Crystalline titanium dichloride—an active catalyst in ethylene polymerization. I. Catalyst activation

Crystalline titanium dichloride, in the absence of organometallic cocatalyst, is a very poor catalyst for the polymerization of ethylene. It is transformed into a very active catalyst through mechanical activation (ball-milling). This catalyst is active in the absence not only of organometallic cocatalysts, but also metals and compounds (such as aluminium and AlCl₃) capable of forming organometallic compounds in situ (i.e., with ethylene, before polymerization starts). Ball-milling causes not only the expected increase in surface area but also disproportionation of Ti⁺⁺ to Ti⁺⁺⁺ and metallic titanium, as well as a crystal phase change to a structure not previously identified with those of TiCl₂ or TiCl₃. Catalyst activity (polymerization rate) is shown to be proportional to surface area and a direct function of Ti⁺⁺ content of the catalyst; an empirical equation relates catalyst activity to surface area and to Ti⁺⁺ lost through disproportionation. Titanium trichloride was found to be inactive in the absence of organometallic cocatalyst, even after ball-milling. The difference in structure of the catalytically active species in the conventional Ziegler (organometallic cocatalyst) and in the titanium dichloride catalyst are discussed. The mechanism of polymerization is compared with that of the supported (CrO₃ on SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and MoO₃ on Al₂O₃) catalyst systems.     

Titanium and zirconium complexes containing modified TREN ligands for the polymerization of 1‐alkenes—A comparative study

The titanium and zirconium complexes in C₃ and C_s symmetric forms synthesized from corresponding aminotriols in combination with MAO polymerized 1‐hexene in a controlled manner. When the polymerization temperature was lowered, they gave high molecular weight monodisperse polyhexene with narrow polydispersities indicating quazi‐living systems. The isotactic polyhexene obtained from C₃ titanium catalyst has the molecular weight of around 46,500 with PDI of 1.3 and the hemi‐isotactic polymer from C_s titanium catalyst has the molecular weight of around 617,000 with PDI of 1.3. The analogues zirconium complexes upon activation with MAO polymerize hexene to give polyhexene having molecular weight of 53,000 (C₃) and 626,000 (pseudo‐C_s) with PDI ranging from 1.2 to 1.4. The MIX‐titanium catalyst prepared from the 50:50 mixture of aminotriols was also able to polymerize 1‐hexene and the GPC traces of the polyhexene suggests that even though the catalyst was formed from the mixture of aminotriols, the C₃ and C_s symmetry of the catalysts retain its originality avoiding the formation of aggregates or polymeric forms. When one of the arms of aminotriol was methylated yield C₂ and meso aminodiol ligands and their corresponding titanium and zirconium complexes gave higher molecular weight polyhexenes with lower PDI (C₂‐Zr‐M_n: 260,000; PDI: 1.05–1.10; mesoZr‐M_n: 220,000; PDI: 1.05–1.10) possibly suggesting that these systems are close to living systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5470–5479, 2007     

Photocatalytic effect of nano-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> loaded cement on dye decolorization and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> inactivation under UV irradiation

In the present study, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nano-particles were synthesized by sol–gel technique and then used to provide nano-TiO₂ loaded cement samples at 1, 5, and 10 wt% for investigation of Malachite green pigment decomposition and Escherichia coli inactivation under UV irradiation. Surveys conducted on the synthesized TiO₂ nano-particles showed a 100 % anatase phase with a mean particle size of 66.5 nm, surface area of 64.352 m² g^?1, and a porosity volume of 0.1278 cm³ g^?1. Cement samples containing this catalyst exhibited stronger photocatalytic properties as compared to the same amount of pure catalyst. Considering both photocatalytic performance and cost of catalyst, 5 wt% titanium dioxide was suggested to be added to cement. By addition of 1 wt% polycarboxylic copolymer as super-plasticizer to the cement paste, the photocatalytic sample activities were reinforced so that a similar performance could be obtained at 1 wt% catalyst as compared to 5 wt% catalyst without super-plasticizer.     

Metallocene–methylaluminoxane catalysts for olefin polymerizations. III. Reduction of η5-cyclopentadienyl trichlorides of titanium and zirconium

The reactions occurring between the components of metallocene and methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst leading to the reduction of the former were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). At low Al/Zr ratios, C_pZrCl₃ (C_p = η⁵-cyclopentadienyl) was reduced to simple trivalent Zr species (g = 1.998, a(⁹¹Zr) = 12.3 G) without other superhyperfine splittings. At higher Al/Zr ratios the reactions proceed further to form two CpZr(III) hydrides (g = 1.991, a(H) = 5.5 G; and g = 2.00, a(H) = 3 G). Two CpTi(III) hydrides were also produced by the reaction of MAO with CpTiCl₃ (g = 1.989, a(H) = 7.4 G, a(Ti) = 8 G; and, g = 1.995, a(H) = 4.5 G, a(Ti) = 8 G). In the case of Cp^*TiCl₃ (Cp^* = η⁵-pentamethyl cyclopentadienyl) initially a multitude of paramagnetic species were formed. After long reaction time the final products show EPR features consistent with two η³: η⁴-(1,2,3-trimethyl-4,5-dimethylene cyclopentadienyl)hydrido Ti(III) species: the abundant one with g = 1.999, (H, sextet) = 9.5 G, a(Ti) = 9.5 G, and a weaker one of g = 1.975, a(H) = 4.8 G. All the five protons of these species and as well as those in the Cp hydrido complexes of Ti and Zr undergo facile H? D exchanges with D₂. MAO is important in the formation of these hydrides because they are not formed by trimethyl aluminum reduction. The presence of tetrahydrofuran suppresses the hydride formation. The possible structures for the hydrido species and reactions producing them are discussed.     

Single crystal EPR and optical studies of paramagnetic ions doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate—Part II: VO(II)—a case of substitutional site

Single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies were carried at room temperature for VO(II) doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate. The results indicate that the paramagnetic impurity has entered the lattice only substitutionally, as confirmed by the single crystal rotations. The spin Hamiltonian parameters calculated from the spectra are g_//=1.9356, g=1.9764, A_//=200.9 G and A=76.5 G. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits three bands (800, 670 and 340 nm) suggesting the C_4v symmetry and the optical parameters evaluated are Dq=1492, Ds=−3854 and Dt=186 cm⁻¹.     

Gel formation with multiple interunit junctions. II—mixture of different functional molecules

Number‐ and weight‐average molecular weight of condensation polymers formed in the mixture of primary molecules carrying different species of functional groups A and B are derived by the cascade theory. These functional groups are allowed to form multiple junctions of arbitrary multiplicity k. From the weight average, the gel point condition is found to be given by 1 ? (f_w ? 1)(μ_A,A ? 1) ? (g_w ? 1)(μ _B,B ? 1) + (f_w ? 1)(g_w ? 1)D_μ = 0, where f_w and g_w are average functionality of the primary molecules, μ _αβ the average multiplicity of β groups in the junctions where a path of an α‐group enters, and D_μ ≡ (μ_A,A ? 1)(μ _B,B ? 1) ? μ _A,Bμ _B,A the multiplicity determinant. Possible applications to thermoreversible gelation are suggested. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2413–2421, 2003     

Enhancement of the Catalytic Activity of Chiral H8‐BINOL Titanium Complexes by Introduction of Sterically Demanding Groups at the 3‐Position

The activity of chiral titanium catalysts derived from H₈‐BINOL ligands in the enantioselective arylation of an aldehyde with PhTi(OiPr)₃ is significantly enhanced by an increase of the size of the substituent at the 3‐position. High enantioselectivity (> 90 % ee) can be obtained even at a substrate/catalyst ratio (S/C) of 800 for DTBP‐H₈‐BINOL (DTBP=3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl) and DAP‐H₈‐BINOL (DAP=3,5‐di(9‐anthraceny)phenyl). These titanium catalysts are successfully applied to the enantioselective arylation and heteroarylation of aldehydes at a S/C ratio of 400 by using organotitanium reagents generated in situ from bromide precursors. The remarkable weakening of the intramolecular aggregation of the two ?Ti(OiPr)₃ units in a DPP‐H₈‐BINOL (DPP=3,5‐diphenylpheny)‐derived bis‐titanium complex is revealed by X‐ray and variable‐temperature (VT)‐NMR studies. Based on these observations, a catalytic cycle, involving the rate‐limiting aryl group transfer followed by aldehyde complexation and enantioselective arylation, is proposed to account for the high activity of the 3‐substituted H₈‐BINOL catalyst system.     

Synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight elastomeric poly(propylene) with half‐titanocene/MAO catalyst

A novel catalyst precursor, (η⁵‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium triallyloxide (Cp*Ti(OCH₂—CH=CH₂)₃), was prepared and employed in a study of propylene polymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). This work has revealed that the half‐titanocene catalyst is desirable for the production of elastomeric poly(propylene) with high molecular weight (M_w = 8–69×10⁴) as well as in good yields under typical polymerization conditions.     

Characterization of Ziegler–Natta catalyst by ESCA

The surface composition of TiCl₃-based Ziegler—Natta catalysts prepared by various methods was analyzed by ESCA to correlate the total amount of surface titanium with the catalyst activity in propylene polymerization. The ESCA peak ratio (Ti 2P_3/2/Cl 2P) of the catalysts was measured to estimate the surface composition. The titanium index defined as the product of the (Ti/Cl peak ratio and surface area) was closely correlated with the catalyst activity in polymerization. This indicates that surface titanium concentration and surface area determine the catalyst activity. It was also found that removal of surface aluminum and chlorine at the catalyst preparation stage results in concentration of titanium at the surface and an increase in surface area.     

Random ethene/propene copolymerization from a catalyst system based on a “constrained geometry” half‐sandwich complex

Ethene/propene copolymerizations were performed in solution with a single centre catalyst system composed of a “constrained geometry” half‐sandwich organometallic complex {η¹: η⁵‐[(tert‐butylamido)dimethylsilyl](2,3,4,5‐tetramethyl‐1‐cyclopentadienyl)}titanium dichloride, and methylaluminoxane. The statistical treatment of polymerization data allowed to determine the reactivity ratios for ethene and propene: r_E = 1.35 ± 0.09, r_P = 0.82 ± 0.05, r_Er_P = 1.10 ± 0.14. This catalyst system promotes an almost random distribution of ethene and propene and gives rise to values of r_P and r_E very similar to each other.     

Copolymerization of ethylene and cyclopentene with bis(β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes

The copolymerizations of ethylene and cyclopentene with bis(β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes {[(Ph)NC(R₂)CHC(R₁)O]₂TiCl₂; R₁ = CF₃ and R₂ = CH₃ for 1a , R₁ = Ph and R₂ = CF₃ for 1b ; and R₁ = t‐Bu and R₂ = CF₃ for 1c } activated with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst were investigated. High‐molecular‐weight copolymers with cis‐1,2‐cyclopentene units were obtained. The catalyst activity, cyclopentene incorporation, polymer molecular weight, and polydispersity could be controlled over a wide range through the variation of the catalyst structure and reaction parameters, such as the Al/Ti molar ratio, cyclopentene feed concentration, and polymerization reaction temperature. The complex 1b /MMAO catalyst system exhibited the characteristics of a quasi‐living ethylene polymerization and an ethylene–cyclopentene copolymerization and allowed the synthesis of polyethylene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐co‐cyclopentene) diblock copolymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1681–1689, 2005     

Photocatalysis by titanium complexes of the reaction of ClO4 −, ions with alcohol molecules

In the photolysis of perchloric acid solutions of titanium(IV) with additions of ethanol, the formation of titanium(III) compounds was detected. Irradiated solutions ([HClO₄]=0.8 M) at 77K are characterized by an anisotropic ESR signal with parameters g ₁=1.994, g ₁=1.904, which correspond to pseudo-octahedral aqua-complexes of titanium(III). With the passage of time, the signal intensity of the titanium(III) compounds decreases, which is explained by their oxidation by ClO₄ ions. During prolonged photolysis of titanium(IV) compounds in 7 M HClO₄ with an addition of ethanol, a multicomponent signal of the paramagnetic chlorine oxide ClO₂ with parameters g _xx=2,004, a _xx(³⁷Cl)=6.0. mTl a _xx(³⁵Cl)=7,30 mTl, is recorded instead of the signal of titanium(III) compounds. Evidently ClO₂ is formed as a result of a rapid dark reaction between compounds of trivalent titanium (products of the photochemical step) and chlorate ions, which are accumulated in the solution as a result of successive photochemical and dark redox conversions of the titanium compounds, perchlorate ions, arid free radicals from the alcohol molecules. The formation of free radicals in the system was established by the ESR method after irradiation of frozen solutions.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 679–686, November–December, 1986.     

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.     

Synthesis of heterobimetallic lanthanide <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butoxides and their catalytic properties in reactions of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> with epoxides

Heterobimetallic tert-butoxides (t-BuO)₅Cu₂Ln (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb), (t-BuO)₅MLa (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), (t-BuO)₅ZnNd, and (t-BuO)₄ZnFe were prepared in high yields by the reaction of t-BuOLi with a stoichiometric mixture of a lanthanide halide LnX₃ (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb; X = Cl, I) and a d-transition metal salt MX_n (M = Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X = Cl, Br). (t-BuO)₅Cu₂Ln (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) and (t-BuO)₅ZnNd at room temperature and atmospheric pressure induce copolymerization of CO₂ with cyclohexene oxide, affording the polycarbonate in a yield of 3–6 g g^–1 catalyst. The complex (t-BuO)₅FeLa, and also iron alcoholates (t-BuO)₂Fe and (t-BuO)2_Fe(bipy) under similar conditions catalyze the reaction of CO₂ with propylene oxide affording monomeric propylene carbonate in a yield of 35–45 g g^–1 catalyst.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 8, 2004, pp. 1295–1299.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Nikitinskii, L. Bochkarev, Khorshev, M. Bochkarev.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Synthesis of branched polyethylenes by the tandem catalysis of silica‐supported linked cyclopentadienyl‐amido titanium catalysts and a homogeneous dibromo nickel catalyst having a pyridylimine ligand

The synthesis of branched polyethylenes by ethylene polymerization with new tandem catalyst systems consisting of methylaluminoxane‐preactivated linked cyclopentadienyl‐amido titanium catalysts [Ti(η⁵:η¹‐C₅Me₄SiMe₂NR)Cl₂ (R = Me or ^tBu)] supported on pyridylethylsilane‐modified silica (PySTiNMe and PySTiN^tBu) and homogeneous dibromo nickel catalyst having a pyridyl‐2,6‐diisopropylphenylimine ligand (PyminNiBr₂) in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane was investigated. Ethylene polymerization with only PyminNiBr₂ yielded a mixture of 1‐ and 2‐olefin oligomers with methyl branches [weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) ～ 460)] with a ratio of about 1:7. By the combination of this nickel catalyst with PySTiN^tBu, polyethylenes with long‐chain branches (M_w = 15,000–50,000) were produced. No incorporation of 2‐olefin oligomers was observed in the ¹³C NMR spectra. Unexpectedly, the combination of the nickel catalyst with PySTiNMe produced lower molecular weight polyethylenes with only methyl branches. The molecular weight distributions of branched polyethylenes obtained with both PySTiNMe and PySTiN^tBu combined with the nickel catalyst were broad (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 9). Bimodal gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curves were clearly observed in the PySTiNMe system, whereas GPC curves with small shoulders in low molecular weight areas were observed for PySTiN^tBu. The synthesis of branched polyethylenes with tandem catalyst systems of corresponding homogeneous titanium catalysts and the nickel catalyst was also investigated for comparison. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 528–544, 2003     

Palladium on carbon‐catalyzed direct C—H arylation polycondensation of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene with various dibromoarenes

We have demonstrated a direct arylation polycondensation of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene using palladium on carbon (Pd/C) as a catalyst. Pd/C is a low‐cost solid‐supported palladium catalyst, giving one of the effective catalytic systems for direct arylation. The Pd/C‐catalyzed direct arylation polycondensation with acetic acid/potassium carbonate in N,N‐dimethylacetamide furnished a high molecular weight π‐conjugated alternating copolymer of EDOT‐fluorene (M_n = 89,300, M_w/M_n = 3.27) in high yield. The polycondensation of EDOT with various dibromoarenes was also achieved, giving EDOT‐carbazole, EDOT‐dialylamine, and EDOT‐bithiophene polymers. Optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were also discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1183–1188     

Single crystal EPR study of VO(II)-doped magnesium potassium Tutton’s salt — Part 4

Single crystal EPR studies of VO(II)-doped magnesium potassium Tutton’s salt have been carried out at room temperature. The results indicate that the paramagnetic impurity has entered the lattice, both substitutionally and interstitially and the maximum hyperfine for the substitutional site along the a axis corresponds to the minimum hyperfine for interstitial site and vice versa. The spin Hamiltonian parameters obtained from single crystal data for these sites are: Site 1, g_||=1.954(1); g=1.998(1), A_||=19.80(2) mT; A=7.61(2) mT; Site 2, g_||=1.997(1); g=1.952(1), A_||=7.66(2) mT; A=19.85(2) mT. Superhyperfine from ligand protons have been observed at certain orientations for Site 2 impurity. Powder spectrum shows a set of eight parallel and perpendicular features indicating the presence of only one site and these values matched with Site 1 values. From these observations, it has been concluded that the two vanadyl impurities are approximately at right angles to each other. Cooling the sample to 77 K does not change the spectra appreciably. The admixture coefficients have been calculated from Site 1 data, which agree well with the reported values.     

Titanium tetrachloride supported on atom transfer radical polymerized poly(methyl acrylate‐co‐1‐octene) as catalyst for ethylene polymerization

Ethylene polymerizations were performed using catalyst based on titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) supported on synthesized poly(methyl acrylate‐co‐1‐octene) (PMO). Three catalysts were synthesized by varying TiCl₄/PMO weight ratio in chlorobenzene resulting in incorporation of titanium in different percentage as determined by UV‐vis spectroscopy. The coordination of titanium with the copolymer matrix was confirmed by FTIR studies. The catalysts morphology as observed by SEM was found to be round shaped with even distributions of titanium and chlorine on the surface of catalyst. Their performance was evaluated for atmospheric polymerization of ethylene in n‐hexane using triethylaluminum as cocatalyst. Catalyst with titanium incorporation corresponding to 2.8 wt % showed maximum activity. Polyethylenes obtained were characterized for melting temperature, molecular weight, morphology and microstructure. The polymeric support utilized for TiCl₄ was synthesized using activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) of methyl acrylate (MA) and 1‐octene (Oct) with Cu(0)/CuBr₂/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₆TREN) as catalyst and ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBriB) as initiator at 80 °C. The copolymer poly(methyl acrylate‐1‐octene; PMO) obtained showed monomodal curve in Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) with polydispersity of 1.37 and copolymer composition (¹H NMR; F_MA) of 0.75. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7299–7309, 2008     

Preparation and Thermal Properties of Polycarbonates/esters Catalyzed by Using Dinuclear Salph‐Al from Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Epoxide Monomers

A dinuclear Salph‐Al complex/bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride catalyst system was synthesized and employed for cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO₂ copolymerization. The catalyst system had an excellent selectivity of 99 % for carbonate linkages and the resultant poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) had a high glass transition temperature (T _g) of 123.8 °C and a thermal decomposition temperature (5 % weight loss; T _{d 5 %}) of 265 °C. Furthermore, this catalyst system was active in the polymerization of phthalic anhydride (PA) and epoxides. Poly(CHO‐alt ‐PA) was completely alternating, and had improved thermal properties (T _g=142.7 and T _{d 5 %}=295 °C) compared with PCHC. The T _g values of the polyesters could be adjusted by addition of PO to the CHO/PA reaction system. For the CHO/PO/PA terpolymerization, CHO and PO participated concurrently and proportionally in the chain growth and the obtained terpolyesters had tunable T _g values from 62.8 to 142.7 °C depending on the CHO/PO feed ratio.     

High activity Ziegler–Natta catalysts for the preparation of ethylene copolymers

High activity ethylene polymerization catalysts have been prepared by the interaction of ethylmagnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran with high surface area silica, followed by reaction with excess titanium tetrachloride in heptane. The catalysts were tested in ethylene—hexene copolymerization reactions in the presence of AlEt₃ at 80°C. For comparison purposes, the copolymerization properties of a similar catalyst prepared without silica were also evaluated. Preparative conditions were identified which provide catalysts that possess high reactivity towards 1-hexane. The silica and the amount of magnesium used in catalyst preparation strongly affect the copolymerization properties of the catalysts. Generally, catalysts prepared with silica showed much higher sensitivity to 1-hexene (effective reactivity ratio r₁ = 25–60) while a similar catalyst prepared without silica exhibited an r₁ value of 125. Fractionation of the copolymer with a series of boiling solvents showed that all the catalysts exhibit a wide distribution of active centers with respect to reactivity ratios, with the r₁ values varying from 5–7 to ca. 200. The width of a the center distribution depends on catalyst composition—it is the narrowest for the catalyst prepared without silica and is the widest for the catalysts with intermediate Ti : Mg ratios.