In situ ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization catalyzed by zirconocene catalysts entrapped inside functionalized montmorillonite

Ethylene homopolymerizations and copolymerizations were catalyzed by zirconocene catalysts entrapped inside functionalized montmorillonites that had been rendered organophilic via the ion exchange of the interlamellar cations of layered montmorillonite with hydrochlorides of L ‐amino acids (AAH⁺Cl^?) or their methyl esters (MeAAH⁺Cl^?), with or without the further addition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₆H₃₃N⁺Me₃Br^?; R₄N⁺Br^?). In contrast to the homogeneous Cp₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane catalyst for ethylene homopolymerizations and copolymerizations with 1‐octene, the intercalated Cp₂ZrCl₂ activated by methylaluminoxane for ethylene homopolymerizations and copolymerizations with 1‐octene proved to be more effective in the synthesis of polyethylenes with controlled molecular weights, chemical compositions and structures, and properties, including the bulk density. The effects of the properties of the organic guests on the preparation and catalytic performance of the intercalated zirconocene catalysts were studied. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2187–2196, 2003     

Polymer‐supported zirconocene catalyst for ethylene polymerization

The use of crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) having functional groups as the support for zirconocene catalysts in ethylene polymerization was studied. Several factors affecting the activity of the catalysts were examined. Conditions like time, temperature, Al/N (molar ratio), Al/Zr (molar ratio), and the mode of feeding were found having no significant influence on the activity of the catalysts, while the state of the supports had a great effect on the catalytic behavior. The activity of the catalysts sharply increased with either the degree of crosslinking or the content of 4‐vinylpyridine in the support. Via aluminum compounds, AlR₃ or methylaluminoxane (MAO), zirconocene was attached on the surface of the support. IR spectra showed an intensified and shifted absorption bands of C N in the pyridine ring, and a new absorption band appeared at about 730 cm⁻¹ indicating a stable bond Al N formed in the polymer‐supported catalysts. The formation of cationic active centers was hypothesized and the performance of the polymer‐supported zirconocene was discussed as well. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 37–46, 1999     

Preparation of macroporous functionalized polymer beads by a multistep polymerization and their application in zirconocene catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Macroporous functionalized polymer beads of poly(4‐vinylpyridine‐co‐1,4‐divinylbenzene) [P(VPy‐co‐DVB)] were prepared by a multistep polymerization, including a polystyrene (PS) shape template by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization, linear PS seeds by staged template suspension polymerization, and macroporous functionalized polymer beads of P(VPy‐co‐DVB) by multistep seeded polymerization. The polymer beads, having a cellular texture, were made of many small, spherical particles. The bead size was 10–50 μm, and the pore size was 0.1–1.5 μm. The polymer beads were used as supports for zirconocene catalysts in ethylene polymerization. They were very different from traditional polymer supports. The polymer beads could be exfoliated to yield many spherical particles dispersed in the resulting polyethylene particles during ethylene polymerization. The influence of the polymer beads on the catalytic behavior of the supported catalyst and morphology of the resulting polyethylene was investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 873–880, 2003     

New architecture of supported metallocene catalysts for alkene polymerization

We report the synthesis of a supported metallocene catalyst that exhibits the same activity as a homogeneous catalyst for ethylene polymerization reactions. The key to this new catalytic system is a hybrid organic–inorganic polymer obtained by the cocondensation of an organotrialkoxysilane (OTAS; 40 mol %) with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS; 60 mol %). The particular organic group of OTAS enabled us to avoid gelation when the hydrolytic condensation was performed with a thermal cycle attaining 150 °C. The resulting product [soluble functionalized silica (SFS)] was a glass at room temperature that was soluble in several organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and toluene. The ²⁹Si NMR spectrum of SFS showed that the OTAS units were fully condensed (T₃ species), whereas the TEOS units were mainly present as tricondensed (Q₃) and tetracondensed (Q₄) units. SFS was grafted onto activated silica through a reaction of silanol groups. The metallocene [(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂] was covalently bonded to the SFS‐modified support. The polymerization of ethylene was carried out in toluene in the presence of methylaluminoxane. The activity of the supported catalyst was similar to that of the metallocene catalyst in solution. The simplest explanation accounting for this fact is that most of the metallocene was grafted to SFS species issuing from the surface of the support through a reaction with their silanol groups. This improved the accessibility of the monomer to the reaction sites. Specific interactions of the metallocene species with neighboring organic branches of SFS might also affect the catalytic activity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5480–5486, 2007     

Preparation and application of a novel core–shell‐particle‐supported zirconocene catalyst

The use of functional groups bearing silica/poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) core–shell particles as a support for a zirconocene catalyst in ethylene polymerization was studied. Several factors affecting the behavior of the supported catalyst and the properties of the resulting polymer, such as time, temperature, Al/N (molar ratio), and Al/Zr (molar ratio), were examined. The conditions of the supported catalyst preparation were more important than those of the ethylene polymerization. The state of the supported catalyst itself played a decisive role in both the catalytic behavior of the supported catalyst and the properties of polyethylene (PE). IR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to follow the formation of the supports. The formation of cationic active species is hypothesized, and the performance of the core–shell‐particle‐supported zirconocene catalyst is discussed as well. The bulk density of the PE formed was higher than that of the polymer obtained from homogeneous and polymer‐supported Cp₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane catalyst systems. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2085–2092, 2001     

A DFT study of ethylene polymerization by zirconocene catalysts

A DFT study of ethylene polymerization by zirconocene catalysts was carried out. Stationary points corresponding to intermediates and transition states were located on the potential energy surface of the [Cp₂ZrC₂H₅]⁺+C₂H₄ model system. Three possible reaction mechanisms involving the formation of β-agostic complexes were considered. The energy and thermodynamic characteristics for different reaction pathways were calculated. Corresponding activation energies lie in the range 3.9–6.8 kcal mol⁻¹. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1168–1177, July, 2000.     

Effects of ethylene polymerization conditions on the activity of SiO2-supported zirconocene and on polymer properties

The effects of polymerization conditions were evaluated on the production of polyethylene by silica-supported (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ grafted under optimized conditions and cocatalyzed by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The Al : Zr molar ratio, reaction temperature, monomer pressure, and the age and concentration of the catalyst were systematically varied. Most reactions were performed in toluene. Hexane, with the addition of triisobutilaluminum (TIBA) to MAO, was also tested as a polymerization solvent for both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst systems. Polymerization reactions in hexane showed their highest activities with MAO : TIBA ratios of 3 : 1 and 1 : 1 for the homogeneous and supported systems, respectively. Catalyst activity increased continuously as Al : Zr molar ratios increased from 0 to 2000, and remained constant up to 5000. The highest activity was observed at 333 K. High monomer pressures (≈ 4 atm) appeared to stabilize active species during polymerization, producing polyethylenes with high molecular weight (≈ 3 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹). Catalyst concentration had no significant effect on polymerization activity or polymer properties. Catalyst aging under inert atmosphere was evaluated over 6 months; a pronounced reduction in catalyst activity [from 20 to 13 × 10⁵ g PE (mol Zr h)⁻¹] was observed only after the first two days following preparation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1987–1996, 1999     

Preparation of supported yttrium alkoxides as catalysts for the polymerization of lactones and oxirane

Two methods have been reported that allow yttrium alkoxides to be supported on porous silica and to be used afterward as heterogeneous catalysts in the ring‐opening polymerization of oxirane and ?‐caprolactone. In the two methods, [tris(hexamethyldisilyl)‐amide]yttrium {Y[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃} is the metal alkoxide precursor. It is directly reacted with the silanol groups of the support, in the first method, and this is followed by alcoholysis of the unreacted amide groups. The flexibility of this method seems to be limited because the grafting density and the structure of the grafted Y alkoxide (less than one alkoxide by metal) are independent of the experimental conditions. In the second method, Y[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃ is first reacted with 1 or 2 equiv of alcohol with the formation of the mixed Y alkoxide/amide. The amide functions are used to attach Y to the support. This method is free from side reactions, quite reproducible, and well suited to support one type of active species (monoalkoxide or dialkoxide). Preliminary experiments with ?‐caprolactone polymerization have confirmed the activity of the supported Y alkoxide, whatever preparation method is used. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 569–578, 2003     

One-phase supported titanium-based catalysts for polymerization of ethylene. II. Effect of hydrogen

The relation between composition of the one-phase titanium-based silica supported catalysts for gas-phase ethylene polymerization, and the ability of these catalysts to control the molecular weight of polymer using hydrogen has been studied. Halogen containing alkylaluminium compounds and alkoxy groups on titanium promote the chain transfer process. A significant polymerization rate lowering effect is caused by hydrogen. However, catalyst activity fully revives after hydrogen removal from the polymerization system. The proportion of active titanium was found to be 18±4% in the presence of hydrogen, and the value of propagation rate constant (k_p) was calculated to be 190±45 L/mol.s. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and characterization of azlactone functionalized polymer supports and their application as scavengers

A series of cross-linked porous copolymer supports based on N-(p-vinylbenzoyl)-2-methylalanine (VBM), styrene and divinylbenzene was prepared by aqueous suspension copolymerization in the presence of butan-2-ol used as porogen. The cross-linked copolymer beads were characterized by elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and confocal Raman spectrometries. It was observed that the VBM incorporation was effective and homogeneous within the beads. Those VBM functionalized supports were converted into azlactone functionalized supports using acetic anhydride and their scavenging efficiency towards different amines was measured. It appeared that 90% of benzylamine was quenched after 5 h.     

Copolymerization of ethylene or propylene with α‐olefins containing hydroxyl groups with zirconocene/methylaluminoxane catalyst

Copolymerization of olefins (ethylene and propylene) and 5‐hexen‐1‐ol pretreated with alkylaluminum was performed using [dimethysilylbis(9‐fluorenyl)]zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane as the catalyst. The copolymerization required extra addition of alkylaluminum to prevent deactivation of the catalyst when 5‐hexen‐1‐ol was pretreated with trimethylaluminum, whereas the triisobutylaluminum‐treated system did not require any addition of alkylaluminum. The molecular weight of the copolymer depended on the kind of alkylaluminum compound (masking reagent, additive, and cocatalyst). ¹³C NMR analysis proved that poly(ethylene‐co‐5‐hexen‐1‐ol) containing 50 mol % of 5‐hexen‐1‐ol acted as an alternating copolymer, whereas the poly(propylene‐co‐5‐hexen‐1‐ol) acted as a random copolymer. The surface property of the copolymers was simply evaluated by means of water drop contact angle measurement. It was found that the copolymers containing large amounts of 5‐hexen‐1‐ol units showed good hydrophilic properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 52–58, 2004     

Frontal polymerization for smart intrinsic self‐healing hydrogels and its integration with microfluidics

Frontal polymerization (FP) is applied for the synthesis of β‐cyclodextrin/poly(vinylimidazole‐co‐N‐vinylcaprolactam‐co‐acrylic acid) (β‐CD/P(VI‐co‐NVCL‐co‐AA)) copolymers. The dependence of frontal velocity and temperature on the initiator and cross‐linker are discussed. The synthesized copolymers have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermo‐pH dual‐stimuli responsive behavior of the hydrogel is determined by swelling measurement at different temperatures and pH values. Besides, the hydrogels show intrinsic self‐healing behavior and their healing efficiency is determined by the mechanical tests. Interestingly, we integrate FP with microfluidic technology, which may realize the execution of FP under continuous condition. Such simple microfluidics‐FP integrated approach has both methodological and practical value for the synthesis of functional materials. This paper mainly presents the synthesis and characterization of β‐cyclodextrin/poly(vinylimidazole‐co‐N‐vinylcaprolactam‐co‐acrylic acid) (β‐CD/P(VI‐co‐NVCL‐co‐AA)) copolymers by using thermal frontal polymerization (TFP). Hydrogels were found to be self‐healing with good mechanical performance and show dual thermo‐pH responsive behavior. Low‐cost, energy‐saving and efficient method of thermal frontal polymerization process was integrated with microfluidics technology to prepare supraball hydrogel. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1412–1423     

Synthesis of polymer microspheres functionalized with chiral ligand by precipitation polymerization and their application to asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Monodisperse, crosslinked poly(divinylbenzene) and poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) microspheres with (1R,2R)‐N¹‐toluenesulfonyl‐1,2‐diphenylethylene‐1,2‐diamine ((R,R)‐TsDPEN) moiety were successfully prepared by precipitation polymerization. Introduction site of the (R,R)‐TsDPEN moiety into the polymer microspheres could be controlled by changing the order of addition of the corresponding monomers. The functionalized polymer microspheres were applied to asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketone and imine. Polymer microsphere‐supported chiral catalysts showed good reactivity and enantioselectivity in the catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenations. Chiral secondary alcohol was quantitatively obtained with 94% ee in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in water. We also found that introduction site of the chiral catalyst and hydrophobicity of the microspheres, as well as degree of the crosslinking, affected the yield and enantioselectivity of chiral product in this reaction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3340–3349, 2010     

Synthesis of a new salphen‐type titanium complex and its application in ethylene polymerization and copolymerization

TiCl₂[salphen(di‐tBu)] was synthesized, characterized and employed as pre‐catalyst in ethylene homo‐ and copolymerization with propylene, 1‐octene and 10‐undecen‐1‐ol. X‐ray diffraction study on the titanium complex revealed a distorted octahedral coordination of the central metal with a trans‐Cl, cis‐O, cis‐N arrangement. The complex combined with MAO afforded moderate catalytic activities in ethylene polymerization. Furthermore the catalyst not only copolymerized ethylene with apolar monomer (propylene and 1‐octene), but also possessed significant capability of incorporation with polar monomer (10‐undecen‐1‐ol). Only single insertion of 1‐octene unit in ethylene‐co‐1‐octene polymer was detected by ¹³C NMR spectrum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile synthesis of sterically demanding SHOP‐type nickel catalysts for ethylene polymerization

The P,O‐chelated shell higher olefin process (SHOP) type nickel complexes are practical homogeneous catalysts for the industrial preparation of linear low‐carbon α‐olefins from ethylene. We describes that a facile synthetic route enables the modulation of steric hindrance and electronic nature of SHOP‐type nickel complexes. A series of sterically bulky SHOP‐type nickel complexes with variable electronic nature, {[4‐R‐C₆H₄C(O) = C‐PArPh]NiPh (PPh₃); Ar = 2‐[2′,6′‐(OMe)₂C₆H₃]C₆H₄; R = H ( Ni1 ); R = OMe ( Ni2 ); R = CF₃ ( Ni3 )}, were prepared and used as single component catalysts toward ethylene polymerization without using any phosphine scavenger. These nickel catalysts exhibit high thermal stability during ethylene polymerization and result in highly crystalline linear α‐olefinic solid polymer. The catalytic performance of the SHOP‐type nickel complexes was significantly improved by introducing a bulky ortho‐biphenyl group on the phosphorous atom or an electron‐withdrawing trifluoromethyl on the backbone of the ligand, indicating steric and electronic effects play critical roles in SHOP‐type nickel complexes catalyzed ethylene polymerization.     

Preparation of titanocene and zirconocene dichlorides bearing bulky 1,4-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylcyclopentadienyl ligand and their behavior in polymerization of ethylene

New metallocene dichlorides [η⁵-(1,4-Me₂-2,3-Ph₂-C₅H)₂TiCl₂] (2), [η⁵-(1,4-Me₂-2,3-Ph₂-C₅H)₂ZrCl₂] (3) and [η⁵-(1,4-Me₂-2,3-Ph₂-C₅H)η⁵-(C₅H₅)ZrCl₂] (4) were prepared from lithium salt of 1,4-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylcyclopentadiene (1) and [TiCl₃(THF)₃], [ZrCl₄] and [η⁵-(C₅H₅)ZrCl₃(DME)], respectively. Compounds 2-4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, EI-MS and IR spectroscopy, and the solid state structure of 3 was determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The catalytic systems 3/MAO and 4/MAO were almost inactive in polymerization of ethylene at 30-50 °C, however, they exhibited high activity at temperature 80 °C. The catalyst formed from 2 and excess of MAO was practically inactive at all temperatures.     

石墨烯/二氯化镁负载钛系齐格勒-纳塔催化剂制备及其乙烯聚合性能

石墨烯自2004年发现以来,由于其独一无二的优异性迅速成为科学家们的研究热点.由于石墨烯具有极其优异的电学、力学和热学等性能,因此被广泛应用于高性能聚合物基复合材料的制备.众所周知,纳米填料在聚合物中的分散状态以及与基体间的界面作用是构筑高性能聚合物纳米复合材料的关键因素.由于石墨烯极易团聚,难以通过传统的熔融共混法制备均匀分散的石墨烯增强-聚烯烃纳米复合材料.另一方面,聚烯烃通常需要在较高温度下才能溶于部分有毒溶剂(如:三氯苯和二甲苯等),因此溶液共混法也不适用于聚烯烃-石墨烯纳米复合材料的制备.有鉴于此,本文开发了一种共沉积法制备石墨烯/二氯化镁负载钛系齐格勒-纳塔催化剂的路线.通过原位聚合直接制备出石墨烯均匀分散的聚烯烃/石墨烯纳米复合材料.考察了石墨烯的加入量对催化剂形态及其催化乙烯聚合行为的影响.当石墨烯加入量较低时,多个石墨烯片被包裹于较大的催化剂粒子中.随着石墨烯加入量的增加,催化剂趋向于在石墨烯表面聚集.继续增加石墨烯量将导致石墨烯包裹催化剂粒子,降低过渡金属钛的负载效率.通过三乙基铝活化后,所制备的催化剂具有非常高的乙烯催化活性,所生成的聚乙烯/石墨烯纳米复合材料复制了催化剂的片状结构.同时,通过对所制备的聚乙烯/石墨烯纳米复合材料进行电子显微镜和X射线衍射分析可知,石墨烯均匀分散于聚乙烯基体中,并且没有任何团聚现象发生.该复合材料的热重分析表明,仅加入非常少量的石墨烯就可以使其具有比纯聚乙烯更高的热稳定性,当石墨烯加入量为0.66 wt%时,其5 wt%热分解温度较纯聚乙烯升高了54°C.同时,所制备聚乙烯/石墨烯纳米复合材料具有更优异的机械性能.因此,本研究提供了一个简单高效的高性能聚烯烃/石墨烯纳米复合材料的制备方法.     

Highly fluorous zirconocene(IV) complexes and their catalytic applications in the polymerization of ethylene

The catalytic activities of the highly fluorous systems formed by the zirconocene(IV) complexes [Zr{η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₂C₂H₄R_F}₂Cl₂] (R_F = C₆F₁₃ (4a), C₁₀F₂₁ (4b)) or [Zr-{η⁵-C₅H₃(SiMe₂C₂H₄C₆F₁₃)₂}₂Cl₂] (5a) and MMAO in toluene have been studied and compared with analogous nonfluorous systems generated from [Zr{η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃}₂Cl₂] and [Zr{η⁵-C₅H₅}₂Cl₂]. Although less active than the reference systems, the fluorous catalysts are stable over prolonged polymerization times, giving rise to polymers with similar molecular weights to those obtained with [Zr{η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃}₂Cl₂].     

Synthesis and polymerization behavior of novel C 1 and C s titanium ansa‐cyclopentadienyl‐amido catalysts for ethylene and propylene polymerization

Four titanium ansa‐cyclopentadienyl‐amido complexes of the general formula [C₅H₃RMe₂SiN(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)]TiX₂(R = H,Me,Bz,^tBu;X = NMe₂ or Cl) have been synthesized. The complexes polymerize both ethylene and propylene in the presence of methylaluminoxane or Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄–triisobutylaluminum and were most active at lower temperatures. In general, the smaller the substituent on the cyclopentadienyl group, the more active the catalyst. The catalysts were found to be poorly stereoselective for the polymerization of polypropylene, with the tertiary‐butyl substituted catalyst giving a polymer with the greatest [mmmm] (14.2%). The structure of [C₅H₄Me₂SiN(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)] Ti(NMe₂)₂ was determined by X‐ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system space group P2₁/n, with a = 16.437(2), b = 8.652(3), c = 16.494(4),β = 117.54(2) and Z = 4. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.