The kinetics of polymerization of cyclopentene by WCl6/AliBu3 catalyst

The kinetics of the polymerization of cyclopentene by WCl₆/AliBu₃ catalysts have been studied and the factors controlling the reproducibility of the rate of polymerization have been ascertained. A significant dependence of the rate of polymerization on the time between the additions of WCl₆ and AliBu₃ was observed. The dependence of the catalyst activity r,i this time delay suggested that WCl₆ reacted with cyclopentene to produce an unstable species (W₁) that could react with AliBu₃ to produce a catalytically active species (W₁¹) or that could react further with cyclopentene to produce another species W₂ that in turn would react with AliBu₃ to produce a much less active catalyst W₂¹. The detailed study of the kinetics of polymerization under controlled conditions suggested a kinetic chain mechanism initiated by two catalyst species; mechanism of polymerization based on the carbene system is suggested.