Generation of active site confined inside supercage of NaY zeolite on a nano-scale and its ethylene polymerization

To generate an active site that consisted of one Cp₂ZrCl₂ molecule and 1-2 MAO molecules inside supercage of NaY zeolite, two preparation ways for supported catalyst were estimated. First, higher concentration of MAO and Cp₂ZrCl₂, and long reaction time were introduced during the preparation of supported catalyst. It showed activity in ethylene polymerization without any additional MAO. It indicates that Cp₂ZrCl₂ coordinated with only 1-2 MAO molecules could be an active site due to the fact that supercage has nano-scaled diameter of supercage, 1.2 nm, and it could contain only 1-2 MAO molecules inside it theoretically. In situ generation of active site between NaY/MAO and homogeneous Cp₂ZrCl₂ also showed experimental evidence that an active site was generated inside the supercage of NaY zeolite. It showed low activity with long activation time, suggesting the presence of a diffusion effect of Cp₂ZrCl₂ in the pore of NaY. However, NaY/Cp₂ZrCl₂ and homogeneous MAO system showed the characteristic PE polymerization with homogeneous catalyst, indicating that active site was not generated inside the supercage of NaY.