Effect of π-donor in unbridged metallocene catalyst for propylene polymerization

A new unbridged metallocene catalyst bis(2,4-dimethyl-7-methoxyindenyl) zirconium dichloride was synthesized and polymerization of propylene was carried out with this catalyst and the results are compared with bis(2,4,7-trimethylindenyl) zirconium dichloride. The presence of π-donor substitutent on the indenyl ring led to a decrease in catalytic activity of the catalyst as well as the resulting molecular weight of the polymer as compared to its tri-alkyl substituted congener. The methoxy group deactivates the catalyst and also suppresses the favorable effect of other methyl substituents present in the indenyl ligand.     

Composition distribution of ethylene or propylene–norbornene copolymers obtained with zirconocene catalysts

Copolymerization of ethylene or propylene and norbornene (NB) was carried out with stereospecific zirconocene catalysts rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride, rac‐dimethylsilylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 2 ), rac‐dimethylsilylenebis(2‐methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride, and diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(9‐fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride combined with cocatalysts at 40 °C. Temperature‐rising elution fractionation of the copolymers was carried out with cross‐fractionation chromatography with o‐dichlorobenzene as a solvent, and a broad distribution of the copolymer composition was detected. The fraction eluted at lower temperature contained higher NB. The effect of the polymerization time was examined in the ethylene–NB copolymerization with catalyst 2 , and the higher‐temperature elution fraction increased with increasing polymerization time. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 441–448, 2003     

STEREOCHEMICAL CONTROL IN PROPYLENE POLYMERIZATION CATALYZED BY UNBRIDGED METALLOCENE CATALYSTS*

Two unbridged metallocene catalysts, bis (2, 4, 7-trimethylindenyl)zirconium dichloride (met-I) and bis(2, 4, 6-trimethylindenyl) zirconium dichloride (met-II), which are different in the position o f substituents on the six-membered ringof the indenyl ligands were synthesized. The effect of substituents in the two metallocenes on the propylene polymerizationwas studied in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) and triisobutylaluminium (TIBA). From the analysis ofmicrostructure determined by ~(13)C-NMR, it was demonstrated that the polymers produced by met-II have higher [mmmm]isotactic sequences than that of met-I. Using a mechanism based on model statistical analysis, it was found that chain-endmodel was dominant for met-I. However, met-II obeys the concurrent two-sites model during polymerization, which can beattributed to the existence of "racemic-like" conformer in its system.     

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     

Long‐chain‐branched polyethene by the copolymerization of ethene and nonconjugated α,ω‐dienes

Ethene was copolymerized (1) with 1,5‐hexadiene with rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (MAO) used as a catalyst and (2) with 1,7‐octadiene with bis(n‐butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO and rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)hafnium dichloride (Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂)/MAO used as catalysts at 80 °C in toluene. The copolymer microstructure and the influence of diene incorporation on the rheological properties were examined. Ethene and 1,5‐hexadiene formed a copolymer in which a major fraction of the 1,5‐hexadiene was incorporated into rings and a small fraction formed 1‐butenyl branches. The copolymerization of ethene with 1,7‐octadiene resulted in a higher selectivity toward branch formation. Some of the branches formed long‐chain‐branching (LCB) structures. The ring formation selectivity increased with decreasing ethene concentration in the polymerization reactor. Melt rheological properties of the diene copolymers resembled those of metallocene‐catalyzed LCB homopolyethenes and depended on the vinyl content, the catalyst, and the polymerization conditions. At high diene contents, all three catalysts produced crosslinked polyethene. This was especially pronounced with Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂, where only 0.2 mol % 1,7‐octadiene in the copolymer was required to achieve significantly modified rheological properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3805–3817, 2001     

Synthesis, structure, and ethene polymerisation catalysis of 1- or 2-silyl substituted bis[indenyl]zirconium(IV) dichlorides

The systematic syntheses of 1- and 2-substituted silylindenes, with a wide variety of substitution patterns on the silyl moiety, and their corresponding zirconocene dichlorides are presented. The rac- and meso-diastereomers of the 1-substituted zirconocene dichlorides can in most cases be separated. Instable zirconocenes were observed for certain substitution patterns. Two of the obtained zirconocene dichlorides, bis[2-(dimethylsilyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride (4a) and bis[2-(trimethylsilyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride (4b), were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. On the basis of DFT results, the two compounds are geometrically similar, i.e. the additional methyl group on the silyl moiety only affects the conformational energy profile. Differences in their catalyst performance in the homopolymerisation studies with ethane are thus attributed to conformational control. For the remaining complexes, sterically less demanding silyl groups seem to be favoured with respect to the catalyst performance. All the 2-isomers have lower polymerisation activities than the unsubstituted bis[indenyl]zirconium dichloride/MAO system. Curiously, the rac-bis[1-(dimethylphenylsilyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride/MAO system is found to be the most active catalyst in ethene homopolymerisations.     

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.     

Olefin copolymerization with metallocene catalysts. I. Comparison of catalysts

A number of metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysts have been compared for ethylene/propylene copolymerizations to find relationship between the polymerization activities, copolymer structures, and copolymerization reactivity ratio with the catalyst structures. Stereorigid racemic ethylene bis (indenyl) zirconium dichloride and the tetrahydro derivative exhibit very high activity of 10 ⁷ g (mol Zr h bar)^?1, giving copolymers having comonomer compositions about the same as the feed compositions, molecular weights increasing with the increase of ethylene in the feed, random incorporation of comonomers, and narrow molecular weight distribution indicative of a single catalytic species. Nonbridged bis (indenyl) zirconium behaved differently, favoring the incorporation of ethylene over propylene, producing copolymers whose molecular weight decreases with the increase of ethylene in the feed, broad molecular weight distribution, and a methanol soluble fraction. This catalyst system contains two or more active species. Simple methallocene catalysts have much lower polymerization activities. C_pTiCl₂/MAO produced copolymers with tendency toward alternation, whereas Cp₂HfCl₂/MAO gave copolymer containing short blocks of monomers.     

Amineborane dehydrogenation promoted by isolable zirconium sandwich, titanium sandwich and N(2) complexes

Catalytic dehydrogenation of R(2)NHBH(3) (R = Me, H) promoted by a family of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium and bis(indenyl)zirconium compounds is reported; structure-reactivity relationships as a function of cyclopentadienyl and indenyl substituents have been examined.     

Controlling molecular weight distributions of polyethylene by combining soluble metallocene/MAO catalysts

A critical look at the possibility of controlling the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polyolefins by combining metallocene/methylalumoxane (MAO) catalysts is offered. Catalysts investigated were bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride (Cp₂ZrCl₂), its titanium and hafnium analogues (Cp₂TiCl₂ and Cp₂HfCl₂), as well as rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride (Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂). As observed by other researchers, the MWD of polyethylene can be manipulated by combining soluble catalysts, which on their own produce polymer with narrow MWD but with different average molecular weights. Combined in slurry polymerization reactors, the catalysts in consideration produce ethylene homopolymer just as they would independently. Unimodal or bimodal MWDs can be obtained. This effect can be mimicked by blending polymers produced by the individual catalysts. We demonstrate how a variability in catalyst activity translates into a variability in MWD when mixing soluble catalysts in polymerization. Such a variability in MWD must be considered when setting goals for MWD control. We introduce a more quantitative approach to controlling the MWD using this method. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 831–840, 1998     

Polymerization of ethene with zirconocene catalysts: an experimental and quantum chemical study of the influence of para-substituent in benzyl in bis{η-(1-benzyl)indenyl}zirconium dichlorides

The meso- and rac-like isomers of bis{η⁵-(1-benzyl)indenyl}zirconium dichloride (5), bis{η⁵-(1-para-methoxybenzyl)indenyl}zirconium dichloride (6), bis{η⁵-(1-para-fluoro-benzyl)indenyl}zirconium dichloride (7) and bis{η⁵-(1-phenylethyl)indenyl}zirconium dichloride (8) were synthesized and isolated. Solid-state structures of meso- and rac-like 5 were determined by X-ray structure analysis. Polymerization properties of the methylaluminoxane (MAO) activated diastereomers of complexes 5-8 were studied in ethene polymerizations under different monomer concentrations. The rac-like isomer of 1-phenylethyl-substituted 8/MAO showed significantly higher activity than the 1-benzyl substituted analogs 5-7/MAO. In addition, rac-8/MAO behaves like a single center catalyst producing polyethene with narrow molar mass distribution (1.8-1.9), while diastereomers of 5-7/MAO produce polymers with molar mass distributions varying from 2.7 up to 10.3. The rac and meso-like isomers of 5-7/MAO have different response on the monomer concentration. Quantum chemical calculations suggest a strong interaction between the benzyl substituent and the electron deficient zirconium center. The phenyl metal coordination energies depend on the electronic properties of the para-substituent. In 8/MAO, due to the ethyl spacer, the coordination does not have a significant role and therefore much higher activity and single center polymerization behavior is observed.     

Metallocene–methyl aluminoxane catalysts for olefin polymerization. VIII. Infrared spectra of anisotactic polypropylene

Polypropylenes obtained with the homogeneous racemic ethylene bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride/methyl-aluminoxane catalyst were fractionated by solvent extraction. The IR absorbance ratios, A₉₉₈/A₉₇₃ and A₈₄₁/A₉₇₃, were found to vary linearly with the homosteric sequence population, [m m m m] and [m m]. These results are compared with the results of a similar study by Burfield and Loi on commercial and laboratory polypropylenes of the conventional types.     

Polyethylene waxes by metallocenes

The syntheses of low‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (PE), in the presence of catalysts based on five different metallocene frameworks, have been compared. High yields and low molecular masses, typical of industrially relevant PE waxes, can be easily achieved by using overpressure of hydrogen. Particularly suitable for the production of PE waxes are catalytic systems based on the C₂ symmetric rac‐dimethyl‐silyl‐bis‐(2‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1‐indenyl)‐zirconium dichloride ( 1 ) and the C_2v symmetric bis‐cyclopentadienyl‐zirconium dichloride ( 5 ). The wax yields can be substantially increased by increasing the MAO/Zr molar ratio. The control of the PE molecular weight allows an easy control of physical properties. In fact, as M_n increases in the range 10³–10⁴ g/mol, the degree of crystallinity decreases from nearly 85 to 60% while the melting temperature increases from 125°C up to 135°C. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toward block copolymers from nonliving isospecific single‐site catalytic systems

Ethene/1‐olefin blocky copolymers were obtained through nonliving insertion copolymerizations promoted by an isospecific single site catalyst. Propene or 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene were copolymerized with ethene with metallocenes endowed with different stereospecificity in propene polymerization: (i) aspecific “constrained geometry” half‐sandwich complex, {η¹:η⁵‐([tert‐butyl‐amido)dimethylsilyl](2,3,4,5‐tetramethyl‐1‐cyclopentadienyl)}titanium dichloride [Me₂Si(Me₄Cp)(N‐^tBu)TiCl₂] ( CG ), (ii) moderately isospecific rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride [rac‐(EBI)ZrCl₂] ( EBI ), (iii) slightly more isospecific hydrogenated homologue, rac‐ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride [rac‐(EBTHI)ZrCl₂] ( EBTHI ), (iv) highly iso‐specific rac‐[methylenebis(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐indenyl)]zirconium dichloride [rac‐H₂C‐(3‐^tBuInd)₂ZrCl₂] ( TBI ), (v) most isospecific rac‐[isopropylidene‐bis(3‐tert‐butyl‐cyclopentadienyl)]zirconium dichloride [rac‐Me₂C‐(3‐^tBuCp)₂ZrCl₂] ( TBC ). Copolymerizations were described by a 2^nd order Markovian copolymerization model and data are proposed to correlate the formation of 1‐olefin sequences with catalytic site isospecificity, made by the cooperation of organometallic complex and growing chain. Blocky copolymers were prepared over wide ranges of compositions: with any of the isospecific metallocenes when 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene was the 1‐olefin and only with the highly isospecific ones ( TBI , TBC ) when propene was the comonomer. A penultimate unit effect was observed with TBI as the metallocene, whereas a 1^st order Markov model described the ethene/propene copolymerization from TBC . A moderately isospecific metallocene, such as EBI , is shown to be able to prepare blocky ethene copolymers with 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene. These results pave the way for the synthesis of new ethene based materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2063–2075, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of a silyl substituted bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride and comparison of its olefin polymerization behavior to a siloxy substituted analogue

The synthesis and characterization of rac‐[ethylenebis(1‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl)‐3‐indenyl)]zirconium dichloride ( 3 ) is reported. The silyl substituted 3 /MAO was compared to its siloxy substituted analogue ( 4 ) in ethylene homo‐ and in ethylene‐1‐hexene copolymerizations to elucidate the effect of the heteroatom on polymerization performance. The influence of monomer and cocatalyst concentration and the polymerization temperature was investigated. The oxygen between the indenyl ligand and the bulky tert‐butyldimethylsilyl group in the siloxy substituted 4 /MAO was found to have a positive influence on polymerization activity and copolymerization performance. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 127–133, 2001     

Zirconium-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination (ZACA reaction) of 1,4-dienes

Variously substituted 1,4-dienes containing a terminal vinyl (H₂CCH) group, readily undergo the ZACA reaction with Me₃Al and higher alkylalanes in a 1:1 molar ratio in the presence of a catalytic amount (1–5 mol %) of bis[(1-neomenthyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride in good yields and in good enantioselectivity (70–92% ee), thereby providing an efficient and convenient route to various alkene-containing chiral natural products. Only the reaction of the parent 1,4-pentadiene is accompanied by extensive racemization.     

Kinetics,polymer molecular weights,and microstructure in zirconocene‐catalyzed 1‐hexene polymerization

1‐Hexene was polymerized by rac‐(dimethylsilyl)bis(4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride catalyst and methylaluminoxane cocatalyst over the temperature range 0–100 °C. The polymerization rate, polymer molecular weight, and polymer microstructure (stereospecificity and regiospecificity) were studied as a function of the temperature and the concentrations of monomer, catalyst, and cocatalyst. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3802–3811, 2000     

Copolymerization of 3‐buten‐1‐ol and propylene with an isospecific zirconocene/methylaluminoxane catalyst

The copolymerization of propylene and 3‐buten‐1‐ol protected with alkylaluminum [trimethylaluminum (TMA) or triisobutylaluminum] was conducted with an isospecific zirconocene catalyst [rac‐dimethylsilylbis(1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride], combined with methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, in the presence of additional TMA or H₂ as the chain‐transfer reagent if necessary. The results indicated that end‐hydroxylated polypropylene was obtained in the presence of the chain‐transfer reagents because of the formation of dormant species after the insertion of the 3‐buten‐1‐ol‐based monomer followed by chain‐transfer reactions. The selectivity of the chain‐transfer reactions was influenced by the alkylaluminum protecting the comonomer and the catalyst structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5600–5607, 2004     

Facile synthetic route to polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizers for transition‐metal‐catalyzed olefin copolymerization

This work describes a facile method by which a polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizer, 4‐(10‐undecylidene)‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine, was prepared in a single‐step procedure by means of a Wittig reaction. The monomer was successfully copolymerized with ethylene with a rac‐[dimethylsilylenebis(4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1‐indenyl)]zirconium dichloride/methylalumoxane catalyst system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1350–1355, 2004     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of polyethylene containing pyrenyl units in the side chain

Copolymerization of ethylene and diallyl‐bis(pyren‐1‐yl)‐silane (APyS) was investigated with zirconocene catalysts, rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 1 ) and diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(9‐fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 2 ), using methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. APyS was copolymerized via both 1,2‐insertion and cyclization insertion, and cyclization selectivity, ratio of cyclized insertion unit, of APyS in the copolymers obtained with Catalyst 1 was higher than that obtained with Catalyst 2 . Catalyst 2 showed a higher reactivity for APyS than Catalyst 1 . Photophysical properties of the copolymer were investigated by UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and absorption and fluorescence derived from pyrenyl groups were detected in the copolymers. Chloroform solution of the copolymer showed emission derived from both monomer and eximer of pyrenyl units. Only the emission derived from eximer of pyrenyl units was observed in the cast film. The polarized PL spectrum of an oriented film showed anisotropy, and the polarization excitation parallel to the drawing direction showed high fluorescence intensity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012