Polymer-supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst for the polymerization of isoprene

A polymer-supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst, polystyrene-TiCl₄AlEt₂Cl (PS–TiCl₄AlEt₂Cl), was synthesized by reaction of polystyrene–TiCl₄ complex (PS–TiCl₄) with AlEt₂Cl. This catalyst showed the same, or lightly greater catalytic activity to the unsupported Ziegler–Natta catalyst for polymerization of isoprene. It also has much greater storability, and can be reused and regenerated. Its overall catalytic yield for isoprene polymerization is ca. 20 kg polyisoprene/gTi. The polymerization rate depends on catalyst titanium concentration, mole ratio of Al/Ti, monomer concentration, and temperature. The kinetic equation of this polymerization is: R_p = k[M]^0.30[Ti]^0.41[Al]^1.28, and the apparent activation energy ΔE_act = 14.5 kJ/Mol, and the frequency factor A_p = 33 L/(mol s). The mechanism of the isoprene polymerization catalyzed by the polymer-supported catalyst is also described. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Supported catalysts for stereospecific polymerization of propylene

Tetrabenzyltitanium (B₄Ti), tribenzyltitanium chloride (B₃TiCl), tetra(p-methylbenzyl)titanium (R₄Ti) and tri(p-methylbenzyl)titanium chloride (R₃TiCl) have been used as catalysts for ethylene and propylene polymerization activated by AlEt₂Cl. B₄Ti-AIEt₂Cl in solution polymerizes ethylene readily but its activity decays rapidly. B₄Ti was also supported on Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, and Mg(OH)Cl. The last support was found to give catalyst with longest lifetime with a rate of polymerization, R_p = 7.0 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm ethylene. ¹⁴CO counting techniques gave 1.13 × 10^?3 mole of propagating center per mole of B₄Ti; the rate constant of propagation, k_p = 540 l./mole-sec. None of the tetravalent titanium compounds polymerize propylene in solution. However, when supported on Mg(OH)Cl, Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, Cab-O-Ti, and charcoal, they all polymerize propylene. In this work the supports were characterized by various techniques, including the paramagnetic probe method, to determine the concentration and nature of surface hydroxyls. Those factors controlling the rate and stereospecificity of propylene polymerization were investigated. The system B₃TiCl–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl is the most active with R_p = 2.89 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm propylene. The concentration of propagation center is 0.9 × 10^?3 mole per mole of B₃TiCl; k_p = 32 l./mole-sec. This catalyst gave only about 70% stereoregular polymer. Diethyl ether is found to raise stereospecificity to 100%, but there is a concommittent tenfold decrease of activity. Other interesting catalyst systems are: (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (1.56, 89.5); (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₂–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (0.075, 94.5); and (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Alon C–Al-Et₂Cl (0.08,97.2), where the first number in the parenthesis is R_p in g/mmole Ti-hr-atm and the second entry corresponds to percentage yield of stereoregular polypropylene. Hafnocene and titanocene supported on Mg(OH)Cl produce only oligomers of propylene.     

Kinetics of propylene polymerization in the initial acceleration stage

The kinetics of propylene polymerization catalyzed over a superactive and stereospecific catalyst for the initial build-up period was investigated in slurry-phase. The catalyst was prepared from Mg(OEt)₂/benzoyl chloride/TiCl₄ co-activated with AlEt₃ in the absence or presence of external donor. Despite a very fast activation of the prepared catalyst the acceleration stage of polymerization could be identified by the precise estimation of polymerization kinetics for a very short period of time after the commencement of polymerization (ca. 2 min). The initial polymerization rate, (dR_p/dt)₀ extrapolated to the beginning of the polymerization was second order with respect to monomer concentration. The dependence of initial polymerization rate on the concentration of AlEt₃ could be represented by Langmuir adsorption mechanism. The initial rate was maximum at about Al/Ti ratio of 20. The activation energy for the initiation reaction was estimated to be 14.3 kcal/mol for a short-time polymerization. The addition of a small amount of p-ethoxy ethyl benzoate (PEEB) as an external donor increased the percentage of isotactic polymer, which was obtained after 120 s of polymerization, to 98% and the initial polymerization rate decreased sharply as [PEEB]/[AlEt₃] increased. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics and mechanism of stereospecific polymerization of methyl methacrylate with VOCl3–AlEt2Cl catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized at 40°C with VOCl₃–AlEt₂Cl catalyst system in n-hexane. The rate of polymerization was proportional to catalyst and monomer concentration at Al/V ratio of 2 and overall activation energy of 9.25 kcal/mole support a coordinate anionic mechanism of polymerization. The catalytic activity and stereospecificity of this catalyst system is discussed in comparison with that of VOCl₃–AlEt₃ catalyst system.     

Kinetics and mechanism of acetylene polymerization

The kinetics of acetylene polymerization initiated by Ti(OBu)₄/4AlEt₃ catalyst was studied by radioquenching with C^*O to count the number of active sites [C] and by CH₃OT^* to determine the total metal polymer bonds [MPB] and M?_n of the polymer. The amount of quenching agent and time of reaction required and the kinetic isotope effect for CH₃OT^* were determined. The effects of Al/Ti ratio, catalyst aging, catalyst concentration, temperature, and monomer pressure on the polymerization were investigated. Detailed kinetic data on the variation of rate of polymerization, R_p, [C] [MPB], and M?_n with time were obtained at 298 and 195°K. The results required the assumption that the catalytic species C, is initially active and within less than 30 min all are converted by bimolecular kinetics to a far less active species. Analysis of the data yielded rate constants of propagation and termination and their energies of activation. Estimates of chain transfer efficiency were obtained. The mechanisms for the propagation, termination, and transfer processes were discussed. By drawing on our earlier EPR results we propose probable structures for the catalytically active species.     

Kinetics and mechanism of polymerization yielding stereoblock poly(methyl methacrylate) with VCl4-Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized at 40°C with the VCl₄–AlEt₃ catalyst system in n-hexane. The rate of polymerization was proportional to the catalyst and monomer concentration at Al/V ratio of 2, indicating a coordinate anionic mechanism of polymerization. NMR spectra were further used to confirm the mechanism of polymerization and stability of active sites responsible for isotacticity.     

Stereospecific polymerization of butene-1 with supported titanium catalyst

Butene-1 was polymerized with a highly-active supported titanium catalyst which was developed in this laboratory. The influences of various conditions (e.g., catalyst composition, temperature, external ester, H₂, triethylaluminum, and catalyst concentration) on the catalytic activity, decay of polymerization rate, molecular weight, and isotacticity of the products were studied in detail. The structural properties of the PB-1 were characterized by WAXD, DSC, and ¹³C-NMR. It was found that the catalyst TiCl₄, Ti(OBu)₄/MgCl₂/ethyl benzoate (EB)/Ph₂SiCl₂–AlEt₃ shows high activity, i.e., 3.2 × 10⁴ g PB/g Ti h. Isotacticity of the product was increased by adding p-CH₃C₆H₄COOEt into the catalytic system. Molecular weight of the product can be easily controlled by H₂. The decay of polymerization rate with time fulfills the equation: R_t ? R_s = (R_o ? R_s)e^?βt. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microwave‐assisted ring‐opening polymerization of p‐dioxanone

The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of p‐dioxanone (PDO) under microwave irradiation with triethylaluminum (AlEt₃) or tin powder as catalyst was investigated. When the ROP of PDO was catalyzed by AlEt₃, the viscosity‐average molecular weight (M_v) of poly(p‐dioxanone) (PPDO) reached 317,000 g mol^?1 only in 30 min, and the yield of PPDO achieved 96.0% at 80 °C. Tin powder was successfully used as catalyst for synthesizing PPDO by microwave heating, and PPDO with M_v of 106,000 g mol^?1 was obtained at 100 °C in 210 min. Microwave heating accelerated the ROP of PDO catalyzed by AlEt₃ or tin powder, compared with the conventional heating method. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3207–3213, 2008     

Magnesium chloride supported high-mileage catalysts for olefin polymerization. I. Chemical composition and oxidation states of titanium

The chemical composition of a MgCl₂-supported, high-mileage catalyst has been determined at every stage of its preparation. Ball milling of MgCl₂ with ethyl benzoate (EB) resulted in the incorporation of 95% of the EB present to give MgCl₂·EB_0.15. A mild reaction with a half-mole equivalent of p-cresol (PC) at 50°C for 1 h resulted in near quantitative retention of p-cresol by the support. The composition is now approximately MgCl₂·EB_0.15P?_0.5. Addition of an amount of AlEt₃ corresponding to half-mole equivalent of p-cresol liberated one mole of ethane per mole of p-cresol, thus signaling quantitative reaction between the two components. The support contains on the average one ethyl group per Al. Further reaction with TiCl₄ resulted in the incorporation of titanium of approximately 8, 38, and 54% in the oxidation states of +2, +3, and +4, respectively. The ratio of Al to Ti in the catalyst lies in the range of 0.5–1.0. Only 19% of all the Ti⁺³ species in the catalyst can be observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR); these are attributable to isolated Ti⁺³ complexes. The remaining EPR silent Ti⁺³ species are believed to be bridged to another Ti⁺³ by Cl ligands. The total Cl content is equal to the sum of 2 × Mg + 3 × Al + 3.5 × Ti. Most of the p-cresol moiety apparently disappeared from the support, leaving much of ethyl benzoate in the catalyst. Activation with AlEt₃/methyl-p-toluate complex reduces 90% of the Ti⁺⁴ in the catalyst to lower oxidation states. The ester apparently moderates the alkylating power of AlEt₃ to avoid excessive formation of divalent titanium sites. There appears to be a constant fraction of 1/4–1/5 of the titanium which is isolated and the remainder is in bridged clusters independent of the oxidation states of titanium.     

Polymerization of tetrahydrofuran by AlEt3–H2O promoter system: Rate of propagation reaction

Kinetic studies were carried out on the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with catalyst systems of aluminum alkyl–epichlorohydrin. As aluminium alkyl species AlEt₃, AlEt₃–H₂O (1:0.1 to 1:1.0), and “oxyaluminum ethyl” were employed. The polymerizations with these catalysts are characterized by a mechanism of stepwise addition without chain transfer or termination, which is expressed by the kinetic relation R_p = K_p[P*] ([M]–[M]_e), where [M] and [M]_e are the instantaneous and equilibrium concentrations of monomer and [P*] is the concentration of propagating species calculated from the amount and molecular weight of the product polymer. The determination of the rate constant k_p for these catalysts has shown that the polymerization rate varied considerably with the change of aluminum alkyl species, i.e., with the water-to-aluminum ratio, but the propagation rate constant itself varied very little. The variation of polymerization rate was, therefore, attributed primarily to the differences in concentration of the propagating species, i.e. the efficiency of the catalyst in forming propagating species. The catalyst efficiency was closely related to the acid strength of the aluminum alkyl species, which was estimated from the magnitude of shift of the xanthone carbonyl band in the infrared spectrum of its coordination complex with aluminum alkyl. The maximal catalyst efficiency was attained at about [H₂O]/[AlEt₃] = 0.75.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile with VCl4–Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system in presence of acetonitrile

The polymerization of acrylonitrile with the homogeneous catalyst system of VCl₄–AlEt₃ in acetonitrile at 40°C has been investigated. The rate of polymerization is found to be first-order with respect to monomer and inversely proportional to the catalyst concentration. The overall activation energy for this catalyst system is 10.97 kcal/mole. The inverse proportionality of rate of polymerization with the catalyst concentration is attributed to the permanent complex formation between the catalyst complex and acrylonitrile, and a reaction scheme is proposed.     

Magnesium chloride supported high mileage catalyst for olefin polymerization. VII. Determinations of concentrations of titanium–polymer and aluminum–polymer bonds

Two methods were used in an attempt to determine by radioquenching the active site concentration, [Ti*], in a MgCl₂ supported high activity catalyst. For the reactions of tritium labelled methanol, the kinetic isotope effects were first determined: k_H/k_T = 1.63 for the total polymer and 1.67 for the isotactic polypropylene fraction. Polymerizations were quenched with an excess of isotopic CH₃OH after various lengths of time, at different A/T (amount of AlEt₃ with 0.33 equivalent of methyl-p-toluate to amount of Ti in the catalyst) ratios, and temperatures. From the known specific activity of tritium in CH₃OH and radioassay of the polymer, value of the total metal polymer bond, [MPB], can be obtained. [MPB] increases linearly with polymerization time. Extrapolation to t = 0 gives [MPB]₀, which should be close to [Ti*] because chain transfer with aluminum alkyls to produce Al–P bonds is negligible during very early stage of the polymerization. The values of [MPB]₀ range from 7–30% of the total Ti; the number of MPB is nearly equally distributed in the amorphous and isotactic fractions of polypropylene in most runs. The rate of incorporation of radioactive CO into polymers produced by the MgCl₂ supported high mileage catalyst is far slower than that claimed by some investigators for TiCl₃ type catalysts. There is an initial rapid phase of incorporation of CO which lasts for about 1 hr of contact time. The subsequent rate of CO incorporation steadily declines, yet there is no constant maximum value of radioactivity even after 48 h of reaction in the absence of monomer. Radioquenching of polymerizations with CO was also performed at several temperatures and A/T ratios. In all cases, the maximum [Ti–P] was reached after 30–40 min of polymerization, whereas the maximum rates of polymerization, R_p,m, occurred within 3–10 min. In fact, the rate of polymerization decays to a small fraction of R_p,m after 30–40 min. Furthermore, this maximum value of [Ti–P] remains constant until the end of polymerization (t = 90 min). Therefore, isotopic CO is not reacting with the initially formed active sites Ti₁*, but only with those sites, Ti₂*, which predominate during the later stage of polymerization.     

Kinetic Study of Cationic Polymerization of α-Methylstyrene Initiated by BuOTICl3 In Dlchloromethane Solution

The cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene Initiated by n-BuOTiCl₃ has been studied at -70° C in dlchloromethane solution by using a calorlmetric technique. Polymerizations were performed under high vacuum either in dry conditions for which low monomer conversions were observed (4-12%), or In the presence of added cocatalyst (H₂O or HCl). In these last cases, yields were quantitative, and it was shown that polymerization rate was proportional to added water concentration and first order with respect to catalyst and to monomer. A kinetic scheme is proposed, based on a monomer-Independent initiation step and on a unimolecular termination process. At -70° C, the initiation rate is higher than termination rate during the whole course of the polymerization, and the concentration of active centers increases continuously. The following rate constants were found at -70°C: k_i. = 17 ± 6, k = 2.2 ± 1.1 ± 10⁴,k_trm = 30 ± 15 liter/mole-Sec, and k_t =0 54 ± 0 05 sec^?1. At -50 and -30° C, the concentration of active centers goes through a maximum during the polymerization and incomplete monomer conversions were observed, showing that all the catalyst is consumed. The different rate constants were tentatively estimated at these temperatures by using a simulation method, and this led to a negative value of ca. -7 kcal/mole for the apparent activation energy for propagation, and to a value of ～ 5 kcal/ mole for E_i. The observation of a negative (E_p)_app might be explained either by a shift of the dissociation equilibrium of the growing ends or by a solvation process of these growing ends by monomer prior to the propagation step.     

Magnesium chloride supported high mileage catalysts for olefin polymerization. XIII. Effect of external Lewis base on ethylene polymerization

The effect of external Lewis base (B_e) on the polymerization of ethylene by the MgCl₂/ethyl benzoate/p-cresol/AlEt₃/TiCl₄ catalyst was studied by activation with AlEt₃ alone without the use of methyl-p-toluate. The initially formed active site concentration, [Ti], is about doubled in the absence of B_e; at 50°C about 93% of the total titanium became catalytic. The same increment of [Ti] was observed without B_e. The rate constants of propagation are not appreciably affected by B_e; the values are the same at 50° with and without B_e. At other temperatures the k_p values are somewhat smaller without B_e. One major effect was the very large k values for chain transfer with aluminum alkyls in the absence of B_e as compared to those with B_e. This can be attributed to the greater monomeric AlEt₃ concentration in the former, but in much smaller amounts in the presence of B_e due to complexation. The rate constants of chain transfer with hydrogen are not much affected by B_e. However, the termination rate constants are generally much smaller when Lewis base is not present.     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride by the Ti(O-n-Bu)4–AlEt3–epichlorohydrin catalyst system

The polymerization of vinyl chloride was carried out by using a catalyst system consisting of Ti(O-n-Bu)₄, AlEt₃, and epichlorohydrin. The polymerization rate and the reduced viscosity of polymer were influenced by the polymerization temperature, AlEt₃/Ti(O-n-Bu)₄ molar ratios, and epichlorohydrin/Ti(O-n-Bu)₄ molar ratios. The reduced viscosity of polymer obtained in the virtual absence of n-heptane as solvent was two to three times as high as that of polymer obtained in the presence of n-heptane. The crystallinity of poly(vinyl chloride) thus obtained was similar to that of poly(vinyl chloride) produced by a radical catalyst. It was concluded that the polymerization of vinyl chloride by the present catalyst system obeys a radical mechanism rather than a coordinated anionic mechanism.     

Polymerization kinetics of octene-1 catalyzed by metallocene methylaluminoxane investigated with attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy

The kinetic parameters have been measured for octene-1 solution polymerization at 120°C catalyzed by zirconocene with the cocatalyst methylaluminoxane. The polymerizations were performed in an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) reaction cell. The progress of the reactions were followed by observing the disappearance of octene-1 using the 910 cm^?1 band measured by FT-IR spectroscopy. The dependence of the reaction rate, R_p, on catalyst concentration and cocatalyst/catalyst ratio was examined. The catalyst deactivation mechanism was studied by fitting the experimental data to mathematical models involving second-order propagation and either first or second order catalyst deactivation. Second-order catalyst deactivation provided a much better fit. The calculated deactivation rate constant, k_d, is 21 (Ms)^?1. This model is used to determine the propagation rate constant for Al/Zr = 4 × 10³ as k_p = 19.9 (M s)^?1. A decrease in Al/Zr = 3 × 10² lowered the propagation rate constant, k_p, to 9.6 (M s)^?1 indicating that less than 50% of the initial Zr is active at this Al/Zr ratio.     

Kinetics of polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with cyclohexanone. Part I

The kinetics of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate were investigated in a dioxane solution with cyclohexanone as initiator. It was found that the overall rate of reaction initiated with cyclohexanone (R_p) is proportional to the concentration of monomer and to the square root of the concentration of the initiator. The effect of temperature on the R_p in the temperature range of 65–95°C was discussed. The Arrhenius activation energy E_a estimated for the temperature range of 65–75°C was 137 kJ mol^?1.     

Magnesium chloride supported high mileage catalysts for olefin (decene-l) polymerization XIV. Propagation and chain transfer

Decene-l was polymerized with the MgCl₂/ethylebenzoate/p-cresol/AIEt₃/TiCl₄-AlEt₃/methyl-p-toluate catalyst at 50° using an A/T ratio of 167 and a range of monomer concentration. The concentration of the two kinds of active sites are [Ti] = 12% and [Ti] = 4% of the total titanium. The rate constants of propagation are 24 M^?1 s^?1. Chain transfers to AIEt₃, monomer, and by β-hydride elimination have rate constant values of 1.7 × 10^?3 M^?1 s^?1, 1.34 × 10^?2 M^?1 s^?1, and 1.7 × 10^?2 s^?1, respectively. Poly(decene-l) have relatively narrow MW which are unchanged during the course of a polymerization. Therefore, the active site concentrations in the CW catalyst for propylene and decene polymerization are identical and their rate constant values agree within a factor of 2. However, the rate of decene polymerization depends on fractional order of monomer concentration and decreases with the increase of activator concentration. Furthermore, the formation of metal polymer bonds has a rate independent of these concentrations. These kinetic behaviors are a manifestation of absorption processes of these species which are not seen in propylene polymerizations.