Ethylene polymerization reactions with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I. Ethylene polymerization kinetics and kinetic mechanism

Kinetics of ethylene homopolymerization reactions and ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization reactions using a supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst was carried out over a broad range of reaction conditions. The kinetic data were analyzed using a concept of multicenter catalysis with different centers that respond differently to changes in reaction parameters. The catalyst contains five types of active centers that differ in the molecular weights of material they produce and in their copolymerization ability. In ethylene homopolymerization reactions, each active center has a high reaction order with respect to ethylene concentration, close to the second order. In ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization reactions, the centers that have poor copolymerization ability retain this high reaction order, whereas the centers that have good copolymerization ability change the reaction order to the first order. Hydrogen depresses activity of each type of center in the homopolymerization reactions in a reversible manner; however, the centers that copolymerize ethylene and α-olefins well are not depressed if an α-olefin is present in the reaction medium. Introduction of an α-olefin significantly increases activity of those centers, which are effective in copolymerizing it with ethylene but does not affect the centers that copolymerize ethylene and α-olefins poorly. To explain these kinetic features, a new reaction scheme is proposed. It is based on a hypothesis that the Ti—C₂H₅ bond in active centers has low reactivity due to the equilibrium formation of a Ti—C₂H₅ species with the H atom in the methyl group β-agostically coordinated to the Ti atom in an active center. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4255–4272, 1999     

Paramagnetic defect centers at the MgO surface. An alternative model to oxygen vacancies

On the basis of embedded cluster calculations, we propose a new model for the structure of paramagnetic color centers at the MgO surface usually denoted as F(S)(H)(+) (an electron trapped near an adsorbed proton). These centers are produced by exposing the surface of polycrystalline MgO to H(2) followed by UV irradiation. We demonstrate that properties of H atom absorbed at surface sites such as step edges (MgO(step)) and reverse corner sites (MgO(RC)), formed at the intersection of two step edges, are compatible with a number of features observed for F(S)(H)(+). Our calculations suggest that (i) H(2) dissociates at the reverse corner site heterolytically and that there is no barrier for this exothermic reaction; (ii) the calculated vibrations of the resulting MgO(RC)(H(+))(H(-)) complex are fully consistent with the measured ones; (iii) desorption of a neutral H atom from the diamagnetic precursor requires UV light and leads to the formation of stable neutral paramagnetic centers at the surface, MgO(step)(H(+))(e(-))(trapped) and MgO(RC)(H(+))(e(-))(trapped). The computed isotropic hyperfine coupling constants and optical transitions of these centers are in broad agreement with the existing experimental data. We argue that these centers, which do not belong to the class of "oxygen vacancies", are two of the many possible forms of the F(S)(H)(+) defect center.     

Bacterial Reaction Centers Purified with Styrene Maleic Acid Copolymer Retain Native Membrane Functional Properties and Display Enhanced Stability

Integral membrane proteins often present daunting challenges for biophysical characterization, a fundamental issue being how to select a surfactant that will optimally preserve the individual structure and functional properties of a given membrane protein. Bacterial reaction centers offer a rare opportunity to compare the properties of an integral membrane protein in different artificial lipid/surfactant environments with those in the native bilayer. Here, we demonstrate that reaction centers purified using a styrene maleic acid copolymer remain associated with a complement of native lipids and do not display the modified functional properties that typically result from detergent solubilization. Direct comparisons show that reaction centers are more stable in this copolymer/lipid environment than in a detergent micelle or even in the native membrane, suggesting a promising new route to exploitation of such photovoltaic integral membrane proteins in device applications.     

Intervalence (charge-resonance) transitions in organic mixed-valence systems. Through-space versus through-bond electron transfer between bridged aromatic (redox) centers

Intervalence absorption bands appearing in the diagnostic near-IR region are consistently observed in the electronic spectra of mixed-valence systems containing a pair of aromatic redox centers (Ar(*)(+)/Ar) that are connected by two basically different types of molecular bridges. The through-space pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is dictated by an o-xylylene bridge in the mixed-valence cation radical 3(*)(+) with Ar = 2,5-dimethoxy-p-tolyl (T), in which conformational mobility allows the proximal syn disposition of planar T(*)(+)/T redox centers. Four independent experimental probes indicate the large through-space electronic interaction between such cofacial Ar(*)(+)/Ar redox centers from the measurements of (a) sizable potential splitting in the cyclic voltammogram, (b) quinonoidal distortion of T(*)(+)/T centers by X-ray crystallography, (c) "doubling" of the ESR hyperfine splittings, and (d) a pronounced intervalence charge-resonance band. The through (br)-bond pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is enforced in the mixed-valence cation radical 2a(*)(+) by the p-phenylene bridge which provides the structurally inflexible and linear connection between Ar(*)(+)/Ar redox centers. The direct comparison of intramolecular rates of electron transfer (k(ET)) between identical T(*)(+)/T centers in 3(*)(+) and 2a(*)(+)( )()indicates that through-space and through-bond mechanisms are equally effective, despite widely different separations between their redox centers. The same picture obtains for 3(*)(+) and 2a(*)(+)( )()from theoretical computations of the first-order rate constants for intramolecular electron transfer from Marcus-Hush theory using the electronic coupling elements evaluated from the diagnostic intervalence (charge-transfer) transitions. Such a strong coherence between theory and experiment also applies to the mixed-valence cation radical 7(*)(+), in which the aromatic redox S center is sterically encumbered by annulation.     

Novel 36-membered dodecanuclear manganese metalladiazamacrocycle

A novel dodecanuclear manganese metalladiazamacrocycle was synthesized employing a new pentadentate ligand N-2-pentenoylsalicylhydrazide (H(3)tpeshz) by supramolecular self-assembly. The backbone of this metal-organic assembly is a repeating unit of an M-N-N-M linkage that extends to complete a 36-membered cyclic structure involving 12 manganese(III) centers. Successive manganese centers are in a chemically different ...ABABAB...-type environment while the chirality varies as ...LambdaLambdaDeltaDeltaLambdaLambda... . The unique arrangement of manganese centers results in a highly puckered metalladiazamacrocycle with an S(6)-point group symmetry.     

Structure-activity correlations in a nickel-borate oxygen evolution catalyst

An oxygen evolution catalyst that forms as a thin film from Ni(aq)(2+) solutions containing borate electrolyte (Ni-B(i)) has been studied by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A dramatic increase in catalytic rate, induced by anodic activation of the electrodeposited films, is accompanied by structure and oxidation state changes. Coulometric measurements correlated with X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra of the active catalyst show that the nickel centers in activated films possess an average oxidation state of +3.6, indicating that a substantial proportion of nickel centers exist in a formal oxidation state of Ni(IV). In contrast, nickel centers in nonactivated films exist predominantly as Ni(III). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure reveals that activated catalyst films comprise bis-oxo/hydroxo-bridged nickel centers organized into sheets of edge-sharing NiO(6) octahedra. Diminished long-range ordering in catalyst films is due to their ostensibly amorphous nature. Nonactivated films display a similar oxidic nature but exhibit a distortion in the local coordination geometry about nickel centers, characteristic of Jahn-Teller distorted Ni(III) centers. Our findings indicate that the increase in catalytic activity of films is accompanied by changes in oxidation state and structure that are reminiscent of those observed for conversion of β-NiOOH to γ-NiOOH and consequently challenge the long-held notion that the β-NiOOH phase is a more efficient oxygen-evolving catalyst.     

Particle interactions in electrophoresis due to inertia

The inertial forces acting on two cylinders and two spheres have been calculated. The cylinders or spheres are of the same radius and zeta potential, and arbitrarily oriented in an electric field. It is found that when two particles are aligned perpendicular to the direction of the electric field, the force between them along the line of the centers is attractive. When they are along the direction of the electric field, the force between them along the line of the centers is repulsive. On a pair of arbitrarily oriented particles, the force perpendicular to the line of the centers tends to rotate the particles around the midpoint between the particle centers such that the pair is aligned normal to the applied electric field. The stable equilibrium orientation of a pair of particles and the attractive interaction forces between the particles when they are stably orientated may give rise to aggregation of particles during electrophoretic motion of a suspension.     

V Centers and Hole-Photostimulated Luminescence of BaFCl Crystal

V centers (hole centers) and hole-photostimulated luminescence of BaFCl crystal are reported for the first time. The absorption bands of V1, V2 and V3 centers are peaking at 205, 238 and 355 nm respectively. V2 center creation by X-irradiation and decay during photostimulated luminescence process are synchronousl with that of F center. This indicates that V centers play the same roles as F centers in X-ray storage and photostimulated luminescence processes.     

Stereoregularity and regioregularity of active centers in propene polymerization

The relation between stereoregularity of active centers on a MgCl₂/TiCl₄ catalyst and functions of inside donor (ID) and outside donor (OD) was investigated in the case of ethyl benzoate (EB)/methyl p-toluate (MPT) as an ID/OD pair. The results indicate that stereregularity depends merely on the amount of MPT supported on the catalyst. On the other hand, regioregularity of active centers was investigated with a MgCl₂/TiCl₄/dioctyl phthalate(DOP)-Et₃Al/diphenyldimethoxysilane(DPDMS) catalyst system. Regio-irregular inserted units were detected only in end groups of PP. It indicates that regio-irregular insertion leads to dormant centers with respect to propene insertion, though such centers are active for hydrogen transfer.     

Polymerization of isoprene with vanadium-containing catalysts: Kinetic nonuniformity of active centers

For the polymerization of isoprene catalyzed by vanadium-based ion-coordination systems, the kinetic nonuniformity of active centers was studied and active centers of three to four types were revealed. By the solution of inverse kinetic problems, kinetic parameters were first estimated for individual active centers. It was demonstrated that the nature of an organoaluminum compound affects the kinetic nonuniformity of a catalyst, kinetic parameters of individual active centers, and molecular characteristics of polyisoprene.     

Assessment of reaction center special-pair chlorophyll models

A discussion of the experimental evidence for the existence of special-pair chlorophyll in the reaction centers of plants and photosynthetic bacteria is presented, and an assessment of the adequacy of various in vitro chemical model systems designed to mimic the properties of these reaction centers is given. For plant systems it appears that the in vitro models successfully mimic almost all measured in vivo properties, whereas in bacterial systems a similar situation does not obtain. Possible structural models of special-pair chlorophyll derived primarily from in vitro model studies are described. Their suitability as models of the photooxidizable pigment in plant and bacterial reaction centers is analyzed, and alternative structures for the bacterial case, which is the least well characterized structurally, are considered.     

Promoted Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Tuning the Electronic State of Copper Sites in Metal-Organic Supramolecular Assemblies

The electronic state in terms of charge and spin of metal sites is fundamental to govern the catalytic activity of a photocatalyst. Herein, we show that modulation of the electronic states of Cu sites, without changing the coordination environments, of two metal-organic supramolecular assemblies based on π⋅⋅⋅π stacking can significantly improve photocatalytic activity. The use of these heterogeneous photocatalysts, without using noble metal cocatalysts, resulted in an increase of the hydrogen production rate from 522 to 3620 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹. A systematical analysis revealed that the charge density and spin density of the metal centers are efficiently modulated via the modulation of the coordination fields around active copper (II) centers by the variation of the non-coordination groups of terminal ligands, leading to the significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity. This work provides an insight into the electronic state of active metal centers for designing high-performance photocatalysts.     

Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Hydrofluorination of Enals by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

In contrast to well‐established asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, enantioselective protonation is an orthogonal approach for creating highly valuable methine chiral centers under redox‐neutral conditions. Reported here is the highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective hydrofluorination of enals by an asymmetric β‐protonation/α‐fluorination cascade catalyzed by N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The two nucleophilic sites of a homoenolate intermediate, generated from enals and an NHC, are sequentially protonated and fluorinated. The results show that controlling the relative rates of protonation, fluorination, and esterification is crucial for this transformation, and can be accomplished using a dual shuttling strategy. Structurally diverse carboxylic acid derivatives with two contiguous chiral centers are prepared in a single step with excellent d.r. and ee values.     

A study of the mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of carbon suboxide

The γ radiolysis of solid C₃O₂ at 77 K produces paramagnetic centers of several types. The ESR spectrum constitutes a number of narrow lines with an anisotropic g factor. Some of the centers are photounstable and are lost after optical bleaching. Heating the sample results initially in the loss of photounstable centers and then, in the temperature region in which solid C₃O₂ undergoes a phase transition (140 K), loss of the centers responsible for the center section of the ESR spectrum. In the temperature region 140–270 K concentration of the centers remained at the level of 10¹⁵?10¹⁶ g^?1. At higher temperatures an intense polymerization of liquid C₃O₂ followed by a sharp increase in concentration of the paramagnetic centers was observed. It is assumed that in radiolysis at 77 K and on subsequent heating the formation of oligomeric centers in solid C₃O₂ results in a decreasing probability of their loss. Using a calorimetric technique, we studied the kinetics of the postradiation polymerization of C₃O₂. Small additions of acetone (cationic inhibitor) brought about the loss of the oligomeric centers and suppressed completely all postpolymerization. The polymerization rate increased with the concentration of the resulting polymer. An autocatalytic character of the process is supposed to be connected with the formation of polymer-monomer complexes.     

硫敏化中心中的银原子簇的增感作用

采用一定电位范围内的氧化还原缓冲液处理单分散立方溴化银乳剂颗粒表面上的硫敏化中心和由曝光生成的潜影中心,考察银原子簇的漂白和再生后的曝光响应曲线.实验结果再一次确认硫敏化中心中存在的银原子簇对硫敏化起重要作用,而且敏化效果也与银原子簇的含量有关.为此,提出硫敏化中心是由硫化银簇与银簇组成,它们在潜影形成的过程中各起不同的作用,但都有利于提高潜影的生成效率,因而共同产生敏化效应.     

构象对同位乙烯双自由基体系基态自旋多重度及其稳定性影响的理论研究

用DFT,CASSCF和QCISD(T)方法6-31G^*基组计算了构象对同位二取代乙烯双自由基体系基态自旋多重度及其稳定性的影响.结果表明,用DFT或CASSCF方法计算的单、三重态的能量差随自由基与乙烯间的二面角增加成不规则变化;用QCISD(T)方法计算的单、三重态的能量差随二面角的增加而逐渐降低,并呈规律性变化,说明QCISD(T)方法用于计算分子的磁性是可信的.对于同位二取代乙烯双自由基体系,无论双自由基旋转,还是单自由基旋转,高自旋基态稳定性随自由基与乙烯间二面角的增加而降低,只是降低的幅度不同,当二面角接近90°时,同位乙烯由具有平面或近似平面构象时强的铁磁耦合单元变成接近垂直平面构象时弱的反铁磁耦合单元或弱的铁磁耦合单元.     

Effect of surface photoreactions on the photocoloration of a wide band gap metal oxide: probing whether surface reactions are photocatalytic

A nonphotocatalytic reaction occurring on the surface of an irradiated wide band gap metal oxide, such as ZrO2, can affect the process of photoinduced formation of Zr3+, F- and V-type color centers. The effect of such reactions is seen as the influence of photostimulated adsorption on the photocoloration of the metal oxide specimen. In particular, photoadsorption of electron donor molecules leads to an increase of electron color centers, whereas photoadsorption of electron acceptor molecules leads to an increase of hole color centers. Monitoring the photocoloration of a metal oxide during a surface photochemical reaction probes whether the reaction is photocatalytic: accordingly, the influence of simple photoreactions on the photocoloration of ZrO2, reactions that involved the photoreduction of molecular oxygen, the photooxidation of molecular hydrogen, the photooxidation of hydrogen by adsorbed oxygen, and the photoinduced transformation of ammonia and carbon dioxide. Kinetics of the photoprocesses are reported, as well as the photoinduced chesorluminscence (PhICL effect) of ammonia. Thermoprogrammed desorption and mass spectral monitoring of the photoreaction involving NH3 identified hydrazine as an intermediate and molecular nitrogen as the final product. The photoreactions involving NH3 and CO2 are nonphotocatalytic processes, in contrast to the photooxidation of hydrogen which is photocatalytic. Carbon dioxide and carbonate radical anions are formed by interaction of CO2 with Zr3+ centers and hole states (OS-*), respectively. Mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Visible Light Responsive Dinuclear Zinc Complex Consisting of Proximally Arranged Two d10-Zinc Centers**

So far, Zn(II)-based d¹⁰ complexes have been known to be colorless unless they are accompanied by chromophoric groups, and therefore both fundamental and advanced photophysical performance of Zn centers of complexes, especially in visible-light regions has been unexplored. Here, we first demonstrate a dinuclear Zn(II) complex that shows visible light absorption using an orbital distributed over closely contacted two Zn centers experimentally determined by X-ray crystallography. A contrastive study demonstrated that intermetallic orbital interaction in dinuclear Zn(II) complex is responsible for capturing visible light to exhibit orangish yellow color, whereas an analogous one without such an interaction is colorless. This work demonstrates that introduction of Zn−Zn interactions to Zn(II) molecules contradicts the common notion that Zn is unresponsive to visible light and expands the photophysical field of zinc chemistry.     

氧化铝基COS、CS_2水解催化剂表面碱性和催化作用

进行了３种氧化铝基催化剂上ＣＯ２的ＴＰＤ和ＣＯＳ、ＣＳ２的水解活性研究．结果表明，催化剂表面碱性中心类型、强度和数目是不相同的；Ｋ２Ｏ和Ｐｔ的负载能提高弱碱性中心的数目和强度，同时能显著提高ＣＯＳ、ＣＳ２的水解转化率．关联第一类ＣＯ２脱附活化能和峰面积与ＣＯＳ水解反应活化能和速率常数，发现呈线性关系，说明弱碱性中心是ＣＯＳ催化水解的活性中心．关联第一、二两类ＣＯ２脱附峰面积与ＣＳ２水解速率常数，指出弱、次弱两类碱性中心均参与了ＣＳ２催化水解．催化剂表面上能量的分布是不均匀的．     

Enantioselective Preparation of Arenes with β-Stereogenic Centers: Confronting the 1,1-Disubstituted Olefin Problem Using CuH/Pd Cooperative Catalysis

Arenes with β-stereogenic centers are important substructures in pharmaceuticals and natural products. We have developed an asymmetric anti-Markovnikov hydroarylation of 1,1-disubstituted olefins by dual palladium and copper hydride catalysis as a convenient and general approach to access these substructures. This efficient one-step process addresses several limitations of the traditional stepwise approaches. The use of cesium benzoate as a base and a common phosphine ligand for both the Cu- and Pd-catalyzed processes were important discoveries that allow these challenging olefin substrates to be efficiently transformed. A variety of aryl bromide coupling partners, including numerous heterocycles, were coupled with 1,1-disubstituted alkenes to generate arenes with β-stereogenic centers.