Effect of co-catalyst system on α-olefin polymerization with rac- and meso-[dimethylsilylenebis(2,3,5-trimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)]zirconium dichloride

Propene, 1-butene and 1-hexene polymerization was conducted with a mixture of rac- and meso-dimethylsilylenebis((2,3,5-tetramethyl-cyclopentadienyl))]zirconium dichloride (Me₂Si(2,3,5-Me₃Cp)₂ZrCl₂) ( 1 ) combined with methylaluminoxane (MAO), triethylaluminium (AlEt₃)/triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄) ( 2 ) and triisobutylaluminium (AliBu₃)/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄, respectively, as co-catalyst systems. The ratios of polymerization rates R_p(rac)/R_p(meso) were changed with the combined cocatalysts. It was found that in the case of using trialkylaluminium/ 2 as co-catalyst R_p(rac)/R_p(meso) is lower than when using MAO in any kind of α-olefin polymerization.