Copolymerization of ethylene and butadiene with supported titanium catalyst

The copolymerization of ethylene and butadiene with a supported titanium catalyst (TiCl₄/MgCl₂/EB/Φ₂SiCl₂/AlEt₃) is described. The resulting products were characterized by IR, ¹³C-NMR, x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, electron microscopy, and solvent extraction. It was found that the butadiene units are substantially in trans-1,4 configuration and blocked sequences. Both ethylene and butadiene blocks form crystalline phases. The presence of unsaturated bonds made it possible to graft MMA and maleic anhydride. The influences of monomer composition, temperature, Al/Ti ratio, catalyst concentration, and solvents on the copolymerization were investigated.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XX. Monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-, 3-, and 4-octenes with Ziegler–Natta catalyst

A study of the monomer isomerization polymerization of 2-, 3-, and 4-octenes has been made with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst at 80°C in comparison with the ordinary polymerization of 1-octene. It was found that all these octenes underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization to give high-molecular-weight homopolymer consisting exclusively of the 1-octene unit. The addition of an isomerization catalyst such as nickel acetylacetonate accelerated this polymerization. The rates of polymerization were found to decrease in the following order: 1-octene > 2-octene > 3-octene > 4-octene. These results indicate that the isomerization proceeded by a stepwise double-bond migration. It was also found that the monomer-isomerization copolymerization of 2-octene and 2-butene occurred under similar conditions and produced copolymers of both 1-olefin units.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XXIII.. Monomer-isomerization polymerization of 5-phenyl-2-pentene with ziegler–natta catalysts

5-Phenyl-2-pentene (5Ph2P) was found to undergo monomer-isomerization polymerization with TiCl₃–R₃Al (R = C₂H₅ or i-C₄H₉, Al/Ti > 2) catalysts to give a polymer consisting of exclusively 5-phenyl-1-pentene (5Ph1P) unit. The geometric and positional isomerizations of 5Ph2P to its terminal and other internal isomers were observed to occur during polymerization. The catalyst activity of alkylaluminum examined to TiCl₃ was in the following order: (C₂H₅)₃Al > (i-C₄H₉)₃Al > (C₂H₅)₂AlCl. The rate of monomer-isomerization polymerization of 5Ph2P with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst was influenced by both the Al/Ti molar ratio and the addition of nickel acetylacetonate [Ni(acac)₂], and the maximum rate was observed at Al/Ti = 2.0 and Ni/Ti = 0.4 in molar ratios.     

Anionic Polymerization and Copolymerization of Hydrocarbon Monomers Catalyzed by Organobarium Initiators

The barium salt of the dimeric dianion of 1,1-diphenylethylene (Ba-DPhE) initiates polymerization and copolymerization of monomers capable of anionic polymerization (butadiene, isoprene, styrene) in ethereal and hydrocarbon solvents. Ba-DPhE is more stereospecific in butadiene polymerization (up to 70% of cis-1, 4-units in hydrocarbon medium) than initiators based on other metals of Groups I and II. The relative reactivity of monomers in copolymerization processes in THF decreases in an order typical for anionic polymerization: styrene > butadiene > isoprene. The most interesting feature of organobarium initiators is their ability to form random butadiene-styrene copolymers with high cis-1,4-butadiene unit content when copolymerization proceeds in a hydrocarbon medium.

A new phenomenon in anionic polymerization, the dependence of diene units structure on copolymer composition, was observed. Thus an increase of styrene content in butadienestyrene copolymer leads to conversion of cis-1,4-butadiene units into trans-1,4-units (in benzene) or to conversion of 1,4-units to 1,2-units (in THF). Similarly, an increase of butadiene content in its copolymer with isoprene (in benzene) leads to conversion of cis-1,4-isoprene units into trans-1,4-units.

Spectrophotometric, conductometric, and viscometric methods were used to study organobarium active centers. Certain anomalies connected with the formation of specific aggregates due to coupling of bifunctional hydrocarbon chains with bivalent counterions were observed.     

Alternating copolymer of butadiene and ethylene. I. Copolymerization by TiCl4–R3Al catalyst systems

Alternating copolymerization of butadiene and ethylene was investigated by the TiCl₄?R₃Al system as catalyst with the use of toluene solutions of monomers of various compositions or by introducing a 1:1 gaseous mixture of both monomers into the reaction system. It was found that the copolymer composition is much influenced by the monomer composition or by the flow rate of monomer. Copolymers containing sequences of alternating monomer arrangement are formed by the polymerization of a monomer mixture having a butadiene: ethylene ratio of 4:1. A suitable catalyst for the alternating copolymerization was found to consist of R₃Al?TiCl₄ at a ratio of 2. The addition of amine was found to modify the catalyst to favor the alternating copolymerization but was accompanied by a decrease in catalyst activity.     

Butyllithium Polymerization of Butadiene. II. Effects of Solvent and Temperature on Association of Polybutatadienyl Lithium

Abstract

In the butyllithium polymerization of butadiene in aliphatic solvents at 25°C, the first few monomer units are incorporated largely in a 1, 2 manner. With increasing degree of polymerization the extent of 1, 2 addition decreases to a limiting value of about 10% at a degree of polymerization of about 50. However, within this region of high 1, 2-addition increasing solvent basicity, i.e., changing from aliphatic to aromatic solvents, markedly reduces extent of 1, 2 addition and also narrows the molecular weight distribution. Further, in aliphatic solvents, increasing polymerization temperature from 25 to 60°C also results in a marked reduction in 1, 2 addition. These results are consistent with the concept that an ion pair of the associated organolithium complex, [R (_n-1 Li_n] ⊕R?, is the active polymerization species and that changes in mode of monomer incorporation are due to changes in the degree of association of the entire organolithium system.     

1,4 polymerization of isoprene by titanate catalyst systems

Titanates are versatile in the 1,4 polymerization of isoprene. The (R′O)₄Ti/RAlCl₂ catalyst gives either cis- or trans-1,4-polyisoprene, depending on the nature of both the titanate and the solvent. Primary titanates give cis-1,4-polyisoprene in both aliphatic and aromatic solvents. Secondary titanates give cis-polyisoprene in aliphatic solvents, and trans-1,4-polyisoprene in aromatic solvents. Tertiary titanates give trans-polyisoprene in both aliphatic and aromatic solvents. A mechanism is postulated which takes into consideration the role of the solvent. ESR studies of the various titanate–RAlCl₂ catalysts were made; the paramagnetic structures are related to polymerization mechanisms.     

钛系Ziegler催化剂合成1,2-聚丁二烯的聚合动力学

研究了Ti(n-C_4H_9O)_(4-x)Cl_x-Al(i-C_4H_9)_3体系当x不同时,在已烷中催化丁二烯聚合的动力学特征和规律.测得聚合速率和表观活化能均随体系中氯含量增大而降低.在Al/Ti=15-90(摩尔比)范围,聚合速率对单体和钛化合物浓度均为一级反应,而受烷基铝浓度影响较小.催化剂的利用率仅为0.5-1.5％左右,随体系氯含量增大略有提高,但相应的增长速率常数却大为减小,因此聚合速率仍随氯含量增大而降低.     

Initiation and propagation steps in the equibinary polymerization of butadiene by bis(h3-allylnickel trifluoroacetate)

Polymerization of butadiene by bis(h³-allylnickel trifluoroacetate) in benzene and o-dichlorobenzene solvents yields an equibinary 1,4-polybutadiene, containing equal amounts of cis and trans isomers. Initiation proceeds by addition of the allylic moiety of the initiator to a butadiene molecule. The rate of initiation is high enough to ensure complete consumption of the catalyst for a monomer/catalyst molar ratio of about 10 at 5°C. The propagation exhibits the characteristics of a “living” polymerization: the molecular weight is proportional to the conversion, and at the end of the reaction, the average degree of polymerization is equal to the monomer/catalyst molar ratio. Living polybutadienyl-nickel trifluoroacetate is able to reinitiate not only butadiene polymerization but also allene polymerization. However, for high [monomer]/[catalyst] ratios, conversion-dependent transfer reactions limit the molecular weight to 7000 in benzene and to 70,000 in bulk polymerization in the presence of small amounts of o-dichlorobenzene.     

Reactions Between AIRCl2 and Ti (OR)4 and Activity in Diolefin Polymerization

Through the use of a Ti(OR′)₄-AlRCl₂ catalyst system, high 1,4-cis isoprene polymers and crystalline 1,4-trans polybutadiene are obtained. Neither monomer is polymerized at a Al/Ti mole ratio of less than 4. The maximum activity and stereospecificity for isoprene is observed at Al/Ti = 4. For 1,4-trans butadiene polymers the activity increases progressively with increasing Al/Ti ratio. The investigations carried out on this catalyst system show that at a AI/Ti mole ratio of 4 the formation of crystalline β-TiCl₃ takes place, while at lower ratios insoluble chloro-alkoxide derivatives of Ti^III with different compositions separate. Soluble complexes containing aluminium and titanium are initially formed before precipitation occurs. Chemical data and investigations by IR and NMR spectroscopy indicate exchange reactions between Al-Cl, Al-R, and Ti-OR groups, together with reduction of the transition metal. A reaction mechanism and a hypothesis on the nature of the active catalyst are given.     

A New View of the Anionic Diene Polymerization Mechanism

We investigated the anionic polymerization of butadiene in d-heptane solvent using tert-butyl lithium as initiator. Two complementary techniques were used to follow the polymerization processes: ¹H NMR and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The time resolved ¹H NMR measurements allowed us to evaluate quantitatively the kinetics of the processes involved. The initiation event commences slowly and then progressively accelerates. This indicates an autocatalytic mechanism. The microstructure of the first monomer units attached is to a high extent 1,2. The disappearance of initiator --- at about 10% monomer conversion --- signals the onset of the normal ∼6% vinyl content of the chain. Small angle neutron scattering was used to study the aggregation behavior of the carbon lithium head groups. It is well known that the polar head groups aggregate and form micellar structures. For dienes in non-polar solvents the textbook mechanism assumes the formation of only tetramers during the propagation reaction. By combining ¹H NMR and SANS results we were able to determine quantitatively the aggregation number during all stages of the polymerization. Our measurements show the existence of large-scale structures during the initiation period. The initial degree of aggregation of more than 100 living polymer chains diminished as the polymerization progressed. In addition, even larger, giant structures with N_agg >>1000 and R_g ≈ 1000Å were found.     

Titanium‐mediated living radical styrene polymerizations. V. Cp2TiCl‐catalyzed initiation by epoxide radical ring opening: Effect of solvents and additives

The effects of solvents, additives, ligands, and solvent in situ drying agents as well as catalyst and initiator concentrations have been investigated in the Cp₂TiCl‐catalyzed radical polymerization of styrene initiated by epoxide radical ring opening. On the basis of the solubilization of Cp₂Ti(III)Cl and the polydispersity of the resulting polymer, the solvents rank as follows: dioxane ≥ tetrahydrofuran > diethylene glycol dimethyl ether > methoxybenzene > diphenyl ether ≥ bulk > toluene ? pyridine > dimethylformamide > 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone > dimethylacetamide > ethylene carbonate, acetonitrile, and trioxane. Alkoxide additives such as aluminum triisopropoxide and titanium(IV) isopropoxide are involved in alkoxide ligand exchange with the epoxide‐derived titanium alkoxide and lead to broad molecular weight distributions, whereas similarly to strongly coordinating solvents, ligands such as bipyridyl block the titanium active site and prevent the polymerization. By contrast, softer ligands such as triphenylphosphine improve the polymerization in less polar solvents such as toluene. Although mixed hydrides such as lithium tri‐tert‐butoxyaluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, and lithium aluminum hydride react with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride to form mixed titanium hydride species ineffective in polymerization control, simple hydrides such as lithium hydride, sodium hydride, and especially calcium hydride are particularly effective as in situ trace water scavengers in this polymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2015–2026, 2006     

Copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene and styrene with a neodymium catalyst

Homo- and copolymerization of butadiene and styrene in the presence of the catalyst system Nd(octanoate)₃/CCl₄/Al(iBu)₃ (iBu: isobutyl) were investigated at 60°C in heptane as solvent. The initiating catalyst system is very effective in the polymerization of butadiene. However, the presented copolymerization of butadiene and styrene is only practicable when using a special addition order of the catalyst components and a prescribed ageing phase. Copolymers obtained from various monomer feed ratios were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). The copolymer characteristics especially microstructure, molar mass and molar-mass distribution (MMD) are strongly dependent on the composition of the monomer mixture.     

Polymérisation anionique amorcée par les composés lamellaires du graphite et du lithium

In the present work, we use the binary insertion compound LiC₁₂ to polymerize styrene, methyl methacrylate, butadiene, isoprene, and to copolymerize isoprene and styrene in various hydrocarbon solvents (aromatics and aliphatic) and etheral solvents. We show that the styrene polymerization in aromatic solvents gives better yields than in the etheral solvents, the polymer being atactic. Methyl methacrylate does not polymerize in toluene but does so completely in DME. More generally, the yields of polymerization are better with KC₃₇ than with LiC₁₂ because of the different capacities of the monomer to get into the carbon layers. The polymerization of dienes with LiC₁₂ shows that the microstructures of the polymer obtained in π-or n-donor solvents are similar to the ones obtained by homogenous polymerization with Li cation in such solvents. However, for isoprene in cyclohexane, the results are different. The isoprene styrene copolymers are statistical ones and the mean length of styrene blocks is less than 5. The monomer interaction with the insertion compound and the growing chain geometry between the carbon layers are the facts which control either the stereospecificity of the polymerization or the selectivity of the copolymerization.     

New information on the alternating copolymerization of butadiene-1,3 with acrylonitrile

Butadiene-1,3 and acrylonitrile were copolymerized by alkylaluminum halides alone or, more effectively, by the alkylaluminum halide/vanadium compound systems, into an alternating copolymer in which the butadiene units are linked predominantly in the trans-1,4 configuration. The efficiency of the aluminum components in the latter catalyst systems appear to decrease in the following order: AlEtCl₂ > Al₂Et₃Cl₃ ? AlEt₂Cl(?AlCl₃). The alkylaluminum halides could also be used effectually in the form of the complex with acrylonitrile. The catalytic activity was markedly affected by the order of mixing of the catalyst components and the monomers. Effective catalysts could be prepared only when the catalyst components were mixed in the presence of acrylonitrile. The catalyst activity was also found to depend upon the Al/V ratio, reaching its maximum when the ratio was about 20 in the AlEtCl₂·AN/VO(Ot-Bu)₃ system. Other combinations of conjugated diene with conjugated polar vinyl monomer were similarly copolymerized by these catalysts. It was found that different feed ratios between the diene and the vinyl monomer which were varied over a wide range always resulted in the formation of a 1:1 copolymer. The butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer thus formed gave an NMR spectrum in which there was only one peak assignable to the methylene protons (7.72 τ) of the butadiene unit. On the basis of these findings, it may be suggested that alternating copolymerization prevails in the polymerization systems here investigated.     

Macrocyclic Polyether Phase Transfer Catalysts for Free Radical Polymerization of Acrolein

Macrocyclic polyethers, e.g., crown ethers and cryptands, were prepared and employed as phase transfer catalysts for free radical polymerization of acrolein, a vinyl monomer, with persulfates (S₂O₈^2–) as initiators. The catalytic abilities of various macrocyclic polyethers as catalysts for the free radical polymerization of acrolein were found to be in the order: benzo‐15‐crown‐5 > dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 > 12‐crown‐4 > 15‐crown‐5 > 18‐crown‐6 > cryptand‐22 with sodium persulfate (Na₂S₂O₈) as initiator. Sodium persulfate proved to be a better initiator than ammonium persulfate or potassium persulfate with benzo‐15‐crown‐5 as a catalyst. Effects of solvents and temperature on the catalytic polymerization were also investigated. The polymerization rates in various solvents were in the order: dioxane > benzene > acetonitrile > acetone > dichloromethane > hexane > water. Comparison between bulk polymerization and solution polymerization was also made. Higher polymerization rate was observed at higher temperature. The molecular weights of polyacrolein and the conversion of monomer in reaction period were determined with gel permeation chromatography and ultra‐violet spectrophotometry, respectively. Concentration effects of crown ether and initiator were also investigated and discussed.     

Kinetics of propylene polymerization in the initial acceleration stage

The kinetics of propylene polymerization catalyzed over a superactive and stereospecific catalyst for the initial build-up period was investigated in slurry-phase. The catalyst was prepared from Mg(OEt)₂/benzoyl chloride/TiCl₄ co-activated with AlEt₃ in the absence or presence of external donor. Despite a very fast activation of the prepared catalyst the acceleration stage of polymerization could be identified by the precise estimation of polymerization kinetics for a very short period of time after the commencement of polymerization (ca. 2 min). The initial polymerization rate, (dR_p/dt)₀ extrapolated to the beginning of the polymerization was second order with respect to monomer concentration. The dependence of initial polymerization rate on the concentration of AlEt₃ could be represented by Langmuir adsorption mechanism. The initial rate was maximum at about Al/Ti ratio of 20. The activation energy for the initiation reaction was estimated to be 14.3 kcal/mol for a short-time polymerization. The addition of a small amount of p-ethoxy ethyl benzoate (PEEB) as an external donor increased the percentage of isotactic polymer, which was obtained after 120 s of polymerization, to 98% and the initial polymerization rate decreased sharply as [PEEB]/[AlEt₃] increased. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene. I. Tetrabenzyl titanium/methylaluminoxane catalyst

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene (S) was catalyzed by Bz₄Ti/MAO (tetrabenzyltitanium/methylaluminoxane). The product was separated into syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) and atactic polystyrene (a-PS) by extraction of the latter with boiling 2-butanone. Over the broad range of catalyst concentrations, compositions, and polymerization temperatures, the catalytic activity is 150 ± 80kg PS (mol Ti mo S h)^?1 with 89 ± 5% yield of s-PS (SY). The concentration of active species has been determined by radiolabeling. Only about 1.7% of Bz₄Ti initiates syndiospecific polymerization at 60°C with values of rate constants for propagation and for chain transfer to MAO of 1.38 (M s)^?1 and 5.2 × 10^?4s^?1, respectively. Nonspecific polymerization was initiated by 16.8% of the Ti having values of 0.056 (M s)^?1 and 6.5 × 10^?4 s^?1 for the rate constants of propagation and transfer, respectively. The effect of solvent polarity on the polymerization was studied using toluene mixed with chlorobenzene of o-dichlorobenzene as solvents. An increase of effective dielectric constant from 2.43 to 5.92 reduces the polymerization activity by a factor of two and lowers SY to mere 39%. In 1 : 1 toluene/chlorobenzene solvent mixture, it was found that 1.3% and 26% of the Bz₄Ti initiate syndiospecific and nonspecific polymerizations of styrene, respectively. The Bz₄Ti/MAO catalyst is poor in both productivity and stereoselectivity.     

Electron spin resonance study on polymerization of conjugated dienes by homogeneous catalyst derived from n-butyl titanate and triethylaluminum

Polymerizations of butadiene, penta-1,3-diene, and isoprene with n-butyl titanate–triethylaluminum catalyst are examined by ESR measurements on the polymerization state. At Al/Ti molar ratios greater than 2.9 where the conjugated dienes are polymerized, the polymerization system of butadiene always gives an ESR signal with a g value of 1.983 and with a hyperfine structure of about 19 components. This signal does not appear at all, even in the presence of the monomer, at Al/Ti molar ratios smaller than two where butadiene is not polymerized. The absorption intensity of the signal coincides fairly well with the concentration of polymer chain calculated from polymer yield and the molecular weight. On the basis of these facts, the signal is assigned to the growing end of polybutadiene with this catalyst. The structure of the growing end is proposed to have both two substituted π-allyl groups and an alkoxy group in coordination to titanium (III), by analysis of the hyperfine structure. The polymerization system of penta-1,3-diene and that of isoprene respectively, give a new signal with a g value of 1.983, although the signal for the former monomer has a hyperfine structure of 11 components and that for the latter monomer has no hyperfine structure. A structure for the growing end in the polymerization of each of these two monomers analogous to that of the growing end of polybutadiene is proposed.     

Synthesizing UHMWPE Using Ziegler-Natta Catalyst System of MgCl2(ethoxide type)/ TiCl4/tri-isobutylaluminum

Summery: A Ziegler-Natta catalyst of MgCl₂ (ethoxide type)/TiCl₄ has been synthesized. In order to obtain ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tri-isobutylaluminum which is less active to chain transfer was used as cocatalyst. Slurry polymerization was carried out for the polymerization of ethylene while, dilute solution viscometry was performed for the viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) measurement. The effect of [Al]/[Ti] molar ratio, temperature, monomer pressure and polymerization time on the Mv and productivity of the catalyst have been investigated. The results showed increasing [Al]/[Ti] ratio in the range of 78–117, decreased the Mv of the obtained polymer from 7.8 × 10⁶ to 3.7 × 10⁶ however, further increase of the ratio, resulted in decreased of by much slower rate up to [Al]/[Ti] = 588. The higher pressure in the range of 1–7 bars showed the higher the Mv of the polymer obtained, while increasing temperature in the range of 50 to 90 °C decreased the Mv from 9.3 × 10⁶ to 3.7 × 10⁶. The Mv rapidly increase with polymerization time in the first 15 minutes of the reaction, this increase was slowly up to the end of the reaction (120 min). Increasing [Al]/[Ti] ratio raised productivity of the catalyst in the range studied. Rising reaction temperature from 50 to 75 °C increased the productivity of the catalyst however, further increase in the temperature up to the 90 °C decreased activity of the catalyst. Monomer pressure in the range 1 to 7 bars yields higher productivity of the catalyst. Also by varying polymerization conditions synthesizing of UHMWPE with Mv in the range of 3 × 10⁶ to 9 × 10⁶ was feasible.