Catalyst design 436 - polymerization

The syndiotactic polymer configuration is not obtained in pure form from polymerizations carried out above 20°C and, thus has not been a serious concern to most propylene polymerization catalyst designers. Eor most commercial appHcations of polypropylene, a resin with 96+% isotacticity is desired. Carbon-13 nmr can be used to estimate the isotactic fraction in a polypropylene sample. Another common analytical method is to dissolve the sample in boiling xylene and measure the amount of isotactic polymer that precipitates on cooling. 

The above example outlines a general problem in immobilized molecular catalysts - multiple types of sites are often produced. To this end, we are developing techniques to prepare well-defined immobilized organometallic catalysts on silica supports with isolated catalytic sites (7). Our new strategy is demonstrated by creation of isolated titanium complexes on a mesoporous silica support. These new materials are characterized in detail and their catalytic properties in test reactions (polymerization of ethylene) indicate improved catalytic performance over supported catalysts prepared via conventional means (8). The generality of this catalyst design approach is discussed and additional immobilized metal complex catalysts are considered. 

Spectacular achievements in catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of olefins using chiral Mnm-salen complexes have stimulated a great deal of interest in designing polymeric analogs of these complexes and in their use as recyclable chiral catalysts. Techniques of copolymerization of appropriate functional monomers have been utilized to prepare these polymers, and both organic and inorganic polymers have been used as the carriers to immobilize these metal complexes.103... 

The molecular design of stereospecific homogeneous catalysts for polymerization and oligomerization has now reached a practical stage, which is the result of the rapid developments in early transition metal organometallic chemistry in this decade. In fact, Exxon and Dow are already producing polyethylene commercially with the help of metallocene catalysts. Compared to the polymerization of a-olefins, the polymerization of polar vinyl, alkynyl and cyclic monomers seems to be less developed. 

In this contribution, we describe the discovery and application of phenoxy-imine ligated early transition metal complexes (FI catalysts) for olefin polymerization, including the concept behind our catalyst design, the discovery and the polymerization behavior of FI catalysts, and their applications to new polyolefinic materials. 

The above achievements depend highly on both the recent advances in rational catalyst design with the aid of computational science represented by DFT calculations and the wide range of catalyst design possibilities that are afforded by FI catalysts. These possibilities are derived from the readily varied steric and electronic properties of the phenoxy-imine ligands. It is expected that future research on FI catalysts will provide opportunities to produce additional polyolefin-based materials with unique microstructures and a chance to study catalysis and mechanisms for olefin polymerization. 

The recent progress surveyed in this review shows the promise that late transition metal catalysts can provide in the production of new materials. We will continue our exploration of new catalyst design for the synthesis of new functional materials with unconventional topologies. Given the unique features of late transition-metal polymerization catalysts and further improvement in catalyst stability and activity for copolymerization with polar comonomers, the future of designing novel functional polymeric materials with late-transition-metal catalysts is very promising. 

At 24 °C and 15-60 bar ethylene, [Rh(Me)(0H)(H20)Cn] catalyzed the slow polymerization of ethylene [4], Propylene, methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate did not react. After 90 days under 60 bar CH2=CH2 (the pressure was held constant throughout) the product was low molecular weight polyethylene with Mw =5100 and a polydispersity index of 1.6. This is certainly not a practical catalyst for ethylene polymerization (TOP 1 in a day), nevertheless the formation and further reactions of the various intermediates can be followed conveniently which may provide ideas for further catalyst design. For example, during such investigations it was established, that only the monohydroxo-monoaqua complex was a catalyst for this reaction, both [Rh(Me)3Cn] and [Rh(Me)(H20)2Cn] were found completely ineffective. The lack of catalytic activity of [Rh(Me)3Cn] is understandable since there is no free coordination site for ethylene. Such a coordination site can be provided by water dissociation from [Rh(Me)(OH)(H20)Cn] and [Rh(Me)(H20)2Cn] and the rate of this exchange is probably the lowest step of the overall reaction.The hydroxy ligand facilitates the dissociation of H2O and this leads to a slow catalysis of ethene polymerization. 

With these principles in mind, and the technological progress of well-characterized single-site catalysts in hand, catalyst design at the molecular level for stereoregular polymerization has become a reality. 

Abstract Metathesis-based polymerizations of 1-alkynes and cyclopolymerizations of 1,6-heptadiynes using late transition metal catalysts are reviewed. Results obtained with both binary, ternary, and quaternary catalytic systems and well-defined molybdenum- and ruthenium-based catalysts are presented. Special consideration is given to advancements in catalyst design and mechanistic understanding that have been made in this area over the last few years advancements that have facilitated tailor-made syntheses of poly(ene)s. In addition, the first supported ruthenium-based cyclopolymerization-active systems are summarized. Finally, selected structure-dependent properties will be outlined where applicable. 

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