Silica‐Supported Zirconium Complexes and their Polyoligosilsesquioxane Analogues in the Transesterification of Acrylates: Part 2. Activity,Recycling and Regeneration

The catalytic activity of both supported and soluble molecular zirconium complexes was studied in the transesterification reaction of ethyl acrylate by butanol. Two series of catalysts were employed: three well defined silica‐supported acetylacetonate and n‐butoxy zirconium(IV) complexes linked to the surface by one or three siloxane bonds, (SiO)Zr(acac)₃ ( 1 ) (SiO)₃Zr(acac) ( 2 ) and (SiO)₃Zr(O‐n‐Bu) ( 3 ), and their soluble polyoligosilsesquioxy analogues (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₈O₁₂(CH₃)₂Zr(acac)₃ ( 1′ ), (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(acac) ( 2′ ), and (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(O‐n‐Bu) (3′ ). The reactivity of these complexes were compared to relevant molecular catalysts [zirconium tetraacetylacetonate, Zr(acac)₄ and zirconium tetra‐n‐butoxide, Zr(O‐n‐Bu)₄]. Strong activity relationships between the silica‐supported complexes and their polyoligosilsesquioxane analogues were established. Acetylacetonate complexes were found to be far superior to alkoxide complexes. The monopodal complexes 1 and 1′ were found to be the most active in their respective series. Studies on the recycling of the heterogeneous catalysts showed significant degradation of activity for the acetylacetonate complexes ( 1 and 2 ) but not for the less active tripodal alkoxide catalyst, 3 . Two factors are thought to contribute to the deactivation of catalyst: the lixivation of zirconium by cleavage of surface siloxide bonds and exchange reactions between acetylacetonate ligands and alcohols in the substrate/product solution. It was shown that the addition of acetylacetone to the low activity catalyst Zr(O‐n‐Bu)₄ produced a system that was as active as Zr(acac)₄. The applicability of ligand addition to heterogeneous systems was then studied. The addition of acetylacetone to the low activity solid catalyst 3 produced a highly active catalyst and the addition of a stoichiometric quantity of acetylacetone at each successive batch catalytic run greatly reduced catalyst deactivation for the highly active catalyst 1 .     

The Divalent Titanium Complex Ti(O‐i‐Pr)4/2 i‐PrMgX as an Efficient and Practical Reagent for Fine Chemical Synthesis

This account describes synthetic transformations of unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as alkynes, alkenes, and dienes, mediated by the divalent titanium reagent Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄/2 i‐PrMgX, which proceed _via (ν ²‐alkene)‐ or (ν ²‐alkyne)‐titanium intermediates. Many of these transformations are otherwise difficult or require multi‐step reaction sequences. Since Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄ and i‐PrMgX are non‐toxic and available in bulk at low price, the reagent satisfies the qualifications for use in large‐scale synthesis. 1 Introduction 2 A General View of the Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄/2 i‐PrMgX Reagent 3 Generation of an (ν ²‐Alkyne)Ti(O‐i‐Pr)2 and its Utilization as a Vicinal Vinylic Dianion 4 Preparation of Allyl‐ and Allenyltitanium Reagents and their Synthetic Utility 4.1 Allylic Titanium Reagents 4.2 Allenylic Titanium Reagents 5 Intramolecular Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution (INAS) Reactions Mediated by Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄/2 i‐PrMgX 5.1 Scope of the Reaction 5.2 Synthetic Applications of the INAS Reaction 6 Intra‐ and Intermolecular Coupling of Olefins and Acetylenes 6.1 Intramolecular Reactions 6.2 Intermolecular Reactions 6.3 Tandem Inter‐ and Intramolecular Reactions 7 Summary and Outlook     

Tandem Epoxidation‐Alcoholysis or Epoxidation‐Hydrolysis of Glycals Catalyzed by Titanium(IV) Isopropoxide or Venturello’s Phosphotungstate Complex

Venturello’s phosphotungstate complex and titanium(IV) isopropoxide [Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄] were successfully used as catalysts for the epoxidation‐alcoholysis of glycals using hydrogen peroxide [H₂O₂]. Reaction substrates included a range of variously protected glycals and different alcohols were used as solvents. Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄ was only effective in methanol as solvent, but gave methyl glycosides in high yields and high selectivities. The Venturello complex proved to be a very versatile and efficient catalyst. Apart from epoxidation‐alcoholysis in alcoholic solvents it also showed activity in biphasic conditions to allow for glycosylation of long‐chain alcohols and was very effective in the stereoselective dihydroxylation of benzylated glucal.     

Silica‐Supported Zirconium Complexes and their Polyoligosilsesquioxane Analogues in the Transesterification of Acrylates: Part 1. Synthesis and Characterization

Various silica‐supported acetylacetonate and alkoxy zirconium(IV) complexes have been prepared and characterized by quantitative chemical measurements of the surface reaction products, quantitative surface microanalysis of the surface complexes, in situ infrared spectroscopy, CP‐MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and EXAFS. The complex (SiO)Zr(acac)₃ (acac=acetylacetonate ligand) ( 1 ) can be obtained by reaction of zirconium tetraacetylacetonate [Zr(acac)₄] with a silica surface previously dehydroxylated at 500 °C. The complexes (SiO)₃Zr(acac) ( 2 ) and (SiO)₃Zr(O‐n‐Bu) (n‐Bu=butyl ligand) ( 3 ) can be synthesized by reaction of (SiO)₃Zr H with, respectively, acetylacetone and n‐butanol at room temperature. The spectroscopic data, including EXAFS spectroscopy, confirm that in compound 1 the zirconium is linked to the surface by only one Si O Zr bond whereas in the case of compounds 2 and 3 the zirconium is linked to 3 surface oxygen atoms which are sigma bonded. EXAFS data indicate also that the acetylacetonate ligands behave as chelating ligands leading to a hepta‐coordination around the zirconium atom in 1 and a penta‐coordination in 2 . In order to provide a molecular analogue of 1 , the synthesis of the following polyoligosilsesquioxane derivative (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₈O₁₂(CH₃)₂Zr(acac)₃ ( 1′ ) was achieved. The compound 1′ is obtained by reacting (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₈O₁₁(CH₃)₂(OH), 4 , with an equimolecular amount of Zr(acac)₄. In the same manner, syntheses of complexes (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(acac) ( 2′ ) and of (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(O‐n‐Bu) ( 3′ ) were achieved by reaction of the unmodified trisilanol, (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₉(OH)₃, with respectively Zr(acac)₄ and Zr(O‐n‐Bu)₄ at 60 °C in tetrahydrofuran. Compounds 1′ , 2′ and 3′ can be considered as good models of 1 , 2 and 3 since their spectroscopic properties are comparable with those of the surface complexes. The synthetic results obtained will permit us to study the catalytic properties of these surface complexes and of their molecular analogues with the ultimate goal of delineating clear structure‐activity relationships.     

Melt polycondensation of L‐lactic acid to poly(L‐lactic acid) with Sn(II) catalysts combined with various metal alkoxides

Melt polycondensation of L ‐lactic acid (LA) was examined in the presence of binary catalyst systems consisting of SnCl₂·2H₂O and metal alkoxides as co‐catalysts. Among the co‐catalysts examined, viz (Al(O ⁱPr)₃,Ti(O ⁱPr)₄,Y(O ⁱPr)₃,Si(OEt)₄ and Ge(OEt)₄), Ge(OEt)₄ was found to be the most effective in enhancing the catalytic activity of Sn(II). With an optimized composition of SnCl₂·2H₂O–Ge(OEt)₄, the molecular weight (M_n) of PLLA reached 40 000 Da in a short reaction time (<15 h) at the optimum reaction conditions of 180 °C and 10 Torr. This catalyst system was also superior to the conventional single metal ion catalysts such as Sn(II) in terms of racemization and discolouration of the resultant polymer. The metal alkoxides, added as co‐catalysts, should work as oxo acids that can effectively control the catalytic activity of Sn(II) ion in the direct polycondensation of LA, in a manner similar to that of proton acids. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis mechanisms of poly[styrene‐co‐(acrylic acid)]‐supported TiCl4 catalysts modified by magnesium compounds

Soluble poly[styrene‐co‐(acrylic acid)] (PSA) modified by magnesium compounds was used to support TiCl₄. For ethylene polymerization, four catalysts were synthesized, namely PSA/TiCl₄, PSA/MgCl₂/TiCl₄, PSA/(n‐Bu)MgCl/TiCl₄, and PSA/(n‐Bu)₂Mg/TiCl₄. The catalysts were characterized by a set of complementary techniques including X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and element analysis. Synthesis mechanisms of polymer‐supported TiCl₄ catalysts were proposed according to their chemical environments and physical structures. The binding energy of Ti 2p in PSA/TiCl₄ was extremely low as TiCl₄ attracted excessive electrons from ? COOH groups. Furthermore, the chain structure of PSA was destroyed because of intensive reactions taking place in PSA/TiCl₄. With addition of (n‐Bu)MgCl or (n‐Bu)₂Mg, ? COOH became ? COOMg‐ which then reacted with TiCl₄ in synthesis of PSA/(n‐Bu)MgCl/TiCl₄ and PSA/(n‐Bu)₂Mg/TiCl₄. Although MgCl₂ coordinated with ? COOH first, TiCl₄ would substitute MgCl₂ to coordinate with ? COOH in PSA/MgCl₂/TiCl₄. Due to the different synthesis mechanisms, the four polymer‐supported catalysts correspondingly showed various particle morphologies. Furthermore, the polymer‐supported catalyst activity was enhanced by magnesium compounds in the following order: MgCl₂ > (n‐Bu)MgCl > (n‐Bu)₂Mg > no modifier. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis and enzymatic degradation of high molecular weight aliphatic polyesters

The aliphatic polyesters with high molecular weight have been prepared according to two methods. First is the synthesis of the polyesters by polycondensation of dimethyl succinate (DMS) with 1,4‐butanediol (BD) using various metal alkoxides as a catalyst. Among the metal alkoxides used, titanium tetraisopropoxide [Ti(OiPr)₄] gave the best results (highest molecular weight and yield). Thus, we have prepared aliphatic polyesters using a variety combinations of diesters [MeOOC—(CH₂)_x—COOMe, x = 2–8] with BD by the catalysis of Ti(OiPr)₄. The polyesters with high number‐average molecular weight (M_n > 35,000), except dimethyl adipate (DMA, x = 4)/BD polyester (M_n = 26,900), were obtained in high yield. The melting temperatures (T_m) of polyesters were relatively low (43.4–66.8°C) except that (115.6°C) of the DMS/BD polyester. Second is the synthesis of high molecular weight polyesters by chain extension reaction of lower molecular weight (M_n = 15,900–26,000) polyesters using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a chain extender. The M_n values of chain‐extended polyesters consequently increased more than two times (M_n = 34,700–56,000). The thermal properties of polyesters hardly changed before and after chain extension. Enzymatic degradations of the polyesters were performed using three different enzymes (cholesterol esterase, lipase B, and Rhizopus delemar lipase) before chain extension. The enzymatic degradability varied depending on both thermal properties of polyesters [melting temperature and heat of fusion (crystallinity)] and the substrate specificity of enzymes, but it was the following order: cholesterol esterase > lipase B > R. delemar lipase. The ¹H‐NMR spectrum of water‐soluble degraded products of the polyester indicated that the polyester was degraded into a condensation product of diol with diester in a monomer form. The enzymatic degradation of chain extended polyesters was slightly smaller than that before chain extension, but proceeded steadily. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 340–347, 2001     

Ethylene/1‐octadecene copolymerization using [η5:η1‐C5Me4‐4‐R1‐6‐R‐C6H2O]TiCl2 catalysts

Copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐octadecene was studied using [η⁵:η¹‐C₅Me₄‐4‐R₁‐6‐R‐C₆H₂O]TiCl₂ [R₁ = ^tBu (1), H (2, 3, 4); R = ^tBu (1, 2), Me (3), Ph (4)] as catalysts in the presence of Al(i‐Bu)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. The effect of the concentration of comonomer in the feed and Al/Ti molar ratio on the catalytic activity and molecular weight of the resultant copolymer were investigated. The substituents on the phenyl ring of the ligand affect considerably both the catalytic activity and comonomer incorporation. The 1 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system exhibits the highest catalytic activity and produces copolymers with the highest molecular weight, while the 2 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system gives copolymers with the highest comonomer incorporation under similar conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Easily Accessible Ring Opening Metathesis and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalysts based on Arene,Norbornadiene and Cyclooctadiene Ruthenium Complexes Bearing Schiff Base Ligands

A group of four mixed ligand ruthenium(II)‐Schiff base complexes has been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are easily accessible from [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)]₂, [RuCl₂(NBD)]_n, [RuCl₂(COD)]_x and salicylaldimine salts. They have been found to serve as good catalyst precursors for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of different vinyl monomers. The catalytic activity and the control over the produced polymer can be dramatically improved after the addition of additives such as Et₂AlCl and (n‐Bu)₂NH.     

A Convenient High Activity Catalyst for the Sonogashira Coupling of Aryl Bromides

A mixture of Na₂PdCl₄, CuI and (t‐Bu)₃PH⁺BF₄⁻ (molar ratio 4 : 3 : 8) dispersed in H₂N(i‐Pr)₂⁺Br⁻ can be used as a “single source” precatalyst for the Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides with various aryl‐ and alkylacetylenes in HN(i‐Pr)₂ solvent. Arylacetylenes require just 0.005 mol % of Pd catalyst at 80 °C, with TOFs ranging between 3,200 and 10,000 h⁻¹.     

Study of a new titanium dual initiator for the synthesis of poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐b‐polystyrene block copolymers by the combination of coordination and nitroxide mediated polymerizations

Poly ε‐caprolactone‐polystyrene block‐copolymers (PCL‐b‐PSt) were synthesized using a modified titanium catalyst as the dual initiator. Alcoholysis of Ti(OPr)₄ by 4‐hydroxy 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl piperidinyl‐1‐oxyl (HO‐TEMPO) gave a bifunctional initiator Ti(OTEMPO)₄. Poly ε‐caprolactone prepolymer end‐capped with the nitroxide group was first prepared by ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with this initiator at high conversion. The nitroxide‐end‐capped structure and molar mass (M_n) of the polymers were demonstrated by typical UV absorption band. This analytical technique indicates a near‐quantitative nitroxide functionality and a M_n in good agreement with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) ones. This polyester prepolymer was used to further initiate the radical polymerization with styrene and reach the block copolymers (PCL‐b‐PSt). All the prepolymers and block copolymers were characterized by SEC and NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the preparation of star polymers bearing two kinds of arms (PCL and PSt) was envisaged and a preliminary result was given. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride with butyllithiums and metallocene catalysts

Polymerizations of vinyl chloride (VC) with butyllithium (BuLi) and metallocene catalysts were investigated. In the polymerization of VC with BuLi, the activity for polymerization decreased in the following order; t‐BuLi > n‐BuLi > s‐BuLi. A polymer controlled structurally in the main chain was found to be synthesized from the polymerization of VC with BuLi. The molecular weights of polymers obtained in bulk polymerization were higher than those of polymers obtained in solution. A linear relationship of the M_n of the polymer and the polymer yields was observed. The M_w/M_n of the polymer did not change significantly during polymerization, although the M_w/M_n was around 2. Thermal stability of the polymer obtained with BuLi was higher than that of polymer obtained with radical initiators, as determined by TGA measurements. In the polymerization of VC with Cp*TiX₃/MAO (X: Cl and OCH₃) catalysts, polymers were obtained with both catalysts, although the rate of polymerization was slow. The Cp*Ti(OCH₃)₃//MAO catalyst in CH₂Cl₂ gave higher‐molecular‐weight polymers in a better yield than in toluene. From elemental analysis and the NMR spectra of the polymers, the Cp*Ti(OCH₃)₃/MAO catalyst gave polymers consisting of repeating regular head‐to‐tail units, in contrast to the Cp*TiCl₃/MAO catalyst, which gave polymers having anomalous units.     

1,2‐Polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene with Cr(acac)3‐alkylaluminum catalysts

The polymerization of butadiene (Bd) with chromium(III) acetylacetonato [Cr(acac)₃]‐trialkylaluminum (AlR₃) or methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysts was investigated for the synthesis of 1,2‐poly(Bd). The polymerization of Bd was found to proceed with Cr(acac)₃‐AlR₃ (R‐Me, Et, i‐Bu) catalysts to give poly(Bd) with a high 1,2‐vinyl content, but highly isotactic 1,2‐poly(Bd) was not synthesized. The Cr(acac)₃‐MAO catalyst gave a polymer consisting of low 1,2 units. The effects of the Al/Cr mole ratios on the polymerization of Bd with the Cr(acac)₃‐AlR₃ catalysts were observed. With an increase of Al/Cr mole ratios, the isotactic (mm) content of the polymer increased but the 1,2‐vinyl contents decreased. The effects of the aging time and temperatures of the catalysts on the polymerization of Bd with the Cr(acac)₃‐AlR₃ catalysts were also observed, and the lower polymerization temperature and the prolonged aging time were favored to produce the 1,2‐vinyl structure. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1621–1627, 2000     

Molecular design approach to a highly soluble and volatile bimetallic alkoxide of late transition metal and zirconium. Synthesis,X-ray single crystal and mass-spectral study of NiZr2(acac)(OiPr)9

Heterometallic alkoxide complexes possessing a triangular M₃(μ-OR)₂(μ-OR)₃ core are usually highly soluble in organic solvents and often display relatively high stability on transition into gas phase. Each metal atom is connected to four ligands within the core and needs two more donor atoms from the terminal ligands to complete octahedral coordination. This can be achieved for Ni(II), for example, by application of a bidentate chelating ligand such as the acetylacetonate one. Interaction of Ni(acac)₂ with 1.5 eq. of [Zr(OⁱPr)₄(ⁱPrOH)]₂ in toluene offers quantitatively [Zr(OⁱPr)₃(acac)]₂ together with the bimetallic complex NiZr₂(acac)(OⁱPr)₉ (1), possessing the desired structure and physical properties.     

Immobilized Me2Si(C5Me4)(N‐tBu)TiCl2/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 hybrid metallocene catalyst system for the production of poly(ethylene‐co‐hexene) with pseudo‐bimodal molecular weight and inverse comonomer distribution

Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂, (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂, and Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂/(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ catalyst systems were successfully immobilized on silica and applied to ethylene/hexene copolymerization. In the presence of 20 mL of hexene and 25 mg of butyloctyl magnesium in 400 mL of isobutane at 40 bar of ethylene, Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂ immobilized catalyst afforded poly(ethylene‐co‐hexene) with high molecular weight ([η] = 12.41) and high comonomer content (%C₆ = 2.8%), while (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂‐immobilized catalyst afforded polymers with relatively low molecular weight ([η] = 2.58) with low comonomer content (%C₆ = 0.9%). Immobilized Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N‐tBu)TiCl₂/(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ hybrid catalyst exhibited high and stable polymerization activity with time, affording polymers with pseudo‐bimodal molecular weight distribution and clear inverse comonomer distribution (low comonomer content for low molecular weight polymer fraction and vice versa). The polymerization characteristics and rate profiles suggest that individual catalysts in the hybrid catalyst system are independent of each other. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:131–139, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fully-reversible and semi-reversible coordinative chain transfer polymerizations of 1,3-butadiene with neodymium-based catalytic systems

Coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) of 1,3-butadiene was assessed by employing several traditional Ziegler–Natta type Nd-based catalytic systems. Both the types of alkylaluminum as CTA and chloride donor as third component significantly affected the chain transfer characteristic of the CCTP systems. Among the catalytic systems examined, Nd(OiPr)₃/Al(iBu)₂H/Me₂SiCl₂ and Nd(OiPr)₃/Al(iBu)₂H/Al₂Et₃Cl₃ systems exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency, yielding 6–10 polymer chains per Nd atom in the presence of 20 equiv. CTA. Kinetic examination revealed that Nd(OiPr)₃/Al(iBu)₂H/Me₂SiCl₂ and Nd(OiPr)₃/Al(iBu)₂H/Al₂Et₃Cl₃ catalytic systems proceeded with fully- and semi-reversible chain transfer reactions, respectively. Quantitative formation of polymers was observed in each step of the 1,3-butadiene seeding polymerization, indicating the living mode of the two catalytic systems. Moreover, the triblock copolymers, PBD-b-PIP-b-PBD and PBD-b-PIP-b-PCL, were successfully synthesized with Nd(OiPr)₃/Al(iBu)₂H/Me₂SiCl₂ catalytic system.     

Effects of synthesis conditions on the pervaporation properties of poly[1‐(trimethylsilyl)‐1‐propyne] useful for membrane bioreactors

An integrated fermentation and membrane‐based recovery (pervaporation) process has certain economical advantages in continuous conversion of biomass into alcohols. This article presents new pervaporation data obtained for poly[1‐(trimethylsilyl)‐1‐propyne] (PTMSP) samples synthesized in various conditions. Three different catalytic systems, TaCl₅/n‐BuLi, TaCl₅/Al(i‐Bu)₃, and NbCl₅ were used for synthesis of the polymers. It was found that the catalytic system has a significant influence over the properties of membranes made from PTMSP. Although a combination of a high permeation rate and a high ethanol–water separation factor (not less than 15) was provided by all PTMSP samples, the PTMSP samples synthesized with TaCl₅/n‐BuLi showed significant deterioration of membrane properties when acetic acid was present in the feed. In contrast, the PTMSP samples synthesized with TaCl₅/Al(i‐Bu)₃ or NbCl₅ showed stable performance in the presence of acetic acid. When using a multicomponent mixture of organics and water, the copermeation of different organic components results in lower separation factor for both ethanol and butanol. These data are consistent with nanoporous morphology of PTMSP. It was demonstrated that pervaporative removal of ethanol improved the overall performance of the fermentation process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2271–2277, 2004     

Synthesis of pentavalent imidovanadium complexes and their catalyses for the polymerization of ethylene and propylene

Imidovanadium complexes with cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligands—(Cp)V(?NC₆H₄Me‐4)Cl₂ (1), (Cp)V(?N^tBu)Cl₂ (2), and (^tBuCp)V(?N^tBu)Cl₂ (3; ^tBuCp = tert‐butylcyclopentadienyl)—were synthesized through the reaction of imidovanadium trichloride with (trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadiene derivatives. The molecular structure of 3 was determined by X‐ray crystallography. The monocyclopentadienyl complex 1 exhibited moderate activity in combination with methylaluminoxane [MAO; 10.3 kg of polyethylene (mol of V)^?1 h^?1 atm^?1], whereas similar complexes with bulky ^tBu groups, 2 and 3, were less active. (2‐Methyl‐8‐quinolinolato)imidovanadium complexes, V(?NR)(O ?N)Cl₂ (R = C₆H₃ⁱPr₂‐2,6 (4) or n‐hexyl (5), O ?N = 2‐methyl‐8‐quinolinolato), were obtained from the reaction of imidovanadium trichloride with 2‐methyl‐8‐quinolinol. Upon activation with modified MAO, complex 4 showed moderate activities for the polymerization of ethylene at room temperature. The complex 5/MAO system also exhibited moderate activity at 0°C. The polyethylenes obtained by these complexes had considerably high melting points, which indicated the formation of linear polyethylene. Moreover, the 5/dried MAO system showed propylene polymerization activities and produced polymers with considerably high molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1008–1015, 2005     

Improved dispersion of clay platelets in poly(butylene terephthalate) nanocomposite by ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic oligomers: Effect of the processing conditions and comparison with nanocomposites obtained by melt intercalation

Poly(butylene terephthalate) nanocomposites with organically modified montmorillonites have been prepared by in‐situ ring opening polymerization of PBT cyclic oligomers. High molecular weight polymers can be obtained by choosing the proper polymerization conditions and catalyst in very short polymerization time (10 min) and low temperature (205°C). A better dispersion of the clay and a consistently higher M_w have been obtained by this method respect to the standard melt intercalation approach, leading to improved thermo‐mechanical properties of the nanocomposite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Butadiene polymerization with vanadium–titanium–aluminum catalytic systems

Butadiene polymerization in the presence of mixed vanadium–titanium–aluminum catalytic systems containing various organoaluminum compounds (OACs) was investigated. The main factors influencing the activity and stereospecificity of the [VOCl₃–TiCl₄–OAC₁]–(heating)–OAC₂ catalysts [where OAC₁ and OAC₂ were Al(i‐Bu)₃, Al(i‐Bu)₂H, or Al(i‐Bu)₂Cl] were considered. The kinetic parameters of the process were determined. The high activity and stereospecificity of the multicomponent systems probably accounted for the formation of polymerization active sites with both transition‐metal derivatives in their structure. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 211–217, 2004