MODIFIED POLYPROPENES VIA METALLOCENE CATALYSIS

The copolymerization of propene with 1-olefins and other comonomers via metallocene catalysis is an important key to polymeric materials with a great variety of properties. The random incorporation of different side chains into the polypropene backbone gives access to a broad spectrum of properties of the polypropene materials ranging from thermoplastics across thermoplastic elastomers to olefin rubber which can be tailored using metallocene catalysts. With a lot of different 1-olefins it is possible to synthesize both copolymers of every desired composition as well as poly-1-olefins. Molecular, thermal, and mechanical properties of propene copolymers are determined by type and amount of the comonomer. The use of metallocene catalysis for the copolymerization of propene and cyclic olefins allows the incorporation of the cyclic olefin without ring opening reactions. This provides the way to a synthesis of copolymers with varying content of the cyclic olefin and interesting material properties. Polypropene graft copolymers used as single materials or acting as compatibilizer in polyolefin blends are very attractive polymeric products. Furthermore, via metallocene catalysis it is possible to synthesize polypropene-graft-polystyrene or poly-propene-graft-polyisobutene. The method of synthesis as well as certain applications of such materials will be the main focus of this report.     

Ethylene-Propene Copolymerization with C_1-symmetric ansa-Fluorenyl-zirconocene Catalysts: Effects of Catalyst Structure and Comonomer on Molar Mass

Ethylene-propene copolymers have been synthesized by three C_1-symmetric metallocene molecules(1, 2, and 3), having tert-butyl substituents on the Cp moiety, on the fluorenyl moiety, or on both moieties, and methylaluminoxane(MAO) at different polymerization temperatures and monomer concentrations. Copolymers were investigated by ~(13) C-NMR, ~1 H-NMR, and SEC analyses. A relationship was found between [EEE]/[E] ratios and copolymer molar masses in each series: the higher the [EEE]/[E] ratio, the lower the copolymer molar mass. At parity of [EEE]/[E] ratio, copolymer molar mass follows the order 1 3 2. Chain end group analysis reveals that copolymers mainly terminate when propene is the last inserted unit, confirming that it is the greater facility of Mt-P-E-poly(E-co-P) to terminate that influences the copolymer molar mass. Among the catalysts considered, catalyst 1, which gives syndiospecific polypropene, gives greater activities, comonomer incorporation,and molar masses. Catalyst 3, which gives isospecific polypropene, in copolymerization performs better than 2, having the same bridge, with respect to activities, ethylene content, and molar masses. The good performance of this catalyst arises from the not necessity of polymer chain to back skip when ethylene is the last inserted unit.     

Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2/MAO催化乙烯和ω-对甲苯基-α-烯烃共聚合的研究

使用Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO催化剂催化乙烯和3种ω-对甲苯基-α-烯烃(对甲苯基-1-丙烯,4-对甲苯基-1-丁烯,6-对甲苯基-1-己烯)共聚,主要研究了共单体加入量对催化剂活性和所得共聚物性能的影响.4-对甲苯基-1-丁烯表现出最好的共聚性能.使用1H-NMR、13C-NMR、GPC和DSC对共聚物进行了表征.     

Copolymerization of vinylcyclohexane with ethene and propene using zirconocene catalysts

Vinylcyclohexane (VCH) was copolymerized with ethene and propene using methylaluminoxane‐activated metallocene catalysts. The catalyst precursor for the ethene copolymerization was rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)ZrCl₂ ( 1 ). Propene copolymerizations were further studied with C_s‐symmetric isopropylidene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)ZrCl₂ ( 2 ), C₁‐symmetric ethylene(1‐indenyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐fluorenyl)ZrCl₂ ( 3 ), and “meso”‐dimethylsilyl[3‐benzylindenyl)(2‐methylbenz[e]indenyl)]ZrCl₂ ( 4 ). Catalyst 1 produced a random ethene–VCH copolymer with very high activity and moderate VCH incorporation. The highest comonomer content in the copolymer was 3.5 mol %. Catalysts 1 and 4 produced poly(propene‐co‐vinylcyclohexane) with moderate to good activities [up to 4900 and 15,400 kg of polymer/(mol of catalyst × h) for 1 and 4 , respectively] under similar reaction conditions but with fairly low comonomer contents (up to 1.0 and 2.0% for 1 and 4 , respectively). Catalysts 2 and 3 , both bearing a fluorenyl moiety, gave propene–VCH copolymers with only negligible amounts of the comonomer. The homopolymerization of VCH was performed with 1 as a reference, and low‐molar‐mass isotactic polyvinylcyclohexane with a low activity was obtained. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6569–6574, 2006     

Metallocene/methylaluminoxane‐catalyzed copolymerizations of oxygen‐functionalized long‐chain olefins with ethylene

Copolymerizations of ethylene with 10‐undecen‐1‐ol, 10‐undecenyl methyl ether, 10‐undecenyl trimethyl silyl ether, and 1‐undecene were performed with rac‐ethylene‐bis(1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride as a catalyst and methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. All three oxygen‐functional comonomers copolymerized with ethylene, although the activity of the catalyst decreased considerably compared with the homopolymerization of ethylene. The conversions of the comonomers varied from 17 to 40%, depending on the amount of comonomer in the feed. Under the same conditions, the conversion of 1‐undecene was 50–75%. The incorporation (0.7–3.6 mol %, depending on the feed) and the effect on the activity of the catalyst were on the same level for all the functional comonomers, which indicates that trimethylsilyl or methyl groups do not act as effective protecting groups for oxygen atoms. According to NMR and Fourier transform infrared analyses, the final functional group in the copolymers of the trimethylsilyl ether comonomer was hydroxyl. In contrast, the methyl ether group remained untouched in the copolymer, which suggests that the formation of aluminum alkoxides via a reaction with a cocatalyst is not a prerequisite for comonomer incorporation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1966–1971, 2000     

Co- and terpolymerizations of ethene and α-olefins with metallocenes

The suitability of the (n-butCp)₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst system for the copolymerization of ethene with propene, hexene, and hexadecene was studied and Ind₂ZrCl₂/MAO was tested as a catalyst for ethene/propene and ethene/hexene copolymerizations. The synergistic effect of longer α-olefin on propene incorporation in ethene/propene/hexene and ethene/propene/hexadecene terpolymerizations was investigated with Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂MAO and (n-butCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst systems. The molar masses, molar mass distributions, melting points, and densities of the products were measured. The incorporation of comonomer in the chain was further studied by segregation fractionation techniques (SFT), by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), studying the β relaxations by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and by studying the microstructure of some copolymers by ¹³C-NMR. In this study (n-butCp)₂ZrCl₂ and Ind₂ZrCl₂ exhibited equal response in copolymerization of ethene and propene and both catalysts were more active towards propene than longer α-olefins. A nearly identical incorporation of propene in the chain was found for the two catalysts when a higher propene feed was used. A lower hexene feed gave a more homogeneous comonomer distribution curve than a higher hexene feed and also showed the presence of branching. In terpolymerizations catalyzed with (n-butCp)₂ZrCl₂, the hexadecene concentrations of the ethene/propene/hexadecene terpolymers were always very low, and only traces of hexene were detected in ethene/propene/hexene terpolymers. With hexene no clear synergistic effect on the propene incorporation in the terpolymer was detected and with hexadecene the effect of the longer α-olefin was even slightly negative. With an Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system both hexene and hexadecene were incorporated in the chain in the terpolymerizations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

二醚型 Ziegler-Natta 催化剂催化丙烯与极性单体共聚

 以三乙基铝 (TEA) 为保护剂, 研究了 TiCl4/MgCl2/芴二醚/Al(C2H5)3 体系催化丙烯与十一烯醇或十一烯酸的共聚反应. 结果表明, 在极性单体存在下, 聚合反应活性随极性单体加入量的增加而降低, 但可保持丙烯均聚活性的一半以上, 反应活性衰减较小. 同时, 随着极性单体加入量的增加, 极性单体在共聚物中的含量增加. 与十一烯酸相比, 十一烯醇共聚具有更高的共聚活性和共单体含量. 随着共聚物中极性单体含量的增加, 聚合物的熔点和结晶温度都有所降低. 反应温度对丙烯和十一烯醇共聚的反应活性和共单体含量影响较小.     

Copolymerization of propylene with 1-butene and 1-pentene with the isospecific catalytic system rac-Me2Si(4-Ph-2-MeInd)2ZrCl2-MAO

The copolymerization of propylene with 1-butene and 1-pentene at 60°C in the propylene bulk in the presence of the homogeneous isospecific metallocene catalyst of the C₂ symmetry rac-Me₂Si(4-Ph-2-MeInd)₂ZrCl₂ activated by polymethylaluminoxane is studied. Copolymers containing up to 30 mol % 1-butene and up to 10 mol % 1-pentene are synthesized. For the copolymerization of the above monomers, reactivity ratios are estimated to be equal to unity, thereby indicating the azeotropic character of the process. It is found that the distribution of comonomer units in the copolymers is close to statistical. For both comonomers, the comonomer effect is observed: an increase in the rate of propylene polymerization after addition of a small amount of a less reactive comonomer. The addition of 1-butene and 1-pentene to polypropylene shows a weak effect on the stereoregularity of chains but causes a marked reduction in the molecular mass of the polymer and changes its thermophysical characteristics and mechanical properties. An X-ray diffraction study of the copolymers is performed.     

Olefin copolymerization with metallocene catalysts. I. Comparison of catalysts

A number of metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysts have been compared for ethylene/propylene copolymerizations to find relationship between the polymerization activities, copolymer structures, and copolymerization reactivity ratio with the catalyst structures. Stereorigid racemic ethylene bis (indenyl) zirconium dichloride and the tetrahydro derivative exhibit very high activity of 10 ⁷ g (mol Zr h bar)^?1, giving copolymers having comonomer compositions about the same as the feed compositions, molecular weights increasing with the increase of ethylene in the feed, random incorporation of comonomers, and narrow molecular weight distribution indicative of a single catalytic species. Nonbridged bis (indenyl) zirconium behaved differently, favoring the incorporation of ethylene over propylene, producing copolymers whose molecular weight decreases with the increase of ethylene in the feed, broad molecular weight distribution, and a methanol soluble fraction. This catalyst system contains two or more active species. Simple methallocene catalysts have much lower polymerization activities. C_pTiCl₂/MAO produced copolymers with tendency toward alternation, whereas Cp₂HfCl₂/MAO gave copolymer containing short blocks of monomers.     

Metallocene-catalyzed ethene/styrene co- and terpolymerization with olefinic termonomers

Ethene was co- and terpolymerized with 1-octene and styrene using the methylalumoxane (MAO) activated halfsandwich metallocene Me₂Si(Me₄Cp)(N-t.-butyl)TiCl₂(Cp = cyclopentadienyl, Me = methyl) as catalyst. At temperatures of 40 and 60°C styrene concentration was varied in order to investigate the influence of the comonomers. Despite decreasing the overall activity with respect to ethene/1-octene copolymerization, polymerization activity was found to exibit a relative maximum with increasing styrene concentration. An explanation is given taking two different comonomer effects into account. Low styrene concentration promoted higher 1-octene incorporation compared to ethene/1-octene copolymerization but significantly lowered the molecular weight of the terpolymers. With constant ethene and 1-octene concentration it was possible to produce ethene/1-octene/styrene terpolymers with styrene content varying from 0 to 25 mol % and 1-octene content varying from 8 to 21 mol %. All terpolymers were amorphous. With constant ethene content it was found possible to vary their glass transition temperature with 1-octene/styrene molar ratio incorporated in the terpolymer. ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic microstructure analysis showed that no styrene/1-octene sequences were found in the terpolymer backbone. Furthermore terpolymerizations were conducted successfully incorporating norbornene, 1,5-hexadiene and propene as monomers in terpolymertization with ethene and styrene. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2549–2560, 1997     

Microstructure characterization of short-chain branching polyethylene with differential scanning calorimetry and successive selfnucleation/annealing thermal fractionation

A series of the copolymers of ethylene with 1-hexene(M1–M9) synthesized by metallocene catalyst Et[Ind]2ZrCl2/MAO was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and successive self-nucleation and annealing(SSA) thermal fractionation. The distribution of methylene sequence length(MSL) in the different copolymers was determined using the SSA method. The comonomer contents of samples M4 and M5 are 2.04 mol% and 2.78 mol%, respectively. Both M4 and M5 have low comonomer content and their MSL distribution profiles exhibit a monotonous increase trend with their MSL. The longest MSL of M5 is 167, and its corresponding molar percent is 43.95%, which is higher than that of M4. Moreover, the melting temperature(Tm) of M5 is also higher than that of M4. The comonomer contents of samples M7, M8, and M9 are 8.73 mol%, 14.18 mol% and 15.05 mol%, respectively. M7, M8, and M9 have high comonomer contents, and their MSL distribution profiles display unimodality. M7 has a lower peak value of 33 and a narrow MSL distribution, resulting in a Tm lower than that of M8 and M9. The MSL and its distribution are also key points that influence the melting behavior of copolymers. Sometimes, MSL and its distribution of copolymers have a greater impact on it than the total comonomer contents, which is different from traditional views.     

Interconvertible Living Radical and Cationic Polymerization through Reversible Activation of Dormant Species with Dual Activity

The polymerization of vinyl monomers generally requires the selection of an appropriate single intermediate, whereas in copolymerization, the selection of the comonomer is limited by the intermediate. Herein, we propose interconvertible dual active species that can connect comonomers through different mechanisms to produce specific comonomer sequences in a single polymer chain. More specifically, two different stimuli, that is, a radical initiator and a Lewis acid, are used to activate the common dormant C? SC(S)Z group into radical and cationic species, thereby inducing interconvertible radical and cationic copolymerization of acrylate and vinyl ether to produce a copolymer chain that consists of radically and cationically polymerized segments. The dual reversible activation provides control over molecular weights and multiblock copolymers with tunable segment lengths.     

Synthesis of oxazoline functionalized polypropene using metallocene catalysts

Using two different zirconocene/MAO catalyst systems, propene was copolymerized with the comonomers 2‐(9‐decene‐1‐yl)‐1,3‐oxazoline and 2‐(4‐(10‐undecene‐1‐oxo)phenyl)‐1,3‐oxazoline, respectively. The catalysts used were rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ and rac‐Me₂Si[2‐Me‐4, 5‐BenzInd]₂ZrCl₂. Up to 0.53 mol‐% oxazoline could be incorporated into polypropene. Oxazoline content, molecular weight, degree of isotacticity and melting behavior were dependent on the catalyst system, comonomer structure and comonomer concentration in the feed.     

The influence of comonomer on ethylene/α-olefin copolymers prepared using [bis(N-(3-tert butylsalicylidene)anilinato)] titanium (IV) dichloride complex

We describe the synthesis of [bis(N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)anilinato)] titanium (IV) dichloride (Ti-FI complex) and examine the effects of comonomer (feed concentration and type) on its catalytic performance and properties of the resulting polymers. Ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymers were prepared through copolymerization using Ti-FI catalyst, activated by MAO cocatalyst at 323 K and 50 psi ethylene pressure at various initial comonomer concentrations. The obtained copolymers were characterized by DSC, GPC and 13C-NMR. The results indicate that Ti-FI complex performs as a high potential catalyst, as evidenced by high activity and high molecular weight and uniform molecular weight distribution of its products. Nevertheless, the bulky structure of FI catalyst seems to hinder the insertion of α-olefin comonomer, contributing to the pretty low comonomer incorporation into the polymer chain. The catalytic activity was enhanced with the comonomer feed concentration, but the molecular weight and melting temperature decreased. By comparison both sets of catalytic systems, namely ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymerization, the first one afforded better activity by reason of easier insertion of short chain comonomer. Although 1-hexene copolymers also exhibited higher molecular weight than 1-octene, no significant difference in both melting temperature and crystallinity can be noticed between these comonomers.     

Post-Modification of Copolymers Obtained by ATRP for an Application in Heterogeneous Asymmetric Salen Catalysis

Copolymers are valuable supports for obtaining heterogeneous catalysts that allow their recycling and therefore substantial savings, particularly in the field of asymmetric catalysis. This contribution reports the use of two comonomers: Azido-3-propylmethacrylate (AZMA) bearing a reactive azide function was associated with 2-methoxyethyl methacrylate (MEMA), used as a spacer, for the ATRP synthesis of copolymers, and then post-functionalized with a propargyl chromium salen complex. The controlled homopolymerization of MEMA by ATRP was firstly described and proved to be more controlled in molar mass than that of AZMA for conversions up to 63%. The ATRP copolymerization of both monomers made it possible to control the molar masses and the composition, with nevertheless a slight increase in the dispersity (from 1.05 to 1.3) when the incorporation ratio of AZMA increased from 10 to 50 mol%. These copolymers were post-functionalized with chromium salen units by click chemistry and their activity was evaluated in the asymmetric ring opening of cyclohexene oxide with trimethylsilyl azide. At an equal catalytic ratio, a significant increase in enantioselectivity was obtained by using the copolymer containing the largest part of salen units, probably allowing, in this case, the more favorable bimetallic activation of both the engaged nucleophile and electrophile. Moreover, the catalytic polymer was recovered by simple filtration and re-engaged in subsequent catalytic runs, up to seven times, without loss of activity or selectivity.     

Thermoresponsive copolymers of methacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate

Copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared and their cloud points in aqueous solution were studied as a function of comonomer ratio, solution pH, and presence of hydrophobic comonomers. Under acidic conditions, the cloud point falls below 0 °C for copolymers with between 25% to 60% ether content, because of the formation of hydrophobic H‐bonded ether–acid complexes. The cloud point also decreases with solution pH. For equivalent ether to acid ratios, the cloud point decreases with decreasing PEG chain length, because of the presence of a larger number of hydrophobic methyl and methacrylate groups. Similarly, the cloud point decreases upon incorporation of hydrophobic comonomers such as butyl, lauryl, or glycidyl methacrylates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6095–6104, 2005     

Syntheses and characterizations of polypropene,polystyrene and their block copolymers with titanocene catalysts

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyltitanium tribenzyloxide, Cp^*Ti(OBz)₃, was used as the catalyst precursor for polymerizations of propene and styrene. The titanocene catalyst affords atactic polypropene and syndiotactic polystyrene with high activities in the presence of methylalumimoxane (MAO). Block copolymerization of propene and styrene was carried out in the presence of Cp^*Ti(OBz)₃/MAO catalyst system by the means of external addition of triisobutylaluminum (TIBA) and sequential monomer feed. The copolymerization product is mainly a mixture of atactic polypropene(aPP) and syndiotactic polystyrene(sPS) homopolymers and aPP-b-sPS block copolymers, which can be separated into fractions with successive extraction with boiling methylethyl ketone(MEK), heptane, tetrahydrofuran(THF), and chloroform. Studies on thermal properties showed that rubbery phases and crystalline regions both appear in the block copolymer at the room temperature and that aPP-b-sPS block copolymer has better toughness than sPS.     

Radical copolymerization of N,N-Diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride and fumaric acid

The copolymerization of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride and fumaric acid under conditions of radical initiation is studied. The reaction yields copolymers that exhibit a random distribution of comonomer units in the macrochain. Fumaric acid is highly active in the copolymerization of the above system. A significant effect on the relative activity of the comonomers is exerted by the type of solvent. The kinetics of the copolymerization is studied; the structuring of the copolymers is determined.     

Alternating stereospecific copolymerization of ethylene and propylene with metallocene catalysts

The copolymerization of ethylene and propylene with bridged metallocenes Me(2)E(3-RCp)(Flu)X(2)/MAO (E = C, X = Me; E = Si, X = Cl; R = H or alkyl) was investigated. Ethylene/propylene copolymerization with metallocenes having heterotopic active sites (R =Me, i-Pr) yield alternating, isotactic ethylene/propylene copolymers with percentages of alternating EPE+PEP triads in the range of 61-76% at 50% ethylene incorporation. Both the nature of the substituent R and the bridge E influence the copolymerization behavior including the copolymerization activity, copolymer sequence distribution, molecular weight, and stereochemistry. Silicon-bridged metallocenes produce copolymers with higher activity and molecular weight but lower propylene incorporation at similar feeds than the carbon-bridged analogues. Isotactic PEPEP sequences were observed for all metallocenes, while the tacticities of the EPPE sequences varied with the bridge and the substituent on the metallocene ligand. Isotactic PEPEP sequences and atactic EPPE sequence errors in the alternating copolymers are consistent with a mechanism where the comonomers are enchained alternately at the heterotopic coordination sites of the metallocenes. Isotactic EPPE sequences are indicative of occasional multiple insertions at the stereospecific site, caused by an isomerization of the chain prior to monomer insertion (backskip).     

A study of the synthesis and characterization of ethylene/dicyclopentadiene copolymers using a metallocene catalyst

Copolymers of ethylene/dicyclopentadiene were produced using a Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane catalyst system. The melting and crystallization points of the freshly prepared copolymers steadily decreased with increasing comonomer concentration. This was attributed to increased comonomer concentration in the polymer. When the comonomer incorporation, as measured by ¹³C NMR, is plotted against the comonomer concentration in the reactor, a plateau appears at concentrations higher than 0.12 mol/L. At concentrations greater than 0.12 mol/L time dependant crosslinking begins to be observed in the copolymers after exposure to air for several months. This crosslinking is also apparent in the thermosetting behavior of the copolymers when they are allowed sufficient time to crosslink. Copolymers with lower comonomer concentrations possess melting enthalpies even after several weeks, suggesting that there is a threshold concentration of 0.12 mol/L for the crosslinking process. Tensile tests of thermoplastic samples showed that incorporation of ca. 5 mol% of comonomer into the polyethylene main chain results in a semi-elastomeric material which possesses high strain recovery and whose strain hardening is similar to that observed for the homopolymer.