecular structure of polyethylene produced with these catalysts (including the molecular masses, molecular mass distribution, branching, and number of C?C bonds) has been studied; data on the effects of AlR₃ and hydrogen on the molecular structure are presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2128–2133, 2005     

Novel Preparation of Polyethylene from Nano‐extrusion Polymerization Inside the Nanochannels of MCM‐41/MgCl2/TiCl4 Catalysts

The MCM‐41 and SiO₂ supported TiCl₄ and TiCl₄/MgCl₂ catalysts with different molar ratios of Mg/Ti were synthesized and used for ethylene polymerization under atmospheric pressure. The nanochannels of MCM‐41 serve as nanoscale polymerization reactor and the polyethylene nanofibers were extruded during the reaction. The nanofibers were observed in SEM micrographs of resulting polyethylene. The effect of MgCl₂ on catalytic activity and thermal properties of resulting polyethylene is investigated too. In the presence of MgCl₂, the catalytic activity increased and more crystalline polyethylene with higher melting points were formed. However, no fibers could be observed in the polyethylene prepared by SiO₂ supported catalysts.     

Chlorotitanium (IV) tetradentate Schiff‐base complex immobilized on inorganic supports: Support type and other factors having effect on ethylene polymerization activity

A titanium complex with [O,N,N,O]‐type tetradentate Schiff base (LTiCl₂), never used before in polymerization of olefins, was immobilized on silica‐ and magnesium‐type carriers, and it was used in ethylene polymerization. The conducted research revealed that the catalytic properties of the complex LTiCl₂ supported on those carriers were different for both the catalytic systems studied, and simultaneously they turned out different from those of the unsupported system. The supported catalysts require the use of Me₃Al, Et₃Al, or MAO as the activator to be able to offer high catalytic activities, whereas Et₂AlCl is needed for the nonsupported catalyst. This finding, together with considerable changes in polymerization yields and in properties of polymers versus composition of the catalytic system, suggest that there are different types of active sites in the studied catalysts. The catalyst anchored on the carrier produced in the reaction of MgCl₂·3.4EtOH with Et₂AlCl is definitely the most active one within the support systems tested. Its activity remarkably increases with the increasing reaction temperature. Moreover, that catalyst does not undergo deactivation over the studied period of time, irrespective of the type of the activator used and of the process temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4811–4821, 2009     

Advances in propene polymerization using MgCl2‐supported catalysts. Fundamental aspects and the role of electron donors

The fundamental factors determining the performance of state‐of‐the‐art MgCl₂‐supported catalysts for polypropylene are becoming increasingly evident. Polymer yield, isotacticity, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are dependent on the regio‐ and stereoselectivity of the active species. Chain transfer with hydrogen after the occasional regioirregular (2,1‐) insertion has a strong effect on molecular weight and is the main reason for the high hydrogen response shown by high‐activity catalysts containing diether donors. Hydrogen response is also dependent on stereoselectivity. The probability of a stereo‐ or regioirregular insertion can be related to the lability of donor coordination in the vicinity of the active species. Results with different catalyst systems can be interpreted on the basis of a propagation model involving interconverting active species, such that polypropylene produced using MgCl₂‐supported catalysts can be regarded as a stereoblock polymer comprising (highly) isotactic sequences, moderately isotactic (isotactoid) sequences and syndiotactoid sequences. Strongly coordinating donors will give stereoregular polymers in which highly isotactic sequences predominate.     

Effect of temperature on the number of active sites and propagation rate constant at ethylene polymerization over supported bis(imino)pyridine iron catalysts

The inhibition of ethylene polymerization with radioactive carbon monoxide (¹⁴CO) was used to obtain data on the number of active sites (C_P) and propagation rate constant (k_P) at ethylene polymerization in the temperature range of 35–70 °C over supported catalysts LFeCl₂/Al₂O₃, LFeCl₂/SiO₂, and LFeCl₂/MgCl₂ (L: 2,6‐(2,6‐(Me)₂C₆H₃N = CMe)₂C₅H₃N) with activator Al(i‐Bu)₃. The values of effective activation energy (E_eff), activation energy of propagation reaction (E_P), and temperature coefficients of variation of the number of active sites (E_Cp = E_eff ? E_P) were determined. The activation energies of propagation reaction for catalysts LFeCl₂/Al₂O₃, LFeCl₂/SiO₂, and LFeCl₂/MgCl₂ were found to be quite similar (5.2–5.7 kcal/mol). The number of active sites diminished considerably as the polymerization temperature decreased, the E_Cp value being 5.2–6.2 kcal/mol for these catalysts at polymerization in the presence of hydrogen. The reactions of reversible transformations of active centers to the surface hydride species at polymerization in the presence and absence of hydrogen are proposed as the derivation of E_Cp. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6621–6629, 2008