ansa‐Zirconocenes with Bridge‐tethered Donors: Synthesis and Application as Catalysts in Solution Polymerization of Ethylene

Four new donor‐functionalized ansa‐zirconocenes have been synthesized from the XMeSiCp₂ZrCl₂ and X₂SiCp₂ZrCl₂ general formula (where X = (CH₂)₃OEt, C₈H₄SCH₂OMe, and CH₂(2‐MeO‐3‐Me‐C₆H₃)). In each of these metallocenes, alkoxy groups are linked by a three‐carbon chain to the silicon atom. To study the influence of the functionalized side chains, these metallocenes were activated with methylalumoxane (MAO) and utilized in solution polymerization of ethylene. The molecular weight distributions of the polymers formed show a bimodal shape which can be described as a superposition of two Schultz‐Flory distributions, synonymous to at least two different catalytic species. Unimodal polymers with M_w/M_n = 2 were formed with the Me₂SiCp₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst system, indicating that the unusual bimodal molecular weight distributions are due to the functionalized side chains tethered to the Si‐bridge.     

Zirconocene-catalyzed dimerization of 1-hexene: Two-stage activation and structure–catalytic performance relationship

The dimerization of 1-hexene was catalyzed by ten zirconocenes. High catalytic productivity was achieved via a two-step activation process, namely, the treatment of the zirconocene with triisobutylaluminum (TIBA) followed by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The zirconocene [(C₅H₄SiMe₂)₂O]ZrCl₂ (10) exhibits a higher productivity and selectivity to dimer formation than the unsubstituted (C₅H₅)₂ZrCl₂ (1) complex. For the ansa-[Z(C₅H₄)₂]ZrCl₂ complexes, the catalytic activity increases as the angle between the cyclopentadienyl rings decreases. The dimerization selectivity of 10 reaches 94% when the reaction is performed using Et₂AlCl as the chlorine source needed to form the catalytic species. The possible mechanism of selective α-olefin dimerization is discussed.     

Novel diphenyl thioether‐bridged binuclear metallocenes of Ti and Zr for synthesis of polyethylene with broad molecular weight distribution

Two diphenyl thioether‐bridged binuclear metallocenes of Ti and Zr, [(C₅H₅)Cl₂MC₅H₄CH₂(p‐C₆H₄)]₂S [M = Ti (1) and Zr (2)], have been synthesized by treating the dilithium salts of the corresponding ligand [(C₅H₅CH₂(p‐C₆H₄)]₂S with two equivalents of C₅H₅TiCl₃ and C₅H₅ZrCl₃(DME), respectively, in toluene at 0°C. Both new complexes have been characterized by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Homogeneous ethylene polymerization using both complexes was performed in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences of molar ratio of [MAO]/[Cat], concentration of the catalysts, time, and temperature have been studied systematically. The catalytic activity of 1 is higher than that of the corresponding oxygen‐bridged catalyst [(C₅H₅)Cl₂TiC₅H₄CH₂(p‐C₆H₄)]₂O. The catalytic activity of 2 is at least two times higher than that of 1 under any tested polymerization conditions. The melting points of polyethylene (PE) produced by 1 and 2 are higher than 130°C, indicating a highly linear and highly crystalline PE. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Ethylene polymerization by 3‐oxa‐pentamethylene bridged asymmetric dinuclear titanocene/MAO system

An asymmetric 3‐oxa‐pentamethylene bridged dinuclear titanocenium complex (CpTiCl₂)₂(η⁵‐η⁵‐C₉H₆(CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂)C₅H₄) ( 1 ) has been prepared by treating two equivalents of CpTiCl₃ with the corresponding dilithium salts of the ligand C₉H₇(CH₂CH₂OCH₂ CH₂)C₅H₅. The complex 1 was characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, and elemental analysis. Homogenous ethylene polymerization catalyzed using complex 1 has been conducted in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences ofreaction parameters, such as [MAO]/[Cat] molar ratio, catalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, temperature, and time have been studied in detail. The results show that the catalytic activity and the molecular weight (MW) of polyethylene produced by 1 /MAO decrease gradually with increasing the catalyst concentration or polymerization temperature. The most important feature of this catalytic system is the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polyethylene reaching 12.4, which is higher than using common mononuclear metallocenes, as well as asymmetric dinuclear titanocene complexes like [(CpTiCl₂)₂(η⁵‐η⁵‐C₉H₆(CH₂)_nC₅H₄)] (n = 3, MWD = 7.31; n = 4, MWD = 6.91). The melting point of polyethylene is higher than 135°C, indicating highly linear and highly crystalline polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Ethylene polymerization by alkylidene‐bridged asymmetric dinuclear titanocene/MAO systems

Two asymmetric alkylidene‐bridged dinuclear titanocenium complexes (CpTiCl₂)₂(η⁵‐η⁵‐C₉H₆(CH₂)_nC₅H₄), 1 (n = 3) and 2 (n = 4) have been prepared by treating two equivalents of CpTiCl₃ with the corresponding dilithium salts of the ligands C₉H₇(CH₂)_nC₅H₅ (n = 3, 4). Additionally, Ti(η⁵:η⁵‐n‐BuC₅H₄C₅H₅)Cl₂ (3) and Ti(η⁵:η⁵‐n‐BuC₉H₆C₅H₅)Cl₂ (4) were synthesized as corresponding mononuclear complexes. All complexes were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Homogenous ethylene polymerization catalyzation using those complexes has been conducted in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences of reaction parameters, such as [MAO]/[Cat] molar ratio, catalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, temperature, and time have been studied in detail. The results showed that the catalytic activities of both dinuclear titanocenes were higher than those of the corresponding mononuclear titanocenes. Although the two dinuclear complexes were different in only one [CH₂] unit, the catalytic activity of 2 was about 50% higher than that of 1; however, the molecular weight of polyethylene (PE) obtained by 2 was lower than that obtained from 1. The molecular weight distribution of PE produced by these dinuclear complexes reached 6.9 and 7.3, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3317–3323, 2006     

Chain transfer reactions in propylene polymerization with zirconocene catalysts

The chemical structures of end groups of medium-low molecular weight atactic and isotactic polypropylenes (a-PP and i-PP), produced with zirconocene/methylalumoxane catalysts, have been analyzed and used to infer the chain-transfer reaction mechanisms, which are then correlated with the zirconocene ligand structure and the polymerization conditions. For the chiral, isospecific ansa-zirconocenes such as rac-[ethylenebis(1-indenyl)]ZrCl₂/methylalumoxane (1/MAO) and rac-[ethylenebis(4,7-dimethyl-1-indenyl)]ZrCl₂/methylalumoxane (2/MAO) catalysts, i-PP molecular weight is dependent on the regiospecificity of the catalyst, as shown by the presence of cis-2-butenyl end groups, formed by chain transfer to the monomer after a secondary propylene insertion. At low monomer concentration, chain-transfer with 2/MAO shifts from predominant transfer to the monomer after a secondary propylene insertion to β-methyl (allyl end groups) and β-hydrogen transfers after a primary insertion (2-propenyl, or vinylidene, end group). Ansa-bis(3-R-indenyl)ZrCl₂ (ansa = CH₂CH₂, Me₂Si, Me₂C; R = Me, t-Bu, Me₃Si) catalysts, which are highly regiospecific, produce polypropylenes with chain transfer via both β-hydrogen transfer after a primary insertion and β-methyl transfer. For example, rac-Me₂C(3-t-Bu-Ind)₂ZrCl₂ (4) exhibits the highest selectivity for β-methyl transfer so far observed in an isospecific zirconocene. As for 2/MAO, the rate of β-methyl transfer in 4/MAO increases by lowering [propylene]. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Polymerization of styrene using novel bispyrazolylimine dinickel (II)/methylaluminoxane catalytic systems

The polymerization of styrene with a series of bispyrazolylimine dinickel (II) complexes of bis‐2‐(C₃HN₂(R₁)₂‐3,5)(C(R₂) = N(C₆H₃(CH₃)₂‐2,6)Ni₂Br₄ (complex 1 : R₁ = CH₃, R₂ = Ph; complex 2 : R₁ = CH₃, R₂ = 2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl; complex 3 : R₁ = R₂ = Ph; complex 4 : R₁ = Ph, R₂ = 2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl) in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) was studied. The influences of polymerization parameters such as polymerization temperature, Al/Ni molar ratio, reaction time, and catalyst concentration on catalytic activity and molecular weight of the polystyrene were investigated in detail. The influence of the bulkiness of the substituents on polymerization activity was also studied. All of the four catalytic systems exhibited high activity (up to 10.50 × 10⁵ gPS/(mol Ni h)) for styrene polymerization and provide polystyrene with moderate to low molecular weights (M_w = 4.76 × 10⁴–0.71 × 10⁴ g/mol) and narrower molecular weight distributions about 2. The obtained polystyrene was characterized by means of FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR techniques. The results indicated that the polystyrene was atactic polymer. The analysis of the end groups of polystyrene indicated that styrene polymerization with bispyrazolylimine dinickel complexes/MAO catalytic systems proceeded through a coordination mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Highly active ethylene/hydroxyl comonomers copolymerization using metallocene catalysts

Ethylene was copolymerized with 10‐undecen‐1‐ol and 5‐hexen‐1‐ol using stereorigid [rac‐ethylene(Ind)₂ZrCl₂], [rac‐ethylene(H₄Ind)₂ZrCl₂], and the new catalyst systems [rac‐norbornane(Ind)₂TiCl₂] and [mesonorbornane(Ind)₂TiCl₂], activated with methylaluminoxane. The characterization of the copolymers by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed that the polymerization products were copolymers and that the conversion of the polar comonomer was strongly favored in the case of the zirconocene precursors. Very high catalytic activity values, nearly independent on the amount of comonomer in the feed, and comonomer incorporations up to 25.4%‐weight have been found for 10‐undencen‐1‐ol comonomer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis of (C5H5)2Zr(O2C)CH3 and (C5H5)2Zr(O2C)CH2CH3 for olefin polymerization

Summary (C₅H₅)₂Zr(O₂C)CH₃ and (C₅H₅)₂Zr(O₂C)CH₂CH₃ complexes were synthesized, characterized and activated with MAO for ethylene polymerization. The highest catalytic activity was achieved at Al/Zr molar ratio of 3000 for both systems. The effects of the size of the R group in the carboxylate ligands, the Al/Zr molar ratio and reaction temperature on the catalytic activity and polymer properties were studied and discussed.     

Ethylene polymerization catalyzed by diamide complexes of Ti(IV) and Zr(IV)

In this research, we describe the application of the complexes o‐C₆H₄(NSiMe₃)₂ZrCl₂ ( 1 ), o‐C₆H₄(NSiMe₃)₂TiBr₂ ( 2 ), o‐C₆H₄(NSiMe₃)₂TiCl₂ ( 3 ), C₂H₄(NSiMe₃)₂ZrCl₂ ( 4 ), in the ethylene polymerization with different Al/M ratios and temperatures. These complexes presented significant catalytic activities in the presence of methyaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst and toluene as solvent, producing high molecular weight linear polyethylenes. Zirconium complexes were more active at 60°C and titanium complexes at 40°C. Zirconium complex ( 1 ) showed the best values of activity (347 kg PE/mol Zr h atm) for Al/Zr ratio of 340 and 60°C of temperature. In ethylene‐1‐hexene copolymerization, the best result was also reached with catalyst 1 , at the same conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Supported hybrid catalysts based on zirconocene and tris(pyrazolyl)borate titanium derivatives

A series of hybrid supported catalysts were prepared by combining (iBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ and {Tp^Ms*}TiCl₃ complex (Tp^Ms* = HB(3‐mesityl‐pyrazolyl)₂(5‐mesityl‐pyrazolyl)^?) sequentially grafted onto MAO (methylaluminoxane)‐modified silica according to a Plackett Burmann 2³ design. Supported catalysts were prepared taking into account the immobilization order, silica pretreatment temperature, and grafting temperature. Grafted metal content was comparatively determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X‐ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). The resulting catalysts were evaluated in terms of catalyst activity and polymer properties. According to RBS measurements, grafted metal content remained comprised between 0.1 and 0.5 wt % Zr/SiO₂ and 0.1 and 0.3 wt % Ti/SiO₂ depending on the immobilization order and on silica pretreatment temperature. All the systems were shown to be active in ethylene polymerization having external MAO as cocatalyst. Catalyst activity seemed to be governed by the zirconocene species, influenced slightly by Ti ones. Resulting polymers were characterized by DSC and GPC. The polyethylenes mostly presented higher molecular weight than those produced by homogeneous catalysts or by zirconocene grafted on bare or on MAO‐modified silica. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Suppression of metallocene catalyst leaching by the removal of free trimethylaluminum from methylaluminoxane

The leaching of the catalyst zirconocene dichloride (Cp₂ZrCl₂) from an SBA‐15 silica support during ethylene polymerization was studied; severe leaching was observed when commercial methylaluminoxane (MAO) was used as the cocatalyst. However, the removal of free trimethylaluminum (TMA) from an MAO solution with a sterically hindered phenol reduced the catalyst leaching by 97–100%. The results obtained from the leaching experiments with TMA‐free MAO suggested that the major reason for catalyst leaching was the free TMA in the commercial MAO solution, not the pure MAO itself. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4632–4635, 2006     

Synthesis of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by in situ copolymerization with novel cobalt and zirconium catalysts

New cobalt catalysts {[2,6‐(CH₃C=NAr)₂C₅H₃N]CoCl₂} (Ar=2‐methyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl, 1 ) and (Ar=2,4‐dimethylphenyl,2) were synthesized and found to exhibit good selectivity for α‐olefins with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co‐catalyst. With only ethylene as the feed monomer cobalt catalysts 1 or 2 can be coupled with zirconium catalyst Dichloro [rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)]Zirconium (IV) rac‐EtInd₂ZrCl₂ ( 3 ) to produce linear low density polyethylene by in situ polymerization. Spectra of resulting materials exhibit ethyl, butyl and long‐chain branches in the backbone of polyethylene. The ratio of Co/Zr and Δt, which is defined as the interval between introductions of two catalysts into the reactor, influenced catalytic activity and the resulting materials greatly. Compatibility and complementary behaviour of different catalysts proved to be two most important factors for in situ copolymerization. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ethylene polymerization using an asymmetric dinuclear titanocene catalyst carrying a novel 3-oxa-pentamethylene bridge

The asymmetric 3-oxa-pentamethylene bridged dinuclear titanocenium complex (CpTiCl₂)₂ (η⁵-C₉H₆(CH₂CH₂ OCH₂CH₂)-η⁵-C₅H₃ CH₃) (1) has been prepared, characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and after activation with MAO tested as a homogenous catalyst for the polymerization of ethylene. The results show that the catalytic activity of 1 as well as the molecular weight of the produced polyethylene are higher than those using the alkylidene bridged asymmetric dinuclear metallocenes (CpTiCl₂)₂ (η⁵-C₉H₆(CH₂) _n-η⁵-C₅H₄), n = 3 (4), 4 (5). The molecular weight distribution of polyethylene produced with 1/MAO reaches 11.00 and the HT-GPC curve shows a bimodal distribution. The melting point of the polyethylene obtained by 1/MAO is higher than 135 °C and the ¹³C NMR spectrum of PE shows only one strong signal at 30 ppm for the methylene units indicating a highly linear and crystalline polymer.     

Ethylene polymerization using an asymmetric dinuclear titanocene catalyst carrying a novel 3-oxa-pentamethylene bridge

The asymmetric 3-oxa-pentamethylene bridged dinuclear titanocenium complex (CpTiCl₂)₂ (η⁵-C₉H₆(CH₂CH₂ OCH₂CH₂)-η⁵-C₅H₃ CH₃) (1) has been prepared, characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and after activation with MAO tested as a homogenous catalyst for the polymerization of ethylene. The results show that the catalytic activity of 1 as well as the molecular weight of the produced polyethylene are higher than those using the alkylidene bridged asymmetric dinuclear metallocenes (CpTiCl₂)₂ (η⁵-C₉H₆(CH₂) _n-η⁵-C₅H₄), n = 3 (4), 4 (5). The molecular weight distribution of polyethylene produced with 1/MAO reaches 11.00 and the HT-GPC curve shows a bimodal distribution. The melting point of the polyethylene obtained by 1/MAO is higher than 135 °C and the ¹³C NMR spectrum of PE shows only one strong signal at 30 ppm for the methylene units indicating a highly linear and crystalline polymer.     

In situ 1H‐ and 27AL‐NMR studies on metallocene catalyst systems—Catalysts for olefin polymerization

The process of partial hydrolysis reaction of TMA with water and the interaction of zirconocene dichloride (Cp₂ZrCl₂) with TMA, MAO, and the in situ partially hydrolyzed products of TMA were studied by in situ ¹H‐ and ²⁷Al‐NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H‐NMR spectra of MAO samples and the in situ hydrolyzed products of TMA with water under different conditions are different. A new peak at δ = −0.58 ppm in ¹H‐NMR spectra is observed, and is supposed to be due to the methyl resonance of MAO with low molecular weight. Alkylation reaction is observed between Cp₂ZrCl₂ and TMA, MAO, and the in situ hydrolyzed products of TMA, and TMA is supposed to be the actual alkylating agent. ²⁷Al‐NMR studies show that MAO is tetra‐coordinated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 890–897, 2000     

Oligomerisation of 1-pentene with metallocene catalysts

The homo-oligomerisation of 1-pentene in the presence of various bridged and non-bridged metallocenes and methylaluminoxane (MAO) at room temperature and at 60°C, respectively, has been studied. The use of the bridged catalysts rac-[C₂H₄(Ind)₂]ZrCl₂ ( 1 ) and [(CH₃)₂Si(Ind)₂]ZrCl₂ ( 2 ) leads to the formation of isotactic poly(1-pentene). The use of Cp₂ZrCl₂ ( 3 ), Cp₂HfCl₂ ( 4 ) and [(CH₃)₅C₅]₂ZrCl₂ ( 5 ) leads to the formation of atactic poly(1-pentene). The stereoregularity of the isotactic poly(1-pentene) obtained with 1 was higher than that of the poly(1-pentene) synthesised with 2 . The degree of polymerisation was highly dependent on the metallocene catalyst. Oligomers ranging from the dimer of 1-pentene to poly(1-pentene) with a number-average molar mass M_n = 5100 g mol^–1 were formed. The ¹H NMR spectra of the samples were analysed with regard to functional groups and these were attributed to different chain termination processes. A MALDI-TOF spectrum of low-molar-mass poly(1-pentene) could be recorded using dithranol as matrix and adding silver trifluoroacetate to promote ion formation.     

Effect of cocatalyst on the chemical composition distribution and microstructure of ethylene-hexene copolymer produced by a metallocene/Ziegler-Natta hybrid catalyst

A silica-magnesium bisupport (SMB) was prepared by a sol-gel method for use as a support for metallocene/Ziegler-Natta hybrid catalyst. The SMB was treated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) prior to the immobilization of TiCl₄ and rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂. The prepared rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO/SMB catalyst was applied to the ethylenehexene copolymerization with a variation of cocatalyst species (polymerization run 1: triisobutylaluminum (TIBAL) and methylaluminoxane (MAO), polymerization run 2: triethylaluminum (TEA) and methylaluminoxane (MAO)). The effect of cocatalysts on the chemical composition distributions (CCDs) and microstructures of ethylene-hexene copolymers was examined. It was found that the catalytic activity in polymerization run 1 was a little higher than that in polymerization run 2, because of the enhanced catalytic activity at the initial stage in polymerization run 1. The chemical composition distributions (CCDs) in the two copolymers showed six peaks and exhibited a similar trend. However, the lamellas in the ethylene-hexene copolymer produced in polymerization run 1 were distributed over smaller sizes than those in the copolymer produced in polymerization run 2. It was also revealed that the rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO/SMB catalyst preferably produced the ethylene-hexene copolymer with non-blocky sequence when TEA and MAO were used as cocatalysts.     

Concentration effects of methylalumoxane,zirconocene dichloride and trimethylaluminum in ethylene polymerization

A quantitative study was carried out on the homogeneous zirconocene dichloride/methylalumoxane/trimethylaluminum (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/TMA) catalyst system in ethylene polymerization. The effects of variation of the Al_MAO/Zr ratio, absolute Zr concentration, and addition of TMA on ethylene polymerization activity and polymer properties were investigated. The polymerization profiles for small Al_MAO/Zr ratios and the changes with the Zr concentration are explained with a complexation equilibrium for the active homogeneous complex and with the change to a heterogeneous catalyst upon polymer precipitation. Good polymer productivities can be achieved at Al_MAO/Zr < 1000 when working at Zr concentrations between 10^?4 and 10^?5 mol/l with addition of TMA (Al_MAO/Al_TMA≈ 1.4).     

A comparative study of tetraisobutyldialuminoxane and methylaluminoxane as cocatalysts for Cp2ZrCl2 catalyzed ethylene polymerization

Summary The effect of [A1]/[Zr] mol ratio and temperature on the cocatalytic effects of tetraisobutyldialuminoxane (TIBDAO) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) for ethylene polymerization using Cp₂ZrCl₂ catalyst were studied. The decay type kinetic profile was observed for both TIBDAO and MAO cocatalyzed ethylene polymerizations. Catalytic activity and rate of polymerization were found to be low for TIBDAO cocatalyzed ethylene polymerization when compared to MAO cocatalyzed ethylene polymerization. The differences in catalytic activity and rate of polymerization for ethylene polymerization catalyzed by Cp₂ZrCl₂-TIBDAO and Cp₂ZrCl₂-MAO were discussed with respect to the structures of MAO and TIBDAO. An active species for Cp₂ZrCl₂-MAO and Cp₂ZrCl₂-TIBDAO catalyzed ethylene polymerizations was also discussed. The polyethylene was characterized by intrinsic viscosity measurements.