Quasiliving Carbocationic Poiymerization. III. Quasiliving Polymerization of lsobutylene

The polymerization of isobutylene has been investigated by the use of the steady, slow, continuous monomer addition technique in the presence of a variety of initiating systems, i.e., “H₂O”/TiCl₄, “H₂O”/AlCl₃, C₆H₅C(CH₃)₂Cl/TiCl₄, p-ClCH₂ C₆(CH₃)₄* CH₂Cl/AlCl₃ at -50°C. Quasiliving polymerizations have been obtained with the “H₂O” and C₆H₅(CH₃)₂Cl/TiC1₄ systems in 60/40 v/v n-hexane/methylene chloride solvent mixtures with very slow monomer input. After a brief “flash” polymerization, the M _n of PIB increased linearly with the cumulative amount of monomer added (consumed); however, the number of polymer molecules formed also increased, indicating the presence of chain transfer to monomer. With the “H₂O”/TiCl₄ initiating system, M _n,max was 56,000 and M _w /M _n < 2.0. By the use of the C₆H₅C(CH₃)₂CL/TiCl₄ initiating system, quasiliving polymerization has been achieved and chain transfer could virtually be eliminated.     

Linear polybenzyls. III. Sterically assisted linear polymerization of 2,5-dimethylbenzyl chloride and α-methylbenzyl chloride

The low-temperature Friedel-Crafts step-growth polymerization reactions of 2,5-dimethylbenzyl chloride with TiCl₄—(C₂H₅)₂AlCl catalyst, and of α-methylbenzyl chloride with AlCl₃ catalyst were investigated for the effect of reaction conditions on polymer molecular weight, linearity, glass transition temperature, and crystalline properties. Premature precipitation of highly crystalline poly(2,5-dimethylbenzyl) prevented the preparation of high molecular weight products from this monomer, while most likely an indanyl-type termination reaction limited the molecular weight of poly(α-methylbenzyl). Model reactions indicated that, under proper conditions, the latter could be prepared with 99% para substitution, and these polymers were crystalline.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XXII.. Isomerization and polymerization of propenylbenzene with various ziegler–natta catalysts

The isomerization and polymerization of propenylbenzene (PB) with various Ziegler–Natta catalyst systems have been investigated. With the TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al (Al/Ti > 2.0) catalyst at 80°C, PB polymerized to give a polymer exclusively consisting of allylbenzene (AB) unit. During the polymerization, AB, which polymerized readily with the catalyst, was produced through isomerization of PB, indicating that PB underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization. PB also polymerized with isomerization to AB in the presence of TiCl₃?(C₂H₅)₂AlCl?NiCl₂ catalyst system, and a copolymer with PB and AB units was obtained. With TiCl₃?C₂H₅AlCl₂ catalyst, poly(PB) was formed via ordinary vinylene polymerization without isomerization. From these facts, it was concluded that the structure of the polymers produced from PB widely changed, depending on the catalyst systems used, which determine the rate of isomerization to AB and the polymerization reactivity of the PB and AB isomers formed.     

Monomer-Isomerization polymerization. XXVIII. Catalytic activity of transition metals and alkylaluminums in monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-butene

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of cis-2-butene (c2B) with Ziegler–Natta catalysts was studied to find a highly active catalyst. Among the transition metals [TiCl₃, TiCl₄, VCl₃, VOCl₃, and V (acac)₃] and alkylauminums used, TiCl₃? R₃Al (R = C₂H₅ and i-C₄H₉) was found to show a high-activity for monomer-isomerization polymerization of c2B. The polymer yield was low with TiCl₄? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst. However, when NiCl₂ was added to this catalyst, the polymer yield increased. With TiCl₃? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst, the effect of the Al/Ti molar ratio was observed and a maximum for the polymer yields was obtained at molar ratios of 2.0–3.0, but the isomerization increased as a function of Al/Ti molar ratio. The valence state of titanium on active sites for isomerization and polymerization is discussed.     

Novel preparation of pure β-TiCl3 and its use in isoprene polymerization

Treatment of the reaction product of TiCl₄, Al, AlCl₃, and an aromatic compound with an ether and subsequently with TiCl₄ yields very pure β-TiCl₃. This material, when treated with small amounts of aluminum trialkyls, is a very active catalyst for the stereospecific polymerization of isoprene. If the above reaction is stopped after the ether addition, before the addition of TiCl₄, the product so obtained is largely TiCl₂. Reaction variables in the preparation of TiCl₃ are described as is the effect of various organoaluminum compounds as cocatalysts for polymerization.     

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.     

Quasiliving Carbocationic Polymerization. V. Quasiliving Polymerization of lndene

Quasiliving polymerization of indene, i.e., an increase of the molecular weight of polyindenes with the cumulative amount of consumed monomer, has been demonstrated using the “H₂O”/ BCl₃, 2-chloroindene/BCl, “H₂O”/TiCl₄, 2-chloroindene/TiCl₄, and cumyl chloride/TiCl₄ initiating systems in CH₂Cl₂ solvent at -50°C. However, chain transfer operates in every system investigated, and sets a limit to DP _n,max. The efficiency of the 2-chloroindene and cumyl chloride initiators is very low. The behavior of BCl₃ and TiCl₄ coinitiators on the polymerization has also been investigated.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. III. Polymerization by organoaluminum and by organoaluminum–titanium chloride complexes

The mechanism of formation and stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene have been studied. The polymerization was carried out at ?78°C with use of aluminum compounds [Al(C₂H₅)₃, Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl, Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and AlCl₃] and complex catalysts [Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₄, Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃, and Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl–TiCl₃] as initiators. The stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was estimated from the optical density ratio, D₁₂₅₈/D₁₂₇₀, in the infrared absorption spectrum. Polymer yields were observed to depend upon the aluminum compound used as initiators, while the stereoregularity of the polymer was nearly independent of the particular aluminum compound used. As the catalyst ratio of titanium chloride to aluminum compound increased, the polymer yield was found to increase to a maximum and then to decrease with further increase of the ratio. It is supposed that titanium chlorides themselves increase the acid strength of aluminum compounds through chlorination, resulting in the change of the polymer yield. The highest stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was attained by increasing the molar ratio of titanium trichloride to aluminum and by treating β-cyanopropionaldehyde (CPA) with titanium trichloride prior to the polymerization. Complex formation of the nitrile group of CPA with titanium is considered responsible for the increase in stereoregularity. A propagation mechanism is also proposed.     

Vapor synthesis of high-activity catalysts for olefin polymerization

Vaporization of MgCl₂ and other metal halides results in monomeric gas-phase species. Cocondensation of these species with organic diluents such as heptane yields highly activated solids which are precursors to MgCl₂ supported “high-mileage” catalysts for olefin polymerization. These catalysts, prepared by treatment with TiCl₄ followed by standard activation with aluminum alkyls display high activity for ethylene and propylene polymerization. MgCl₂ can also be evaporated into neat TiCl₄ to give a related catalyst. The concentration of MgCl₂ in the diluent affects catalyst properties as does the nature of the diluent. TiCl₃, 3TiCl₃ · AlCl₃, VCl₃ and other metal halides are subject to similar activation.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XXVI. Formation of polyallylcyclohexane from propenylcyclohexane through monomer-isomerization polymerization with Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of propenycyclohexane (PCH) with TiCl₃ and R_3-xAICI_x (R = C₂H₅ or i-C₄H₉, x = 1–3) catalysts was studied. It was found that PCH underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization to give a high molecular weight polymer consisting of an allylcyclohexane (ACH) repeat unit. Among the alkyaluminum cocatalysts examined, (C₂H₅)₃Al was the most effective cocatalyst for the monomer-isomerization polymerization of PCH, and a maximum for the polymerization was observed at a molar ratio of Al/Ti of about 2.0. The addition of isomerization catalysts such as nickel acetylacetonate [Ni(acac)₂] to the TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst accelerated the monomer-isomerization polymerization of PCH and gave a maximum for the polymerization at a Ni/Ti molar ratio of 0.5. PCH also undergoes monomer-isomerization copolymerization with 2-butene (2B).     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. V. Effects of transition metal compounds on monomer-isomerization polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2

In order to clarify the correlation between polymerization and monomer isomerization in the monomer-isomerization polymerization of β-olefins, the effects of some transition metal compounds which have been known to catalyze olefin isomerizations on the polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2 with Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃ or Al(C₂H₅)₃–VCl₃ catalyst have been investigated. It was found that some transition metal compounds such as acetylacetonates of Fe(III), Co(II), and Cr(III) or nickel dimethylglyoxime remarkably accelerate these polymerizations with Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃ catalyst at 80°C. All the polymers from butene-2 were high molecular weight polybutene-1. With Al(C₂H₅)₃–VCl₃ catalyst, which polymerizes α-olefins but does not catalyze polymerization of β-olefins, no monomer-isomerization polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2 were observed. When Fe(III) acetylacetonate was added to this catalyst system, however, polymerization occurred. These results strongly indicate that two independent active centers for the olefin isomerization and the polymerizations of α-olefins were necessary for the monomer-isomerization polymerizations of β-olefins.     

Monomer-Isomerization polymerization. XXX. Influence of type of TiCl3 on monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-butene with TiCl3 and alkylaluminum catalyst

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of cis-2-butene with four types of TiCl₃ in combination with alkylaluminum compounds was investigated. The catalytic activities for monomer-isomerization polymerization were found to be influenced by the type of TiCl₃ employed: systems containing hydrogen-activated-TiCl₃ and Solvay-TiCl₃ in combination with R₃Al (R = C₂H₅ and i-C₄H₉) showed high catalytic activity for both isomerization and polymerization, whereas (C₂H₅)₂AlCl in combination with any type of TiCl₃ did not induce the monomer-isomerization polymerization. The addition effect of NiCl₂ to the TiCl₃? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst was examined. Catalytic activities for both polymerization and isomerization reactions were found to depend on the amount of NiCl₂ added.     

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.     

Effect of the particle size of the TiCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Al<Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis>-Bu<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst on the contribution from mono- and bimetallic active sites to the polymerization of isoprene

The interaction between the coordinatively unsaturated surface of ß-TiCl₃ particles and a liquid phase in the TiCl₄-Ali-Bu₃ catalyst is responsible for the final particle size and the regularities of isoprene polymerization. The correlations of the catalyst activity and the molecular characteristics of polyisoprene with catalyst particle size in the course of catalyst formation and reactivation are indicative of the occurrence of two groups of active sites. “Surface” active sites correspond to the monometallic Cossee model, and they are characterized by low activity and low 1,4-cis specificity in the polymerization of isoprene. “Colloid” active sites have a bimetallic structure and produce polyisoprene at a high rate; the concentration of 1,4-cis units in the resulting polyisoprene is as high as 97%. The contribution from the colloid active sites to the polymerization of isoprene increases with the particle size of ß-TiCl₃.     

Polymer-supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst for the polymerization of isoprene

A polymer-supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst, polystyrene-TiCl₄AlEt₂Cl (PS–TiCl₄AlEt₂Cl), was synthesized by reaction of polystyrene–TiCl₄ complex (PS–TiCl₄) with AlEt₂Cl. This catalyst showed the same, or lightly greater catalytic activity to the unsupported Ziegler–Natta catalyst for polymerization of isoprene. It also has much greater storability, and can be reused and regenerated. Its overall catalytic yield for isoprene polymerization is ca. 20 kg polyisoprene/gTi. The polymerization rate depends on catalyst titanium concentration, mole ratio of Al/Ti, monomer concentration, and temperature. The kinetic equation of this polymerization is: R_p = k[M]^0.30[Ti]^0.41[Al]^1.28, and the apparent activation energy ΔE_act = 14.5 kJ/Mol, and the frequency factor A_p = 33 L/(mol s). The mechanism of the isoprene polymerization catalyzed by the polymer-supported catalyst is also described. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XIII. Monomer-isomerization polymerization of 1,4-cyclohexadiene with Ziegler-Natta catalyst

1,4-Cyclohexadiene underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization to yield poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising TiCl₄–Al(C₂H₅)₃ catalyst with Al/Ti molar ratios of 0.5–3.0 at 60°C for 96 hr. Good yields of polymer were obtained (49.5% yield at Al/Ti = 3.0; [η] = 0.04 dl/g). The infrared and NMR spectra of the polymer were identical to those of poly-(1,3-cyclohexadiene), confirming that 1,4-cyclohexadiene first isomerizes to 1,3-cyclohexadiene and then homopolymerizes to give poly-1,3-cyclohexadiene. 1,3-Cyclohexadiene polymerized without isomerization easily in the presence of TiCl₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃ catalyst at Al/Ti molar ratios of 0.5–3.0 at 60°C for 3 hr (76.3% yield at Al/Ti = 3.0; [η] = 0.06 dl/g).     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XVI. Monomer-isomerization polymerization of methylpentenes with Ziegler-Natta catalyst

The polymerizations of 4-methyl-1-pentene(4M1P), 4-methyl-2-pentene (4M2P), 2-methyl-2-pentene (2M2P), and 2-methyl-1-pentene (2M1P) with Ziegler-Natta catalyst have been investigated. Both 4M1P and 4M2P were found to polymerize with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)Al catalyst to give high molecular weight poly(4M1P), while 2M2P and 2M1P did not give polymers with 4M1P units. However, when the polymerizations of 2M1P and 2M2P were carried out with ternary catalyst systems, TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)AlCl–(PPh₃)₂PdCl₂ and TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)AlCl–Ni(SCN)₂ polymers with 4M1P units were obtained in low yield. It was concluded that these four methylpentenes could polymerize with the monomer-isomerization polymerization mechanism to poly(4M1P). The results of the observed isomer distribution of methylpentenes recovered, and the rate of polymerization of four methylpentenes suggest that the isomerization from 2M1P to 4M1P with the above ternary catalyst systems might proceed via a direct one-step isomerization mechanism.     

Short-time isoprene polymerization under the action of a titanium–magnesium catalyst

The short-time polymerization of isoprene under the action of a TiCl₄/MgCl2?i-Bu₃Al heterogeneous catalyst has been investigated. Pulse mixing of the catalyst and monomer in a cylindrical tubular reactor with a certain length followed by ethanol injection has made it possible to carry out polymerization for 0.1?0.7 s. In the first 0.3 s, when there is a considerable rise in the activity of the catalyst, living polymerization of isoprene takes place. In this period, polyisoprene has up to 95% trans-1,4 units. Extending the polymerization time to 0.7 s diminishes the average molar mass of polyisoprene, broadens its molar mass distribution, and decreases the concentration of trans-1,4 units to 83%. The data of this study have been analyzed on the basis of the kinetic continuity of the polymer chain initiation and growth.     

Polymerization of isoprene with η5‐C5H4(tert‐Bu)TiCl3/MAO catalyst

cis‐Selective polymerizations of isoprene with the catalysts composed of η⁵‐C₅H₄(R)TiCl₃ (1; R?H, 2 ; tert‐Bu) and methylaluminoxane were investigated. Both catalysts showed remarkable catalytic activities for the polymerization of isoprene. The polymerization activities were strongly affected by the substituent introduced on cyclopentadienyl ring. Introduction of bulky tert‐butyl group was found to be effective for enhancement of polymerization activity, but the cis‐content of polyisoprene prepared by the 2 /MAO catalyst was lower than that by 1 /MAO catalyst. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1841–1844, 2004     

Ethene polymerization with modified-polypropene-supported highly stable Ziegler catalyst

A modified-polypropene-supported Ziegler catalyst was prepared using polypropene containing a small amount of poly(7-methyl-1,6-octadiene) as a starting polymer for bromination, lithiation, and reaction with TiCl₄. The polymerization of ethene was carried out using the catalyst with Al(C₂H₅)₃ in toluene at 60°C up to 100 h. The polymer yield increased linearly with polymerization time, which indicates that the active sites of the modified-polypropene-supported Ziegler catalyst are practically stable without deactivation even for 100 h and are able to propagate further polymerization of ethene.