A new catalyst for ethylene polymerization based on the oxidation product of dibenzenetitanium(0) with fullerene

A catalyst for ethylene polymerization under mild conditions (room temperature, pressure below atmospheric) was obtained for the first time on the basis of the oxidation product of dibenzenetitanium(0) with fullerene. Polyethylene formed in the reaction was characterized by IR and Raman spectra. Molecular mass of the product (1 634 000), melting point (133 °C) and the degree of crystallinity (79.4%) were determined. These values are typical of mediumpressure polyethylene. The catalyst reacts with molecular nitrogen with formation of an air-stable compound (N/Ti = 0.2). It is assumed that the oxidation state of titanium in the catalytically active site is above zero, but not higher than three.