Dialkylzinc Compounds as Chain Transfer Agents in Ethylene and Propylene Polymerizations Catalyzed by Metallocene Catalysts

Dialkylzinc compounds (ZnR₂) with the alkyl groups of different steric hindrance were used as chain transfer agents in ethylene and propylene polymerizations catalyzed by two conventional metallocene catalysts including rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and rac-Me₂Si[2-Me-4-Ph-Ind]₂ZrCl₂. In general, catalyst activities for ethylene polymerizations are barely affected by chain transfer agents, regardless of the R type; however, there are significant activity reductions in propylene polymerizations when the R in ZnR₂ is less hindered, and as R becomes bulkier, catalyst activities are gradually restored. ZnR₂ and metallocene catalyst active site tend to form a reversible and catalytically inactive complex, thus the geometry congested ZnR₂ would reduce complex formation tendency and hence decreased its negative effect on catalyst activities.     

Borane chain transfer reaction in olefin polymerization using trialkylboranes as chain transfer agents

This article discusses a new borane chain transfer reaction in olefin polymerization that uses trialkylboranes as a chain transfer agent and thus can be realized in conventional single site polymerization processes under mild conditions. Commercially available triethylborane (TEB) and synthesized methyl‐B‐9‐borabicyclononane (Me‐B‐9‐BBN) were engaged in metallocene/MAO [depleted of trimethylaluminum (TMA)]‐catalyzed ethylene (Cp₂ZrCl₂ and rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph)₂ZrCl₂ as a catalyst) and styrene (Cp*Ti(OMe)₃ as catalyst) polymerizations. The two trialkylboranes were found—in most cases—able to initiate an effective chain transfer reaction, which resulted in hydroxyl (OH)‐terminated PE and s‐PS polymers after an oxidative workup process, suggesting the formation of the B‐polymer bond at the polymer chain end. However, chain transfer efficiencies were influenced substantially by the steric hindrances of both the substituent on the trialkylborane and that on the catalyst ligand. TEB was more effective than TMA in ethylene polymerization with Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO, whereas it became less effective when the catalyst changed to rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph)₂ZrCl₂. Both TEB and Me‐B‐9‐BBN caused an efficient chain transfer in the Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO‐catalyzed ethylene polymerization; nevertheless, Me‐B‐9‐BBN failed in vain with rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph)₂ZrCl₂/MAO. In the case of styrene polymerization with Cp*Ti(OMe)₃/MAO, thanks to the large steric openness of the catalyst, TEB exhibited a high efficiency of chain transfer. Overall, trialkylboranes as chain transfer agents perform as well as B? H‐bearing borane derivatives, and are additionally advantaged by a much milder reaction condition, which further boosts their applicability in the preparation of borane‐terminated polyolefins. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3534–3541, 2010     

Mesoporous silica as nanoreactor for olefin polymerization

Various metal-containing MCM-41(Metal-MCM-41) were prepared by the post-synthesis method with organometallic compound or alkoxide and used as a nanoreactor for olefin polymerization. Strong Lewis acid sites generated on Metal-MCM-41 could activate the metallocene catalyst rac-ethylene(bisindenyl)zirconium dichloride (rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂) effectively, resulting in the formation of active sites for polymerizations of ethylene and propylene. This suggests that Metal-MCM-41 is useful as a heterogenized cocatalyst. Ti-, Zr-, Hf-, Mn- and Zn-MCM-41 combined with alkylaluminum (without metallocene catalyst) were also found to provide isotactic polypropylene with a broad molecular weight distribution. By analyzing the characteristics of polypropylenes both inside and outside the mesopores, the polymerization behavior under extreme confined geometry was discussed.     

Renewable chain transfer agents for metallocene polymerizations: The effects of chiral monoterpenes on the polyolefin molecular weight and isotacticity

Monoterpenes were used as renewable chain transfer agents and polymerization solvents for metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysis. The polymerization of 1‐hexene, ethylene, and propylene in d‐limonene, hydrogenated d‐limonene and α‐pinene is reported. As detected by ¹H NMR analysis of the alkene region, chain transfer to d‐limonene yielded a higher percentage of trisubstituted alkenes. Size exclusion chromatography detected a decrease in molecular weight values resulting from chain transfer to d‐limonene. The [mmmm] pentads for isotactic polypropylene were characterized by ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Propylene polymerizations with the Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO and Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst systems in d‐limonene gave [mmmm] pentad values as high as 0.97. For the Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system at 0 °C, the mol fraction of [mmmm] pentads increased from 0.86 to 0.94 upon switching the solvent from toluene to d‐limonene. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3150–3165, 2007     

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.     

Effective activation of metallocene catalysts with supported‐type Ph3CClO4 in ethylene polymerization

Supported type cocatalysts using triphenylcarbenium perchlorate (Ph₃CClO₄) were prepared by impregnation on inorganic carrier, magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and applied to ethylene polymerizations with rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂. Homogeneous polymerizations with Ph₃CClO₄ were also carried out for comparison. The activity of homogeneous polymerization was much lower than that obtained with methylaluminoxane (MAO). On the other hand, rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ activated by the supported type Ph₃CClO₄/MgCl₂ system displayed high activity comparable to that obtained with MAO. From the results of fractionation and polymerization of the rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂‐Ph₃CClO₄/MgCl₂ catalyst system, it was found that the increased activity mainly came from the active species in the supernatant part. UV‐vis spectroscopic measurements combined with ICP analysis indicate that the active species in the supernatant fraction are composed of a stoichiometric amount of perchlorate and metallocene catalyst.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF HOMOPOLYMER AND COPOLYMERS OBTAINED FROM 1-OCTADECENE WITH ZIRCONOCENE CATALYSTS

Studies related to the behavior of different metallocene catalysts for the homopolymerization of 1-octadecene andits copolymerization with ethylene will be presented. The metallocenes: rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2, rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 andPh_2C(Flu)(Cp)ZrCl_2 were chosen for the homopolymerization study. They show important differences in catalytic activity athigh temperatures (≥70℃), with rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 showing the highest activity. At lower temperatures (≤30℃) thedifferences are negligible. For the copolymerization of ethylene with 1-octadecene only the catalysts rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 andrac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 were studied. The results show that their catalytic activity is just like that for the homopolymerizationof 1-octadecene, with higher activity for the metallocene with the Et-bridged catalyst. ~(13)C-NMR analysis shows that thecomposition of the copolymerization products depends on the catalytic systems. Copolymers obtained with rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 have greater comonomer incorporation. Thermal analysis shows that poly-1-octadecene synthesized withthe catalyst rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 is very dependent on the polymerization temperature. The homopolymer obtained at 70℃presents two endothermal peaks at 41℃ and 53℃, as compared with the one obtained at 30℃ which presents one wider peakwith a maximum at 67℃. For the catalyst rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 this trend is not observed. The type of metallocene and thereaction time do not significantly change the intrinsic viscosity, but the polymerization temperature changes it drastically,giving higher values at lower temperature. Viscosity measurements on the copolymers show that an increase of comonomerconcentration in the feed reduces the molecular weight of the copolymer, and it was also found that for homopolymer, themolecular weight is independent of the catalytic systems.     

Synthesis of ethylene/propylene elastomers containing a terminal reactive group: The combination of metallocene catalysis and control chain transfer reaction

This article discusses a chemical route to prepare new ethylene/propylene copolymers (EP) containing a terminal reactive group, such as ?‐CH₃ and OH. The chemistry involves metallocene‐mediated ethylene/propylene copolymerization in the presence of a consecutive chain transfer agent—a mixture of hydrogen and styrene derivatives carrying a CH₃ (p‐MS) or a silane‐protected OH (St‐OSi). The major challenge is to find suitable reaction conditions that can simultaneously carry out effective ethylene/propylene copolymerization and incorporation of the styrenic molecule (St‐f) at the polymer chain end, in other words, altering the St‐f incorporation mode from copolymerization to chain transfer. A systematic study was conducted to examine several metallocene catalyst systems and reaction conditions. Both [(C₅Me₄)SiMe₂N(^t‐Bu)]TiCl₂ and rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, under certain H₂ pressures, were found to be suitable catalyst systems to perform the combined task. A broad range of St‐f terminated EP copolymers (EP‐t‐p‐MS and EP‐t‐St‐OH), with various compositions and molecular weights, have been prepared with polymer molecular weight inversely proportional to the molar ratio of [St‐f]/[monomer]. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1858–1872, 2005     

Homo-and copolymerization of vinylcyclohexane with α-olefins in the presence of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic systems

The polymerization and copolymerization of vinylcyclohexane with α-olefins in the presence of several heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic systems were studied. It was shown that, with respect to activity in the polymerization of vinylcyclohexane, the tested catalysts can be arranged in the following order: α-TiCl₃ < titanium-magnesium catalyst < metallocene catalyst. Poly(vinylcyclohexane) prepared with heterogeneous catalytic systems is a solid semicrystalline polymer. The properties of polymers synthesized with homogeneous systems differ substantially depending on the type of the metallocene used. In the presence of metallocenes with a C ₂ symmetry, crystalline powderlike products arise, while in the case of metallocenes with C ₁ and C _s symmetries, polymerization yields amorphous viscous products. Molecular-mass distributions of poly(vinylcyclohexane) samples prepared using both heterogeneous titanium-magnesium catalysts and homogeneous metallocene complexes show a bimodal pattern, indicating the heterogeneity of active centers of these catalysts. Upon introduction of a comonomer (ethylene, propylene, and 1-hexene) into the reaction mixture, the activity of all studied catalytic systems increases. When Me₂C(3-Me-Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂ and rac-Me₂SiInd₂ZrCl₂ are used as catalysts, the degree of crystallinity of the copolymers grows owing to the presence of ethylene or propylene units in poly(vinylcyclohexane) chains.     

Copolymerization of ethylene with allylbenzene using rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane as a catalyst

Ethylene was copolymerized with allylbenzene using rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride (Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂)/methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a catalyst. Analysis of the copolymers obtained revealed that chain transfer to aluminium was a preferred chain transfer reaction during the copolymerization. It seems that chain termination through aluminium transfer is induced by the allylbenzene unit incorporated in the propagating chain end. Hydroxy-terminated ethylene copolymers were obtained when the copolymer solution was exposed to air before precipitation of the polymer in acidic methanol.     

Copolymerization of propylene and methyl vinyl ketone with metallocene catalysts: Synthesis,properties, and thermal and photooxidation of modified polypropylene

The copolymers of propylene and methyl vinyl ketone are synthesized at 60°С by copolymerization in the propylene bulk in the presence of the polymethylaluminoxane-activated metallocene catalysts, namely, the isospecific С₂-symmetric metallocene catalyst rac-Me₂Si(2-Me-4-PhInd)₂ZrCl₂ and the syndiospecific Сs-symmetric metallocene catalyst Ph₂ССpFluZrCl₂, and characterized. It is shown that a noticeable insertion of methyl vinyl ketone into a polypropylene chain is possible during copolymerization initiated by the syndiospecific catalytic system, whereas in the case of the isospecific system, the insertion of methyl vinyl ketone is hindered. The thermal oxidation of the resulting polymers is studied. With the use of chemiluminescence, the accumulation of peroxy macroradicals under the action of daylight in samples based on isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylene is detected. It is found that even a low (0.2 mol %) content of methyl vinyl ketone endows polypropylene with the capability to undergo rapid and controlled degradation under natural conditions.     

Macromolecular Non-Releasing Additives for Commercial Polyolefins

Four comonomers bearing a highly efficient phenolic antioxidant unit and different distance between the antioxidant moiety and the double bond have been prepared and tested in co-polymerization with ethylene by means of three selected metallocene based catalysts. The possibility to obtain a masterbach suitable for melt blending with commercial polyolefins has been evaluated by modifying: i) the structure of the functionalized comonomer, ii) the kind of catalyst, iii) the polymerization conditions. The pair rac-[Me₂Si-(2-Me-4,5-BenzInd)₂]ZrCl₂ catalyst and comonomer with the longest spacer (8 methylene units) allowed the highest comonomer incorporation, while with rac-(EBTHI)ZrCl₂ catalyst the highest polymerization activity was observed. TGA analysis has been carried out on some of the copolymers in order to investigate the influence of type and amount of the comonomer on their thermal stability and to test the efficiency of the antioxidant group both in nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere.     

A new synthetic route to borane‐terminated isotactic polypropylenes via styrene/hydrogen consecutive chain transfer reaction

This paper discusses a new process of preparing borane‐terminated isotactic polypropylenes (i‐PPs) via in situ chain transfer reaction, which avoids the use of B‐H‐containing chain transfer agent and thus can be carried out with Al‐activated metallocene catalyst under mild reaction conditions. The chemistry centers on a consecutive chain transfer reaction, first to a trialkylborane‐containing styrene derivative, 4‐[B‐(n‐butylene)‐9‐BBN]styrene (B‐styrene), then to hydrogen in the isoselective polymerization of propylene catalyzed by rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO. The borane‐terminated i‐PP thus obtained keeps the desired properties of a polymeric alkyl‐9‐BBN reagent and was used to initiate radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) to prepare i‐PP‐b‐PMMA diblock copolymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 539–548, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of ethylene‐propylene‐1‐pentene terpolymers

Ethylene (E), propylene (P), and 1‐pentene (A) terpolymers differing in monomer composition ratio were produced, using the metallocenes rac‐ethylene bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO), isopropyl bis(cyclopentadienyl)fluorenyl zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂/MAO, and bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, supported on silica impregnated with MAO (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/SiO₂/MAO) as catalytic systems. The catalytic activities at 25 °C and normal pressure were compared. The best result was obtained with the first catalyst. A detailed study of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, triad sequences distributions, monomer‐average sequence lengths, and reactivity ratios for the terpolymers is presented. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 947–957, 2008     

Insights into propylene/ω‐halo‐α‐alkenes copolymerization promoted by rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 and (pyridyl‐amido)hafnium catalysts

This article discussed the root causes of the interesting differences between rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and dimethyl (pyridyl‐amido)hafnium in catalyzing the propylene/ω‐halo‐α‐alkene copolymerization. Confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the larger spacial opening around the active center of rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ contributes to the coordination and insertion of the monomers, resulting in the higher catalytic activity, while the narrow spacial opening around the Hf center retards the chain transfer reaction, leading to the much higher molecular weights (M_ws) of the copolymers. The superior tolerability of Zr catalyst toward halogen groups might be attributed to that the dormant species generated from halogen coordination could be promptly reactivated. DFT calculations indicated the higher probability for the ω‐halo‐α‐alkene vinyl to coordinate with the Hf catalyst leading to the better ability to incorporate halogenated monomers. The high M_ws and the outstanding isotacticity achieved by the Hf catalyst determined the higher melting temperature values of the copolymers with a certain amount of halogen groups. In addition, the chain transfer schemes were employed to analyze why the presence of halogenated monomers greatly decreased the M_ws of the copolymers when rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ was used, while had no or little effect upon the M_ws in the copolymerization by the Hf catalyst. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3421–3428     

Copolymerization of propylene with various higher α‐olefins using silica‐supported rac‐Me2Si(Ind)2ZrCl2

The copolymerization of propylene with 1‐hexene, 1‐octene, 1‐decene, and 1‐dodecene was carried out with silica‐supported rac‐Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ as a catalyst. The copolymerization activities of the homogeneous and supported catalysts and the microstructures of the resulting copolymers were compared. The activity of the supported catalyst was only one‐half to one‐eighth of that of the homogeneous catalyst, depending on the comonomer type. The supported catalyst copolymerized more comonomer into the polymer chain than the homogeneous catalyst at the same monomer feed ratio. Data of reactivity ratios showed that the depression in the activity of propylene instead of an enhancement in the activity of olefinic comonomer was responsible for this phenomenon. We also found that copolymerization with α‐olefins and supporting the metallocene on a carrier improved the stereoregularity and regioregularity of the copolymers. The melting temperature of all the copolymers decreased linearly with growing comonomer content, regardless of the comonomer type and catalyst system. Low mobility of the propagation chain in the supported catalyst was suggested as the reason for the different polymerization behaviors of the supported catalyst with the homogeneous system. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3294–3303, 2001     

Isospecific Polymerization of Propylene By ansa-Zirconocene Diamide Compound Cocatalyzed by Mao

Abstract

The kinetics of propylene polymerization initiated by racemic ethylene-1,2-bis(1-indenyl) zirconium bis(dimethylamide) [rac-(EBI) Zr(NMe₂)₂(rac-1)] cocatalyzed by methylaluminoxane (MAO) were studied. The polymerization behaviors of rac-1/MAO catalyst investigated by changing various experimental parameters are quite different from those of rac-(EBI) ZrCl₂ (rac-2)/MAO catalyst, due to the differences in the generation procedure of cationic actives species of each metallocene by the reaction with MAO. The activity of rac-1/MAO catalyst showed maximum when [Al]/[Zr] is around 2000, when [Zr] is 137.1 μM, and when polymerization temperature is 30°C. The negligible activity of rac-1/MAO catalyst at a very low MAO concentration seems to be caused by the instability of the cationic active species. The meso pentad values of polymers produced by rac-1/MAO catalyst at 30°C are in the range of 82.8% to 89.7%. The rac-1/MAO catalyst lost stereorigid character at the polymerization temperature above 60°C. The molecular weight of polymer decreased as [Al]/[Zr] ratio, polymerization temperature, and [Zr] increased. The molecular weight distributions of all polymers are in the range of 1.8–2.3, demonstrating uniform active species present in the polymerization system.     

Investigation of the microstructure of poly(propylene) in dependence of the polymerization temperature for the systems iPr[3‐RCpFlu]ZrCl2/MAO,with R = H,Me, Et,iPr, tBu,and iPr[IndFlu]ZrCl2/MAO

With six different metallocenes, namely ⁱPr[CpFlu]ZrCl₂ I , ⁱPr[3‐MeCpFlu]ZrCl₂ II , ⁱPr[3‐EtCpFlu]ZrCl₂ III , ⁱPr[3‐ⁱPrCpFlu]ZrCl₂ IV , ⁱPr[IndFlu]ZrCl₂ V and ⁱPr[3‐^tBuCpFlu]ZrCl₂ VI propene polymerizations were carried out at different polymerization temperatures. MAO was used as a cocatalyst for all polymerizations. In case of metallocenes II, III and IV an increase in isotacticity with increasing polymerization temperature was observed. This is due to the increased rotation and, as a consequence, to the increased steric demand of the substituent at the cyclopentadienyl residue. With metallocene V a catalyst of in principle the same type was synthesized, but rotation of the substituent is not possible. Here, in the contrary, the assumed effect was observed, that the stereospecificity of the metallocene decreases, while raising the polymerization temperature. In metallocene I there is no rotatory substituent at the cyclopentadienyl residue and therefore a more stereoirregular polymer is formed at higher polymerization temperatures. Metallocene VI produces poly(propylene) with slightly increased isotacticity at higher polymerization temperature.     

Isospecific Bulk Polymerization of Propylene with the Use of ansa-Metallocenes as a Mixture of rac and meso Isomers

The effects of various pathways of the formation of catalytic systems based on the rac-Me₂SiInd₂ZrCl₂ metallocene on the activity and properties of polypropylene prepared by the bulk polymerization of propylene were studied in detail. It was found that the conditions of formation of the catalytic system affect not only its activity and the character of kinetic curves but also the molecular weight of the synthesized polymer. Propylene polymerization was studied with the use of a number of bisindenyl derivatives of zirconium, which were mixtures of rac and meso forms that differ in the nature of substituents in the Si bridge or the indenyl ligand. The conclusion was drawn that, with the use of metallocenes as a mixture of rac and meso forms, high-molecular-weight isotactic polypropylene can be prepared with high stereoregularity at a very high rate; thereby, the stage of separation of a pure rac isomer can be excluded in the synthesis of the catalyst.     

Copolymerization of Ethylene and Propylene Using Silicon Tetrachloride‐Modified Silica/MAO with Et[Ind]2ZrCl2 Metallocene Catalyst

For the copolymerization of ethylene with propylene or a higher α‐olefin, using Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ metallocene catalyst, modification of silica with silicon tetrachloride prior to MAO adsorption can increase the activity, which is more pronounced for ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization at higher pressure and temperature. The molecular weight of the copolymer produced was lower and the polydispersity tends to be decreased. No significant effect of SiCl₄ addition on the microstructure and the chemical composition distribution of the copolymer produced was observed.