Propylene Polymerization with Bis(phenoxy‐imine) Group‐4 Catalysts Using iBu3Al/Ph3CB(C6F5)4 as a Cocatalyst

The catalytic behavior of three bis(phenoxy‐imine) group‐4 transition‐metal complexes (M = Ti, Zr, Hf), with ⁱBu₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ cocatalyst systems towards propylene polymerization was investigated under atmospheric pressure at 25 °C. The Ti complex produced ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight atactic poly(propylene), whereas Zr and Hf complexes formed high‐molecular‐weight isotactic poly(propylene)s via a site‐control mechanism. The isotactic poly(propylene) obtained with the Hf complex displayed a high melting temperature of 123.8 °C.

     

Edge-shared [M2Cl10]2? complexes of reaction between oxophilic group 4 metal and phosphorus ylides

The reactions between oxophilic group 4 metal chlorides, ??-keto ylides in THF, led to the formation of titanium, zirconium and hafnium edge-shared [M₂Cl₁₀]^2? complexes (1a?C3f). We describe that the reaction between MCl₄ (M = Ti, Zr and Hf) with phosphorus ylides produce edge-shared [M₂X₁₀]^2? complexes instead of O-coordination previously reported complexes. Adding dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to these complexes in room temperature crystalline solid [M(DMSO)₈] · 4Cl · mH₂O · DMSO] (M = Ti (1g), Zr (2g) and Hf (3g); m = 0?C3) together with phosphonium salts in mother liquid were formed. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.     

Hydridoorganostannylene Coordination: Group 4 Metallocene Dichloride Reduction in Reaction with Organodihydridostannate Anions

Organodihydridoelement anions of germanium and tin were reacted with metallocene dichlorides of Group 4 metals Ti, Zr and Hf. The germate anion [Ar*GeH₂]⁻ reacts with hafnocene dichloride under formation of the substitution product [Cp₂Hf(GeH₂Ar*)₂]. Reaction of the organodihydridostannate with metallocene dichlorides affords the reduction products [Cp₂M(SnHAr*)₂] (M=Ti, Zr, Hf). Abstraction of a hydride substituent from the titanium bis(hydridoorganostannylene) complex results in formation of cation [Cp₂M(SnAr*)(SnHAr*)]⁺ exhibiting a short Ti–Sn interaction. (Ar*=2,6-Trip₂C₆H₃, Trip=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl).     

α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization catalysed by novel ansa‐group IV complexes/MAO system

The catalytic properties of a set of ansa‐complexes (R‐Ph)₂C(Cp)(Ind)MCl₂ [R = ^tBu, M = Ti ( 3 ), Zr ( 4 ) or Hf ( 5 ); R = MeO, M = Zr ( 6 ), Hf ( 7 )] in α‐olefin homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization were explored in the presence of MAO (methylaluminoxane). Complex 4 with steric bulk ^tBu group on phenyl exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. It was 1.6‐fold more active than complex 11 [Ph₂C(Cp)(Ind)ZrCl₂] at 11 atm ethylene pressure and was 4.8‐fold more active at 1 atm pressure. The introduction of bulk substituent ^tBu into phenyl groups not only increased the catalytic activity greatly but also enhanced the content of 1‐hexene in ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The highest 1‐hexene incorporation was 25.4%. In addition, 4 was also active for propylene and 1‐hexene homopolymerization, respectively, and low isotactic polypropylene (mmmm = 11.3%) and isotactic polyhexene (mmmm = 31.6%) were obtained. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly active MgCl2‐supported catalysts containing novel diether donors for propene polymerization

A new generation of MgCl₂‐supported catalysts for the polymerization of propene without any external donors was prepared. Two diethers, 9,9‐bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene (for Cat‐A) and 2,2‐dipropyl‐1,3‐dimethoxypropane (for Cat‐B) differing in the bulkiness of alkyl substituents in position 2, have been used as internal donors in MgCl₂/TiCl₄/diether‐AlR₃ catalysts. The weight‐average molecular weights produced with both catalysts were over 3.5×10⁵ at low temperature in slurry polymerization (< 40°C). Cat‐A showed higher activity and produced higher isotactic polypropene than Cat‐B. The activity of both catalysts proved to be dependent on the temperature.     

Highly Strained Heterometallacycles of Group 4 Metallocenes with Bis(diphenylphosphino)amide Ligands

A study regarding coordination chemistry of the bis(diphenylphosphino)amide ligand Ph₂P‐N‐PPh₂ at Group 4 metallocenes is presented herein. Coordination of N,N‐bis(diphenylphosphino)amine ( 1 ) to [(Cp₂TiCl)₂] (Cp=η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) generated [Cp₂Ti(Cl)P(Ph₂)N(H)PPh₂] ( 2 ). The heterometallacyclic complex [Cp₂Ti(κ²‐P,P‐Ph₂P‐N‐PPh₂)] ( 3 Ti ) can be prepared by reaction of 2 with n‐butyllithium as well as from the reaction of the known titanocene–alkyne complex [Cp₂Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] with the amine 1 . Reactions of the lithium amide [(thf)₃Li{N(PPh₂)₂}] with [Cp₂MCl₂] (M=Zr, Hf) yielded the corresponding zirconocene and hafnocene complexes [Cp₂M(Cl){κ²‐N,P‐N(PPh₂)₂}] ( 4 Zr and 4 Hf ). Reduction of 4 Zr with magnesium gave the highly strained heterometallacycle [Cp₂Zr(κ²‐P,P‐Ph₂P‐N‐PPh₂)] ( 3 Zr ). Complexes 2 , 3 Ti , 4 Hf , and 3 Zr were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The structures and bondings of all complexes were investigated by DFT calculations.     

Supported Zr-and Hf-cene Catalysts for Propylene Polymerization

The supported metallocene catalysts were obtained on the layered silicate montmorillonite (MMT), using AlMe₃ and AliBu₃ for synthesis of alkylaluminoxane directly on a support surface, followed by metallocene supporting. It was shown that the MMT-H₂O/AliBu₃ forms with ansa-Zr-cenes of C₁ and C₂-symmetry the significantly more active supported metal-alkyl complexes in propene polymerization, than MMT-H₂O/AlMe₃. The MMT-H₂O/AliBu₃ is the effective activator of the ansa-Hf-cenes, in contrast to MAO and MMT-H₂O/AlMe₃, giving the high active supported catalysts for synthesis of isotactic and elastic polypropene. The character of influence of metallocene fixation on support on the isotactic pentad [mmmm] content in polymer, compared to homogeneous analogues, depends on the metallocene nature. The introduction of borate Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ in the case of both Zr-cene and Hf-cene catalysts increases significantly the activity at the reduced ratio of Al/Zr, Hf (100–500 instead of 2000–3000) and stabilizes the catalytic complexes.     

Supported metallocene catalysts prepared by impregnation of MAO modified silica by a metallocene/monomer solution

Silica supported (butylcyclopentadienyl)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalysts were synthesized according to the “incipient wetness” method from a solution of metallocene in a liquid monomer. The monomer was allowed to polymerize yielding a catalyst containing polyhexene (PH), polystyrene (PS) or polyoctadiene (PO). One catalyst containing no polymer was also synthesized. The catalysts were used to polymerize ethene at 70°C and 4 bar total pressure. The measured average activities were 5 300 kg PE/(mol Zr · h) for (BuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/PH/SiO₂, 8 600 kg PE/(mol Zr · h) for (BuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/PS/SiO₂, 3 400 kg PE/(mol Zr · h) for (BuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/PO/SiO₂ and 5 700 kg PE/(mol Zr · h) for (BuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂. The polyhexene, polystyrene or polyoctadiene in the catalyst forms a protective layer around the active sites. Even after exposure to air for five hours these catalysts retain some polymerization activity.     

Superactive and stereospecific catalysts. IV. Influence of structure of esters on MgCl2 supported olefin polymerization catalysts

CH-type catalysts were prepared by reacting MgCl₂ · ROH, where ROH is 2-ethyl hexanol (EH), (R)-2-octanol (R-20), and (S)-2-octanol (S-20), with TiCl₄ in the presence of di-i-butyl phthalate (BP), di-i-butyl terephthalate (BT), (-)-dimenthyl phthalate (MP), or (-)-dimenthyl terephthalate (MT). The MT catalysts were found to incorporate 8.9 to 13% Ti whereas the BP catalysts contain only 1.9 to 2.6% Ti. Comparison of the CH(EH, BP) and CH(EH, MT) catalysts showed that they have about equal number of isospecific active sites per gram of catalyst and the same rate constants of propagation for their nonspecific sites, however, the isospecific sites in the latter are less active by comparison. Consequently, the CH(EH, BP) catalysts is five times more active than the CH(EH, MT) catalysts and produces polypropylene which is 97% isotactic (reflux n-heptane insoluble) as compared to 84.7% for the latter. The catalysts derived from 2-octanols are much less active than the corresponding catalysts prepared with 2-ethyl hexanol due to lack of reactivity with phthalic anhydride which permits excessive incorporation of TiCl₄ to form nonstereospecific catalytic sites as well as inactive Ti species.     

Synthesis,structure and ethylene polymerization of group 4 complexes with phosphinoamide ligands

Group 4 complexes containing diphosphinoamide ligands [Ph₂PNR]₂MCl₂ (3: R = ^tBu, M = Ti; 4: R = ^tBu, M = Zr; 5: R = Ph, M = Ti; 6: R = Ph, M = Zr) were prepared by the reaction of MCl₄ (M = Ti; Zr) with the corresponding lithium phosphinoamides in ether or THF. The structure of [Ph₂PN^tBu]₂TiCl₂ (3) was determined by X‐ray crystallography. The phosphinoamides functioned as η²‐coordination ligands in the solid state and the Ti? N bond length suggests it is a simple single bond. In the presence of modified methylaluminoxane or i‐Bu₃Al/Ph₃BC(C₆F₅)₄, catalytic activity of up to 59.5 kg PE/mol cat h bar was observed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Alkylverbindungen von Übergangsmetallen. XLII. Untersuchungen über Norbornylverbindungen des Titans,Zirconiums und Hafniums

Contributions to the Chemistry of Transition Metal Alkyl Compounds. XLII. Investigations on Norbornyl Compounds of Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium It is reported about ¹³C-NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopic measurements of (1-Nor)₄M derivatives of Ti, Zr, and Hf and unsuccessful efforts for synthesis of 1-norbornyl titanium halides Furthermore, (2-Nor)₄Ti and (2-Nor)₄Zr were synthesized. These compounds are remarkably less stable than the corresponding 1-norbornyl derivatives and appear to be exo/endo isomer mixtures. At thermolyses of (2-Nor)₄Ti stable (2-Nor)₂Ti is formed. The stability of (7-Nor)₄Ti is comparable with that of (2-Nor)₄Ti.     

Stereoselective and regioselective propylene polymerization with group 4 bisphenolate ether complexes

Octahedral group 4 bisphenolate ether complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane, were tested in propylene polymerization in the presence and absence of diethyl zinc. The resulting polypropylenes were analyzed thoroughly by means of differential scanning calorimetry and ¹³C NMR techniques. Despite structural similarity of the Hf and Zr complexes, the performance in propylene polymerization differs significantly in terms of productivity, isospecificity, and propensity to incorporate specific regioerrors. These catalysts are capable of generating high‐molecular weight polypropylene (M_n = 130,000–360,000 g/mol) with isotacticities [mmmm] up to 97% and melting points as high as 165 °C when very bulky ligands are used. ¹³C NMR analysis revealed that the type and the number of regioerrors being incorporated into the polymer chain highly depend on the ligand and the metal. Polymerizations in the presence of diethyl zinc generate saturated low‐molecular weight polypropylenes (M_n = 1700–9900 g/mol) and facilitated an end‐group analysis, which revealed the presence of isobutyl and 2‐methylbutyl groups. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Crystal structures of crown and aza-crown ether complexes with zirconium,hafnium, niobium,and tantalum fluorometallates

A systematic X-ray diffraction study of the interaction products of Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Nb(V), and Ta(V) oxides (fluorides) with crown-ethers (CEs) in aqueous solutions of hydrofluoric acid is performed. It is shown that oxygen-containing CEs form oxonium complexes with [NbF6]^s- and [TaF6]^s- hexafluorometallate anions. In two systems, [cis-syn-cis-DCH18C6-H₃O][TaF₆] and [B18C6·H₃O][TaF₆], the phenomenon of supramolecular isomerism is found, which is caused by a change in the conformation of the macrocycle or by a partial redistribution of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The use of aza-crown ethers as extractants made it possible to extract unique hydrolytically unstable anions, the products of incomplete fluorine substitution for oxygen atoms in the starting oxides in the form of crystalline complexes with a composition of [(HA15C5)₂][Ta₂F₁₀O] and [(HA18C6·H₂O)(A18C6·H₂O)] [(H₂O)Nb₂F₉O]. In [(18C6)(H₇O₃)₂×(Hf₂F₁₀·2H₂O)], [(HA18C6)(M₂F₁₀·2H₂O)·(H₃O)·H₂O], and [(H₂DA18C6) (M₂F₁₀·2H₂O)·2H₂O] (M=Zr, Hf) complexes, the metals are extracted in the form of identical (M₂F₁₀·2H₂O)^2s- anions with a similar topology. The performed study demonstrates that macrocyclic complexones are undoubtedly promising to extract Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Nb(V), and Ta(V) from fluorine-containing aqueous solutions.     

Comparing propene polymerization with 1-butene polymerization catalyzed by MAO-activated C2- and C1-symmetric zirconocenes: An experimental and computational study on the influence of olefin size on stereoselectivity

Polypropene and poly(1-butene) have been synthesized under very similar experimental conditions with a series of MAO-activated C₂-symmetric and C₁-symmetric ansa-zirconocenes. The C₁-symmetric zirconocenes bearing the bilaterally symmetric fluorenyl or bis(2-methylthieno)cyclopentadienyl ligand connected through a dimethylsilyl bridge to substituted indenyl ligands produce isotactic polybutene of similar or higher molecular mass and with noticeably higher isotacticity, compared to isotactic polypropene prepared with the same catalysts under comparable conditions. Structural and mechanistic reasons for such behavior are discussed on the basis of QM/MM calculations.     

Synthesis and characterization of 2-hydroxy-pyridine modified Group 4 alkoxides

The reaction of Group 4 metal alkoxides ([M(OR)₄]) with the potentially bidentate ligand, 2-hydroxy-pyridine (2-HO-(NC₅H₄) or H-PyO), led to the isolation of a family of compounds. The products isolated from the reaction of [M(OR)₄] [where M = Ti, Zr, or Hf; OR = OPrⁱ (OCH(CH₃)₂), OBu^t (OC(CH₃)₃), or ONep (OCH₂C(CH₃)₃] under a variety of stoichiometries with H-PyO were identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction as [(OPrⁱ)₂(PyO-κ²(O,N))Ti(μ-OPrⁱ)]₂ (1), [(ONep)₂Ti(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(O,N))₂(μ-ONep)Ti(ONep)₃] (2), [(ONep)₂Ti(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(O,N))(η¹(N),μ(O)-PyO)(μ-O)Ti(ONep)₂]₂ (2a), [H][(PyO-κ²(O,N))(η¹(O)-PyO)Ti(ONep)₃] (3), [(OR)₂Zr(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(O,N))₂(μ-OR)Zr(OR)₃] (OR = OBu^t (4), ONep (5)), [(OR)₂Zr(μ(O,N)-PyO-κ²(O,N))₂(μ(O,N)-PyO)Zr(OR)₃] (OR = OBu^t (6), ONep (7)), [[(OBu^t)₂Zr(μ(O)-PyO-(κ²(N,O))(μ(O,N)-PyO)₂Zr(OBu^t)](μ₃-O)]₂ (6a), [[(ONep)(PyO-κ²(N,O))Zr(μ(O,N)-PyO-κ²(N,O))₂(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(N,O))Zr(ONep)](μ₃-O)]₂ (7a), [(OBu^t)(PyO-κ²(O,N))Zr(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(O,N))₂((μ(O,N)-PyO)Zr(OBu^t)₃] (8), [(OBu^t)₂Hf(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(N,O))₂(μ-OBu^t)Hf(OBu^t)₃] (9), [(OR)₂ M(μ(O)-PyO-κ²(N,O))₂(μ(O,N)-PyO)M(OR)₃] (OR = OBu^t (10), ONep (11)), and [(ONep)₃Hf(μ-ONep)(η¹(N),μ(O)-PyO)]₂Hf(ONep)₂ (12)·tol. The structural diversity of the binding modes of the PyO led to a number of novel structure types in comparison to other pyridine alkoxy derivatives. The majority of compounds adopt a dinuclear arrangement (1, 2, 4–11) but oxo-based tetra- (2a and 7a), tri- (12), and monomers (3) were observed as well. Compounds 1–12 were further characterized using a variety of analytical techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.     

Zirconocenium cation catalysis of propene polymerization

rac-Ethylenebis(1-η⁵-indenyl)dimethylzirconium (1) was reacted with triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (2) to produce in situ the rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)methylzirconium cation (3). This aluminium-free catalyst showed propene polymerization activity (A) and stereoselectivity which both increase with the decrease of polymerization temperature (T_p). At very low T_p, 3 behaved as a “single-site” catalyst. An efficient way to produce such cation is to react ansa-zirconocene dichloride with 2 in the presence of TEA (=triethylaluminium). A superior cationic catalyst was obtained from rac-dimethylsilylenebis(1-η⁵-indenyl)dichlorozirconium, 2, and TEA, which polymerizes propene at −20°C(−55°C) with activity of 2×10⁹ (3×10⁸) g polypropene per (mol Zr η mol C₃H₆ η h) to polypropenes which are 93.8% (99.4%) isotactic with melting temperature T_m = 152.6°C (159.9°C) and viscosity-average molecular weight M_v = 1.4×10⁵ (2.2×10⁵). The addition of methylaluminoxane lowers the A of the cationic catalyst especially at low T_p. Rigorously speaking, the cation derived from 1 or 3 behaves as a “single site” catalyst only at very low T_p. The use of TEA significantly and unexpectedly enhances the efficiency of the zirconocenium catalyst system.     

Preparation and crystal data of the New Pyrochlores Pb2[M1.5Te0.5]O6.5 (M = Ti,Zr, Sn,Hf)

From mixtures of PbO, MO₂ (M = Ti, Zr, Hf), SnO, and TeO₂, four new oxides Pb₂[M_1.5Te_0.5]O_6.5 have been obtained as yellow powders giving X-ray diffraction patterns characteristic of cubic pyrochlores, S.G. Fd3 m (No. 227), Z = 8, and a/Å values from 10.3529(1) (M = Ti) to 10.7406(1) (M = Zr). The best R factors, from 0.0465 (M = Ti) to 0.0242 (M = Hf), were obtained for Pb in 16(c) positions, M and Te (3:1) randomly distributed in 16(d), oxygen atoms in 48(f) and in a half of the 8(a) sites, and x values for the oxygen positional parameter (origin at center, 3 m) from 0.436 (M = Ti) to 0.421 (M = Zr). For the compounds of Ti and Zr the angles of the coordination polyhedra around the metals are reported. For seven-coordinated Pb^II the stereochemical influence of the nonbonded electron pair is shown. Apparent interatomic distances agree with those calculated.     

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     

Hydrothermal alteration of BaxMIVxCe2?2 x (PO4)2 [MIV=Zr, Hf] as hosts for minor actinides

Ba_xM^IV _xCe_2−2x (PO₄)₂ [M^IV=Zr, Hf] monazite-like compounds were succesfully synthesized by solid state reaction for x≤0.2 (M^IV=Zr) and x≤0.1 (M^IV=Hf). The low miscibility of BaM^IV(PO₄)₂ (M^IV=Zr, Hf) compounds in CePO₄ was explained on the basis of the monoclinic-to-trigonal phase transition that occurs at 733 K in BaZr(PO₄)₂ and at 798 K in BaHf(PO₄)₂. The hydrothermal alteration of these compounds was tested using a modified MCC-1 static leaching test in acid (1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl) and basic (1 mol dm⁻³ KOH) solutions at 373 K, 473 K and 573 K; both the experimental fluids and the reacted solid specimens were analyzed by different analytical techniques and the reaction mechanisms were elucidated. All the tested compounds are stable in 1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl until 573 K. The stability of the monazites in 1 mol·dm⁻³ KOH is a function of the temperature.     

Room temperature metathesis of aryl isocyanates and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by group(IV) metal alkoxides: An experimental and computational study

Aromatic aldehydes and aryl isocyanates do not react at room temperature. However, we have shown for the first time that in the presence of catalytic amounts of group(IV) n-butoxide, they undergo metathesis at room temperature to produce imines with the extrusion of carbon dioxide. The mechanism of action has been investigated by a study of stoichiometric reactions. The insertion of aryl isocyanates into the metal n-butoxide occurs very rapidly. Reaction of the insertion product with the aldehyde is responsible for the metathesis. Among the n-butoxides of group(IV) metals, Ti(OⁿBu)₄ (8aTi) was found to be more efficient than Zr(OⁿBu)₄ (8aZr) and Hf(OⁿBu)₄ (8aHf) in carrying out metathesis. The surprisingly large difference in the metathetic activity of these alkoxides has been probed computationally using model complexes Ti(OMe)₄ (8bTi), Zr(OMe)₄ (8bZr) and Hf(OMe)₄ (8bHf) at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. These studies indicate that the insertion product formed by Zr and Hf are extremely stable compared to that formed by Ti. This makes subsequent reaction of Zr and Hf complexes unfavorable.