Ethylene polymerization with homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts: theoretical study on the role of ion pairs in the polymerization mechanism

The thermodynamics of the reaction of an ethylene molecule with the Cp₂TiCH₃Cl/Al(CH₃)₂Cl system (Cp = η₅-C₅H₅), as a model for olefin polymerization with homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts, was investigated via quantum mechanical DFT calculations. The comparison of the calculated energies for three possible titanium-olefin coordinated intermediates, the ionic complex Cp₂TiCH₃(C₂H₄)⁺/Al(CH₃)₂Cl, the bimetallic complex Cp₂TiCH₃(C₂H₄)^δ+ · Al(CH₃)₂Cl and the olefin-separated ion pair Cp₂TiCH/C₂H₄/Al(CH₃)₂Cl, shows that the most feasible polymerization mechanism occurs via olefin-separated ion pair.     

Stereospecific polymerization of 1‐hexene catalyzed by ansa‐metallocene/methylaluminoxane systems under high pressures

Stereospecific polymerization of 1‐hexene under high pressures (up to 1,000 MPa = ca. 10,000 atm) using metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysts was investigated. Several C₂‐symmetric ansa‐metallocenes, their meso‐isomers, and two C_s‐symmetric ansa‐metallocenes were employed as catalyst precursors. In the course of this study, novel C₂‐symmetric germylene‐bridged ansa‐metallocenes, (rac‐[Me₂Ge(η⁵‐C₅H‐2,3,5‐Me₃)₂MCl₂] (M = Zr, rac‐4a; M = Hf, rac‐4b), have been prepared. High pressures induced enhancement of the catalytic activity and the molecular weight of the polymers in most of the catalysts. The maximum of both the catalytic activity and the molecular weight of the polymers was mostly observed at 100–500 MPa in each catalyst, although the enhanced ratio was smaller than that observed for nonbridged metallocenes. Isospecificity of the C₂‐symmetric ansa‐metallocene catalysts was essentially maintained even under high pressure. Highly isotactic polyhexene ([mmmm] = 91.6%) with very high molecular weight (M_w = 2,360,000) was achieved by rac‐4b under 250 MPa. High pressures slightly decreased syndiotacticity when the C_s‐symmetric ansa‐metallocene, isopropylidene(1‐η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)(9‐η⁵‐fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride 5, was employed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 283–292, 1999     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by 2‐Py‐amidine Ni(II) complex/methylaluminoxane systems

Two 2‐Py‐amidine ligands (2‐Py―NH―C(Ph)═N―Ar, Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ and 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) and the corresponding Ni(II) complexes ( 1 and 2 ) were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and FT‐IR, UV–visible, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. X‐ray crystal structures indicate that the chelate ring conformation of the less bulky complex 1 is relatively planar compared with that of the bulky complex 2 . Paramagnetic ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR studies show that, in solution, the time‐average structures of complexes 1 and 2 have mirror symmetry. Both complexes 1 and 2 were used as catalyst precursors for norbornene polymerization with methylaluminoxane as a co‐catalyst. The effects of Al/Ni ratio, temperature and structure of precursors on the catalytic performance were investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

(Butadiene)metallocene/B(C6F5)3 pathway to catalyst systems for stereoselective methyl methacrylate polymerization: evidence for an anion dependent metallocene catalyzed polymerization process

The ansa-zirconocene dichlorides [Me(2)Si(C(5)H(4))(3-R-C(5)H(3))]ZrCl(2) 7a-e (R = H, CH(3), cyclohexyl, -CHMe(2), -CMe(3)) were reacted with butadiene-magnesium to yield the respective (eta(4)-butadiene)metallocenes 17a-e. The chiral examples give a mixture of two s-cis and two s-trans diastereomers. The strong Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3) adds selectively to a terminal butadiene carbon atom to yield the (butadiene)metallocene/B(C(6)F(5))(3) betaine complexes 18a-e. Initially, the formation of the Z-18 isomers is preferred. These consecutively rearrange to the thermodynamically favored isomers E-18. The dipolar systems 18 are active single component metallocene catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of methyl methacrylate. With increasing steric bulk of the attached single alkyl substituent an increasingly isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) is obtained. A similar trend is observed in the methyl methacrylate polymerization at the [Me(2)Si(C(5)H(4))(3-R-C(5)H(3))]ZrCH(3)(+) catalysts (9a-e) that were conventionally prepared by methyl abstraction from the corresponding ansa-zirconocene dimethyl complexes by treatment with B(C(6)F(5))(3). A comparison of the poly(methyl methacrylates) obtained at these two series of catalysts has revealed substantial differences in stereoselectivity that probably originate from an influence of the respective counteranions. An initial reactive intermediate of methyl methacrylate addition to the dipolar single component metallocene catalyst E-18a was experimentally observed and characterized by NMR spectroscopy at 253 K. The subsequently formed series of [PMMA-C(4)H(6)(-)B(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) anion oligomers (at the catalyst 18c) was monitored (after quenching) and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry.     

Influences of methylaluminoxane separated by porous inorganic materials on the isospecific polymerization of propylene

Inorganic siliceous porous materials such as MFI type zeolite, mesoporous silica MCM‐41 and silica gel with different average pore diameters were applied to the adsorptive separation of methylaluminoxane (MAO) used as a cocatalyst in α‐olefin polymerizations. The separated MAOs combined with rac‐ethylene‐(bisindenyl)zirconium dichloride (rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂) were introduced to propylene polymerization, and their influences on the polymerization activity and stereoregularity of the resulting polymers were investigated. The polymerization activity and isotactic [mmmm] pentad of the produced propylene were markedly dependent upon the pore size of the porous material used for adsorptive separation. From the results obtained from solvent extraction of the produced polymers, it was suggested that there are at least two kinds of active species with different stereospecificity in the rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the structure of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalysts for olefin polymerization

The structure of methylaluminoxane (MAO), used as a cocatalyst for olefin polymerization, has been investigated by Raman and in situ IR spectroscopy, polymerization experiments, and density functional calculations. From experimental results, a number of quantum chemical calculations, and bonding properties of related compounds, we have suggested a few Me₁₈Al₁₂O₉ cage structures, including a highly regular one with C_3h symmetry, which may serve as models for methylaluminoxane solutions. The cages themselves are rigid but may contain up to three bridging methyl groups on the cage surfaces that are labile and reactive. Bridging methyls were substituted with Cl atoms to form a compound otherwise similar to MAO. Chlorinated MAO is unable to activate a metallocene catalyst, even in the presence of trimethylaluminum (TMA), but allows subsequent activation by regular MAO. With bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, MAO and TMA seem to influence chain termination independently. Several findings previously poorly explained are rationalized with the new model, including the observed lack of reaction products with excess TMA. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3106–3127, 2000     

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.     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by a series of bis(β-ketoiminato)nickel (II) complexes in the presence of methylaluminoxane

A series of nickel complexes with β-ketoiminato ligands based on pyrazolone derivative were synthesized and characterized, which are highly active catalyst precursors for norbornene polymerization under mild reaction conditions through a vinyl-type polymerization mechanism. The catalytic activity could be up to 3.38 × 10⁷ g polymer/mol Ni h. The molecular weight distributions of the polynorbornenes (M_w/M_n = 2.05-2.56) indicate the presence of a single active species in the polymerization process.     

Studies on olefin isomerization catalyzed by transition metals: Part IV. Isomerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene catalyzed by (R-Cp)2TiCl2/R'MgX systems

The isomerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene (1,5-COD) to 1,4-COD and 1,3-COD catalyzed by (R-Cp)₂TiCl₂ (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅)/R'MgX systems was studied. Cp₂TiCl₂/i-C₃H₇MgBr was found to have excellent catalytic activity for the isomerization of 1,5-COD to 1,3-COD at room temperature. The effects of solvent, Ti/Mg ratio, peroxide content in 1,5-COD, substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ligand of (R-Cp)₂TiCl₂, and alkyl groups in the Grignard reagents were examined and a titanium hydride addition-elimination mechanism was proposed.     

Influence of mixed aluminoxane systems on ethylenenorbornene copolymerization catalyzed by metallocene

The norbornene/ethylene copolymerization was investigated using Me₂SiCp₂MCl₂ (M = Zr, Ti)/EBAO and MAO as catalyst systems (EBAO: mixed ethyl-isobutylaluminoxane, MAO: methylaluminoxane). The copolymers were characterized by DSC and ¹³C NMR. Copolymers with high content of norbornene and high T_g were obtained with the mixed EBAO. It is suggested that the copolymerization is greatly influenced by the state of the ion pair of the metallocene catalyst. The effect of aluminoxane on the composition and the microstructure of copolymer is discussed.     

半茂钛催化乙烯与降冰片烯共聚的理论研究

运用密度泛函方法对含酚-膦配体的半茂钛化合物催化乙烯与降冰片烯共聚合反应的详细机理进行了理论研究。计算结果表明,虽然由于配体的不同,此系列钛化合物具有两种典型结构,但其在助催化剂作用下形成的催化活性种均为相似的P-Ti成键的阳离子物种。在烯烃聚合反应中,烯烃单体的配位插入反应易于从阳离子活性种中氧原子的对位发生。由乙烯及降冰片烯聚合反应各步骤的比较可知,乙烯单体插入Ti-Me结构的初始插入步骤较插入Ti-Et结构困难得多,因而链引发步骤为乙烯均聚的决速步骤。而降冰片烯单体插入Ti-Me结构较之乙烯单体容易得多,但由于降冰片烯单体位阻较大,其连续插入十分困难。在共聚反应过程中,NBE单体的引入可以使得Et插入反应容易越过较难的插入Ti-Me结构步骤,这是NBE与Et共聚反应的反应活性远大于催化Et均聚反应的最主要原因。     

Computer simulation of the aggregation of ion pairs in the polymerization of styrene initiated by RCl/SnCl4/NRCl− systems

Computer simulations show that ion pair aggregation can be responsible for the unusual dependence of the initial rate of polymerization on the concentration of added salt in the cationic polymerization of styrene initiated by RCl/SnCl₄/NRCl⁻. Addition of small amounts of tetraalkylammonium chloride to the system reduces the rate of polymerization due to the decrease of the concentration of propagating free cations. Subsequent salt addition leads to a small rate increase, and then the rate decreases at higher [salt]₀/[SnCl₄]₀ ratio. The simulations show that the rate increase can be ascribed to the formation of aggregates of ion pairs and thus to a higher overall proportion of carbocations resulting in faster polymerization. The decrease of the polymerization rate at higher concentrations of added salt can be explained by the conversion of free SnCl₄ to SnCl anions which are weaker Lewis acids. The effect of various equilibrium constants on the total concentration of carbocations as a function of added salt is simulated.     

Amphicatalytic polymerization: synthesis of stereomultiblock poly(methyl methacrylate) with diastereospecific ion pairs

Diastereospecific ion pairs consisting of isospecific transition-metal cations and syndiospecific main-group anions promote what is termed amphicatalytic polymerization of MMA, producing PMMA with isotactic-b-syndiotactic stereomultiblock microstructures.     

Polyethylene chain growth on zinc catalyzed by olefin polymerization catalysts: a comparative investigation of highly active catalyst systems across the transition series

Highly active transition metal ethylene polymerization catalysts across the transition series have been investigated for their ability to catalyze chain growth on zinc. In reactions of various catalysts with ZnEt(2), product distributions range from Schulz-Flory to Poisson, with several catalysts showing intermediate behavior. A statistical modeling program is introduced to correlate product distributions with the relative rates of propagation, chain transfer to zinc, and beta-H transfer. Six regimes have been identified, ranging from Schulz-Flory to pure Poisson where chain transfer to metal is the only termination process, through to combined alkane/alkene distributions where beta-H transfer is competitive with chain transfer to metal. It is concluded that, while catalyzed chain growth (CCG) is favored by a reasonable match between the bond dissociation energies of both the main group and transition metal alkyl species, the M-C bond energies of the bridging alkyl species, and hence the stabilities of any hetero-bimetallic intermediates or transition states, are key. The latter are strongly influenced by the steric environment around the participating metal centers, more bulky ligands leading to a weakening of the bonds to the bridging alkyl groups; CCG is thus usually more favored for sterically hindered catalysts.     

Atactic polymerization of propylene catalyzed by mono(η5-cyclopentadienyl)titanium tribenzyloxide combined with methylaluminoxane

Propylene has been polymerized with mono(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)titanium tribenzyloxide activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO). It was found that the content of residual trimethylaluminium (TMA) in MAO has a determinative effect on the polymerization. An excess of TMA in the catalyst system reduces the Ti species to inactive lower valent states. The catalyst system gives medium molecular-weight atactic polypropylene (M_v = 2–7 × 10⁴) with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.4–1.8). The polymer has a stereoirregular structure described by Bernoullian statistics. Statistical analysis of the regiotriad distribution of the polypropylene chains indicates a regioblock microstructure. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2051–2057, 1998     

Mass spectrometric study of bis-(2-p-tolylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl-triisobutylaluminum olefin polymerization catalyst

Molecular masses of the complexes that form upon the reaction of (2- ^p Tolylindenyl)₂ZrMe₂ with AlBu₃ ⁱ in toluene at room temperature were determined by means of electrospray mass spectrometry. It was determined that zirconium is arranged between two dimeric clusters with the monozirconium cation (L₂ZrBu ⁱ⁺ · HAlBu₃ ⁱ⁻)₂ and dizirconium cation {[L₂ZrBu ⁱ (μ-CH₃)Bu ⁱ ZrL₂]⁺ · HAlBu₃ ⁱ⁻}₂ in these complexes.     

Ethylene polymerization initiated by metallocene catalysts (C5H5)4Mt-MAO (Mt = Ti, Zr) in the presence of organometallic modifiers

The effect of various organometallic compounds (Me₃Al, Et₃Al, i-Bu ₃Al, Et₂Zn, Me₄Sn, Et₄Pb) on the activity and productivity of catalytic systems based on (C₅H₅)₄Zr and (C₅H₅)₄Ti and the molecular- mass characteristics of polymers is investigated. The effect of additives on the activity of catalysts; on the shape of kinetic curves of polymerization; and on the molec ular mass, molecular-mass distribution, and poly- dispersity of the resulting polymers is associated with reversible chain transfer to the organometallic compounds.     

Silver(1) ion catalyzed substitution reactions: stereoelectronic control in an SN1 mechanism

Stereochemistry of the acetolysis of 4-, 6α- and 6β-bromocholest-4-en-3-ones using silver acetate was established, and the reactions were interpreted to proceed $\text{via}$ a stereoelectronically controlled S_N1 mechanism.     

Ethylene and propylene polymerization with bis(indenyl)zirconium/Mao catalytic systems modified by sterically demanding alcohols

Ethylene and propylene polymerization using Ind₂ZrCl₂ and Ind₂Zr(CH₃)₂/MAO catalytic systems modified by the sterically demanding bridged alicyclic alcohols, adamantan‐1‐ol, adamantan‐2‐ol, 2‐methyladamantan‐2‐ol, and fenchyl alcohol, was investigated. Lower alcohols like isopropanol completely deactivate the system, whereas in the case of catalysts modified by these voluminous alcohols only a slight decrease in the catalytic activity proportional to alcohol/metallocene molar ratio was observed. The addition of the modifiers gives rise to polymers with higher molecular weights than the nonmodified systems, but no structural changes in the polyethylenes were observed. The addition of the sterically demanding alcohols to the reaction medium changes the regioregularity of polypropylenes, but does not significantly influence their stereoregularity, at 30 °C. Propylene–ethylene copolymers containing up to 8.6% of ethylene units derived from 1,3‐insertion and significant amount of rr‐centered pentads were obtained by single‐monomer polymerization of propylene with Ind₂ZrCl₂/MMAO/adamantan‐1‐ol, at 70 °C. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4248–4259, 2005