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.     

Synthesis of polypropylene-co-p-methylstyrene copolymers by metallocene and Ziegler–Natta catalysts

This paper discusses the copolymerization reaction of propylene and p-methylstyrene (p-MS) via four of the best-known isospecific catalysts, including two homogeneous metallocene catalysts, namely, {SiMe₂[2-Me-4-Ph(Ind)]₂}ZrCl₂ and Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, and two heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts, namely, MgCl₂/TiCl₄/electron donor (ED)/AlEt₃ and TiCl₃. AA/Et₂AlCl. By comparing the experimental results, metallocene catalysts show no advantage over Ziegler–Natta catalysts. The combination of steric jamming during the consective insertion of 2,1-inserted p-MS and 1,2-inserted propylene (k₂₁ reaction) and the lack of p-MS homopolymerization (k₂₂ reaction) in the metallocene coordination mechanism drastically reduces catalyst activity and polymer molecular weight. On the other hand, the Ziegler–Natta heterogeneous catalyst proceeding with 1,2-specific insertion manner for both monomers shows no retardation because of the p-MS comonomer. Specifically, the supported MgCl₂/TiCl₄/ED/AlEt₃ catalyst, which contains an internal ED, produces copolymers with high molecular weight, high melting point, and no p-MS homopolymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2795–2802, 1999     

Influence of H2O on alternating copolymerization with the EtnAlCl3-n-VOCl3 catalyst system

The effect of the catalytic amount of H₂O was investigated with the Et_nAlCl_3-n-VOCl₃ catalyst system on the alternating copolymerization of acrylic monomers with diolefins and styrene. The presence of the catalytic amount of H₂O produced an improvement in the yield and in the molecular weight as well as the structure of copolymer with the Et_nAlCl_3-n-VOCl₃ catalyst system. The efficiency of the aluminum components in the Et_nAlCl_3-n-VOCl₃ system appears with AlEt₃ and especially with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5. The catalytic activity was found to depend upon the H₂O Et_nAlCl_3-n molar ratio and was also affected by the order of mixing of the catalyst components and the monomers. Effective catalyst could be prepared when the catalyst components (except VOCl₃) were premixed without presence of monomers. The possible catalytic behavior of H₂O was discussed.     

One-pot synthesis of borolanes by reaction of aluminacyclopentanes with BF3·Et2O

A selective procedure was developed for the synthesis of substituted borolanes via transmetalation with BF₃ · Et₂O of 3-alkyl-1-ethylaluminacyclopentanes obtained from the corresponding terminal olefins and AlEt₃ in the presence of Cp₂ZrCl₂ as a catalyst. 3-Substituted 1-fluoroborolanes were isolated and identified as 1: 1 complexes with EtBF₂.     

Alkylaluminum activator effects on polyethylene branching using a N,N′‐nickel precatalyst appended with bulky 4,4′‐dimethoxybenzhydryl groups

Ten unsymmetrical N,N'‐bis (imino) acenaphthene‐nickel (II) halide complexes, [1‐[2,6‐{(4‐MeOC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐MeC₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]NiX₂, each appended with one N‐2,6‐bis(4,4'‐dimethoxybenzhydryl)‐4‐methylphenyl group, have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of Ni1 , Ni3 , Ni5 and Ni6 highlight the variation in steric protection afforded by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; a distorted tetrahedral geometry is conferred about each nickel center. On activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl) or methylaluminoxane (MAO), all complexes showed high activity at 30°C for the polymerization of ethylene with the least bulky bromide precatalysts ( Ni1 and Ni4 ), generally the most productive, forming polyethylenes with narrow dispersities [M_w/M_n: < 3.4 (Et₂AlCl), < 4.1 (MAO)] and various levels of branching. Significantly, this level of branching can be influenced by the type of co‐catalyst employed, with Et₂AlCl having a predilection towards polymers displaying significantly higher branching contents than with MAO [T_m: 33.0–82.5°C (Et₂AlCl) vs. 117.9–119.4°C (MAO)]. On the other hand, the molecular weights of the materials obtained with each co‐catalyst were high and, in some cases, entering the ultra‐high molecular weight range [M_w range: 6.8–12.2 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (Et₂AlCl), 7.2–10.9 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 (MAO)]. Furthermore, good tensile strength (ε_b up to 553.5%) and elastic recovery (up to 84%) have been displayed by selected more branched polymers highlighting their elastomeric properties.     

Organoaluminum catalyst for polymerization reaction. Synthesis of isotactic polyacetaldehyde by AIR3–alkali metal hydroxide catalysts in situ

The catalytic behavior of binary systems derived from AIR₃ and alkali metal hydroxide in a molar ratio of 1 to 0.5 in situ for stereospecific polymerization of acetaldehyde was studied for the purpose of preparation of isotactic polyacetal. The polymer obtained can be readily stretched to a film. The polymerization proceeds slowly (in ～20 hr). The polymer yield and stereospecificity of the polymerization by AlEt₃–LiOH (1:0.5) catalyst were not significantly changed by the nature of solvent or dilution as far as studied. AlEt₃–NaOH, AlEt₃–KOH, AlEt₃–CsOH, AliBu₃–LiOH and AlMe₃–LiOH in molar ratios of 1 to 0.5 behaved similarly. AlMe₃–NaOH, AlMe₃–KOH and AliBu₃–NaOH also gave isotactic polymer of high stereoregularity but in lower yields.     

Nonconjugated diene homopolymerization and copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by α‐diimine Ni(II) complex/Et2AlCl

Four nonconjugated diene comonomers 1,9‐decadiene (19DD), 6‐ethylundeca‐1,10‐diene (EUD), 1,5‐cyclooctadiene (COD) and cinene (1‐methyl‐4‐(prop‐1‐en‐2‐yl) cyclohex‐1‐ene) (CE) were used in copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by α‐diimine Ni(II) complex ([2,6‐(iPr)₂C₆H₃N = C(CH₃)?(CH₃)C = N2,6‐(iPr)₂C₆H₃)]NiBr₂ ( 1 )) activated by Et₂AlCl. These dienes showed quite distinct copolymerization behaviors. Ethylene‐19DD copolymerization formed highly branched polyethylene with cyclic units and pendent vinyls, and a large part of crosslinked polymer when the 19DD concentration was relatively high. Using EUD as comonomer lead to evidently reduced gel formation and increased content of pendent vinyl. COD can be incorporated in the copolymer with evidently lower catalyst efficiency than the ethylene homopolymerization, and CE behaves like an inert compound as it was not incorporated in the copolymer. Homopolymerization of 19DD with the same catalyst produced polymer containing both cyclic units and pendent vinyls. The cyclic units were formed by cyclopolymerization of the inserted 19DD after several steps of chain walking. Crosslinking through the pendent vinyl took place when the initial 19DD concentration was relatively high, forming large amount of gel in the product. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1900–1909     

Ethylene–propylene terpolymers based on methylcyclopentadienyl-5-norborn-2-enylmethane derivatives

The terpolymerization of ethylene, propylene, and methylcyclopentadienyl-5-endonorborn-2-enylmethane (III) by means of different vanadium-based coordination catalysts was investigated. The structure of III and its isomeric composition was studied by using vapor-phase chromatography, mass spectrometry, and NMR, infrared, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The catalyst system V Acac₃–Et₂AlCl was used under different conditions, and the influence of several variables regulating the terpolymerization process were related to the properties of the resulting terpolymers (EPTM). The insertion of III into EPTM chains takes place randomly and does not influence the random distribution of comonomers. The selective opening of the norbornene double bond of III has been demonstrated by use of 2,3-dihydro-III as model compound. Tritiated III gave a radiochemical titer of unsaturation in excellent agreement with the value deduced from ultraviolet measurements. The influence of Lewis bases added to VAcac₃–Et₂AlCl catalyst is discussed.     

The first one-pot synthesis of alkoxycyclopropanes via cyclometalation of styrene with ClnAlEt3−n and RCO2R′ mediated by Cp2ZrCl2

The one-pot cyclopropanation of styrene using Cl_nAlEt_3−n (Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, AlCl₃) and carboxylic esters in the presence of Cp₂ZrCl₂ as catalyst gives rise to alkoxycyclopropanes.     

Die Kristallstruktur von Diethylaluminiumhypersilanid, [(C2H5)2Al–Si{Si(CH3)3}3]2

The Crystal Structure of Diethylaluminium Hypersilanide [(C₂H₅)₂Al–Si{Si(CH₃)₃}₃]₂ [Et₂Al–Hsi]₂ (Et = C₂H₅, Hsi = –Si(SiMe₃)₃), prepared from [Et₂AlCl]₂ and equimolar amounts of base‐free Li–Hsi in n‐pentane, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 with two independent dimers per unit cell. One of these molecules is disordered. The dimers consist of planar Al₂C₂‐skeletons with Al–C–Al bridging bonds of 212,9(2) and 221,2(2) pm, respectively, and with intramolecular C–H…Al contacts of 202(2) pm.     

Bildung und Kristallstruktur von FcCH(t‐Bu)NHCH(Me)CH2OMe · LiI · Et2O

Formation and Crystal Structure of FcCH( t ‐Bu)NHCH(Me)CH₂OMe · LiI · Et₂O The title compound FcCH(t‐Bu)NHCH(Me)CH₂OMe · LiI · Et₂O ( 1 · LiI · Et₂O) was obtained by reaction of FcCH(t‐Bu)N(Li)CH(Me)CH₂OMe with MeI in a molar ratio 1 : 1 in diethylether. The Li atom is substituted by an H atom yielding the secondary amine. The formation of the expected N‐methyl substituted species could not be observed. 1 creates monomeric molecules with four coordinate Li atoms as a result of Li–N and Li–O interactions of the corresponding atoms of the ferrocenyl ligand and a solvent molecule. 1 · LiI · Et₂O: Space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at –60 °C: a = 10.492(2), b = 13.225(2), c = 18.846(3) Å, β = 90°, R₁ = 0.0478, wR₂ = 0.0801.     

Molecular weight control of polyethylene waxes using a constrained imino‐cyclopenta[b]pyridyl‐nickel catalyst

Five examples of nickel(II) bromide complexes bearing N,N‐imino‐cyclopenta[b ]pyridines, [7‐(ArN)‐6,6‐Me₂C₈H₅N]NiBr₂ (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( Ni1 ), 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ ( Ni2 ), 2,6‐i‐ Pr₂C₆H₃ ( Ni3 ), 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ ( Ni4 ), 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MeC₆H₂ ( Ni5 )), have been prepared by the reaction of the corresponding ligand, L1 – L5 , with NiBr₂(DME) (DME = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane). On crystallization from bench dichloromethane, Ni1 underwent adventitious reaction with water to give the aqua salt, [ L1 NiBr(OH₂)₃][Br] ( Ni1' ). The molecular structures of Ni1' and Ni3 have been structurally characterized, the latter revealing a bromide‐bridged dimer. On activation with either MMAO or Et₂AlCl, Ni1 , Ni2 , Ni4, and Ni5 , all exhibited high activities for ethylene polymerization (up to 3.88 × 10⁶ g(PE) mol^?1(Ni) h^?1); the most sterically bulky Ni3 gave only low activity. Polyethylene waxes are a feature of the materials obtained which typically display low molecular weights (M _ws), narrow M _w distributions and unsaturated vinyl and vinylene functionalities. Notably, the catalyst comprising Ni1 /Et₂AlCl produced polyethylene with the lowest M _w, 0.67 kg mol^?1, which is less than any previously reported data for any class of cycloalkyl‐fused pyridine–nickel catalyst. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3494–3505     

Unexpected Silaazetidine Formation in the Thermolysis of thf‐Supported Silanimine Et2Si=N–SitBu3·thf

The silyl amide Et₂SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu₃ can be cleanly prepared from precursor silylamine Et₂SiCl‐NH‐SitBu₃ and Li[nBu]. The CF₃SO₃SiMe₃ induced LiCl elimination of Et₂SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu₃ in thf afforded a 2‐silaazetidine derivative by [2+2] cycloaddition of Et₂Si=N–SitBu₃ with Et₂Si(OCH=CH₂)–NH–SitBu₃. X‐ray quality crystals of this 2‐silaazetidine derivative (triclinic, space group P$\bar{1}$ ) were grown from benzene at room temperature. The starting material for this approach, Et₂SiCl–NH–SitBu₃, is water‐sensitive. Hydrolysis of Et₂SiCl‐NH‐SitBu₃ gave [tBu₃SiNH₃]Cl along with (Et₂SiO)_n oligomers. The hydro chloride [tBu₃SiNH₃]Cl could be isolated and was characterized by X‐ray crystallography (trigonal, space group P$\bar{3}$ ).     

Polymerization of propylene with TiCl3–AlEt2Cl–polymeric electron donor catalyst

Polymeric donors having ether or carbonyl groups were added to the TiCI₃–AlEt₂CI catalyst system as the third component, and the effects on the polymerization of propylene were investigated in comparison with the effect of the electron donors with low molecular weight. The polymeric donors were effective in making the catalyst more active, but the donors of low molecular weight depressed the catalyst activity. In the case of poly(propylene glycol dimethyl ether) (PPG-DME), PPG–DME with a number of propylene oxide units (n) of more than 6.7 was effective in enhancing the catalyst activity. These effects were considered to be due to the different reactivities between TiCI₃ and AlEt₂CI-polymeric donor complexes having various chain lengths.     

Stereoregular polymerization of 1-vinylnaphthalene, 2-vinylnaphthalene,and 4-vinylbiphenyl

1-Vinylnaphthalene, 2-vinylnaphthalene, 4-vinylbiphenyl, and styrene were polymerized with Et₃Al–TiCl₄, Et₂AlCl–TiCl₃, and Et₃Al–TiCl₃ catalyst systems. The latter catalyst system gave polymers in 75–95% conversion which were at least 90% isotactic. Extraction with 2-butanone (MEK) separated the atactic from the isotactic fractions. The polymers were characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Two phosphonodehydrotripeptides: Boc0–Gly1–Δ(Z)Phe2–α‐Abu3PO3Me2 and Boc0–Gly1–Δ(Z)Phe2–α‐Nva3PO3Et2

The present paper reports the crystal structures of two short phosphonotripeptides (one in two crystal forms) containing one ΔPhe (dehydrophenylalanine) residue, namely dimethyl (3‐{[tert‐butoxycarbonylglycyl‐α,β‐(Z)‐dehydrophenylalanyl]amino}propyl)phosphonate, Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ(Z)Phe²–α‐Abu³PO₃Me₂, C₂₁H₃₂N₃O₇P, (I), and diethyl (4‐{[tert‐butoxycarbonylglycyl‐α,β‐(Z)‐dehydrophenylalanyl]amino}butyl)phosphonate, Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ(Z)Phe²–α‐Nva³PO₃Et₂, as the propan‐2‐ol monosolvate 0.122‐hydrate, C₂₄H₃₈N₃O₇P·C₃H₈O·0.122H₂O, (II), and the ethanol monosolvate 0.076‐hydrate, C₂₄H₃₈N₃O₇P·C₂H₆O·0.076H₂O, (III). The crystals of (II) and (III) are isomorphous but differ in the type of solvent. The phosphono group is linked directly to the last C_α atom in the main chain for all three peptides. All the amino acids are trans linked in the main chains. The crystal structures exhibit no intramolecular hydrogen bonds and are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds only.     

Coordination of benzene to a sodium cation

The complexes Na(Et₂O)(dpp-BIAN)AlEt₂ (5) and Na(η⁶-C₆H₆)(dpp-BIAN)AlEt₂ (6) were synthesized by reactions of the disodium salts of dpp-BIAN (dpp-BIAN is 1,2-bis[(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) with 1 equiv. of Et₂AlCl in diethyl ether and benzene, respectively. The structures of both complexes were established by X-ray diffraction. In molecules 5 and 6, diethylaluminum is chelated by the dianionic dpp-BIAN ligand. The sodium cations in molecules 5 and 6 are located above the plane of the diimine fragments and coordinate the Et₂O or benzene molecule, respectively. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1702–1707, September, 2007.     

Ligandstabilisierte cyclische und polycyclische Aluminium‐Phosphor‐ und Aluminium‐Arsen‐Verbindungen

Ligand Stabilized Cyclic and Polycyclic Aluminium Phosphorus and Aluminium Arsenic Compounds The reaction of AlCl₃ with Li₂AsSiRMe₂ (R = CMe₂iPr) in a mixture of ether and heptane yields the ether stabilized polycyclic compound [(AlCl)₄(AsSiRMe₂)₄(Et₂O)₂] ( 4 ) with a ladder shaped Al₄As₄ core structure. The shape of 4 is mostly similar to the aluminium phosphorus compound [(AlCl)₄(PSiiPr₃)₄(Et₂O)₂] ( 1 ) described recently [1]. These two compounds 1 and 4 can be cleaved into the cyclic compounds [{AlCl(C₅H₅N)}₂(PSiiPr₃)₂] ( 3 ) and [{AlCl(NEt₃)}₂(AsSiRMe₂)₂] ( 5 ) by reaction with pyridine and NEt₃, respectively. The compounds 3 , 4 , and 5 have been characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

[Au(Et2dtc)2][TcNCl4] – Darstellung und Struktur

[Au(Et₂dtc)₂][TcNCl₄] – Synthesis and Structure [Au(Et₂dtc)₂][TcNCl₄] (Et₂dtc^– = N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate) is formed by the reaction of [Au(CO)Cl] with [TcN(Et₂dtc)₂] in dichloromethane. The solid state structure of the compound is characterized by a large triclinic unit cell (space group, P1, a = 9.422(2), b = 22.594(5), c = 32.153(7) Å, α = 72.64(1), β = 85.19(1), γ = 86.15(1)°, Z = 12) and shows an unusual arrangement due to long‐range contacts between the technetium atoms and sulfur atoms of the [Au(Et₂dtc)₂]⁺ units (3.45–3.56 Å) which assemble two anions and one cation to {[TcNCl₄][Au(Et₂dtc)₂] · [TcNCl₄]}^– moieties.     

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.