Ethylene basicity

During the 1970s Jersey Standard s chemical product portfolio had been reduced to resemble that in 1960. Its primary chemical business remained the production of ethylene, basic polymers (including LDPE, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) using the Unipol process, licensed from Union Carbide, PP, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers (particularly for vinyl production), elastomers, and synthetic rubbers. Profits returned. The 1974 balance sheet listed earnings of 456 million on revenue of 3.3 billion, making Exxon Chemical one of the five most profitable chemical companies worldwide. 

Fig. 1. The structure of the ethylene-zirconocene complex (SiH2Cp2)ZrCHj-C2H4. The corresponding titanocene has basically the same structure, except that the Ti-C distances are obviously different from the Zr-C distances.

The entire Hving and material world consists of compounds and mixtures of compounds. Basic chemicals, such as ethylene, are produced in many millions of tons each year and are converted into a wide variety of other chemicals. Complicated molecular structures are synthesized by Mother Nature, or by chemists having taken up the challenge posed by Nature. However, we also have materials such as glues which are composed of mixtures of rather ill-defined polymers. 

In the case of ethylene, because of 2-fold symmetry, odd terms drop out of the series, V3, V5,... = 0. In the case of ethane, because of 3-fold symmeti-y, even temis drop out, V2, V4,... = 0. Terms higher than three, even though permitted by symmetry, are usually quite small and force fields can often be limited to three torsional terms. Like cubic and quaitic terms modifying the basic quadratic approximation for stretching and bending, terms in the Fourier expansion of Ftors (to) beyond n = 3 have limited use in special cases, for example, in problems involving octahedrally bound complexes. In most cases we are left with the simple expression... 

As we ve just seen nucleophilic ring opening of ethylene oxide yields 2 substituted derivatives of ethanol Those reactions involved nucleophilic attack on the carbon of the ring under neutral or basic conditions Other nucleophilic ring openings of epoxides like wise give 2 substituted derivatives of ethanol but either involve an acid as a reactant or occur under conditions of acid catalysis... 

The addition of alcohols to form the 3-alkoxypropionates is readily carried out with strongly basic catalyst (25). If the alcohol groups are different, ester interchange gives a mixture of products. Anionic polymerization to oligomeric acrylate esters can be obtained with appropriate control of reaction conditions. The 3-aIkoxypropionates can be cleaved in the presence of acid catalysts to generate acrylates (26). Development of transition-metal catalysts for carbonylation of olefins provides routes to both 3-aIkoxypropionates and 3-acryl-oxypropionates (27,28). Hence these are potential intermediates to acrylates from ethylene and carbon monoxide. 

Poly(ethylene oxide)s [25372-68-3] are made by condensation of ethylene oxide with a basic catalyst. In order to achieve a very high molecular weight, water and other compounds that can act as chain terminators must be rigorously excluded. Polymers up to a molecular weight of 8 million are available commercially in the form of dry powders (27). These must be dissolved carefliUy using similar techniques to those used for dry polyacrylamides. Poly(ethylene oxide)s precipitate from water solutions just below the boiling point (see Polyethers, ethylene oxide polymers). 

Chemical Properties. Neopentyl glycol can undergo typical glycol reactions such as esterification (qv), etherification, condensation, and oxidation. When basic kinetic studies of the esterification rate were carried out for neopentyl glycol, the absolute esterification rate of neopentyl glycol with / -butyric acid was approximately 20 times that of ethylene glycol with / -butyric acid (7). 

With this type of burner, a wide variety of raw materials, ranging from propane to naphtha, and heavier hydrocarbons containing 10—15 carbon atoms, can be used. In addition, the pecuhar characteristics of the different raw materials that can be used enable the simultaneous production of acetylene and ethylene (and heavier olefins) ia proportioas which can be varied within wide limits without requiring basic modifications of the burner. 

Resorcinol carboxylation with carbon dioxide leads to a mixture of 2,4-dihydroxyben2oic acid [89-86-1] (26) and 2,6-dihydroxyben2oic acid [303-07-1] (27) (116). The condensation of resorcinol with chloroform under basic conditions, in the presence of cyclodextrins, leads exclusively to 2,4-dihydroxyben2aldehyde [95-01-2] (28) (117). Finally, the synthesis of l,3-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)ben2ene [102-40-9] (29) has been described with ethylene glycol carbonate in basic medium (118), in the presence of phosphines (119). Ethylene oxide, instead of ethyl glycol carbonate, can also be used (120). 

Quantitative Analysis of All llithium Initiator Solutions. Solutions of alkyUithium compounds frequentiy show turbidity associated with the formation of lithium alkoxides by oxidation reactions or lithium hydroxide by reaction with moisture. Although these species contribute to the total basicity of the solution as determined by simple acid titration, they do not react with allyhc and henzylic chlorides or ethylene dibromide rapidly in ether solvents. This difference is the basis for the double titration method of determining the amount of active carbon-bound lithium reagent in a given sample (55,56). Thus the amount of carbon-bound lithium is calculated from the difference between the total amount of base determined by acid titration and the amount of base remaining after the solution reacts with either benzyl chloride, allyl chloride, or ethylene dibromide. 

Most commercial processes involve copolymerization of ethylene with the acid comonomer followed by partial neutralization, using appropriate metal compounds. The copolymerization step is best carried out in a weU-stirred autoclave with continuous feeds of all ingredients and the free-radical initiator, under substantially constant environment conditions (22—24). Owing to the relatively high reactivity of the acid comonomer, it is desirable to provide rapid end-over-end mixing, and the comonomer content of the feed is much lower than that of the copolymer product. Temperatures of 150—280°C and pressures well in excess of 100 MPa (1000 atm) are maintained. Modifications on the basic process described above have been described (25,26). When specific properties such as increased stiffness are required, nonrandom copolymers may be preferred. An additional comonomer, however, may be introduced to decrease crystallinity (10,27). 

Histotically, the classification of PE lesias has developed ia conjunction with the discovery of new catalysts for ethylene polymerisation as well as new polymerisation processes and appHcations. The classification (given ia Table 1) is based on two parameters that could be easily measured ia the 1950s ia a commercial environment with minimum iastmmentation the resia density and its melt iadex. In its present state, this classification provides a simple means for a basic differentiation of PE resias, even though it cannot easily describe some important distinctions between the stmctures and properties of various resia brands. 

Copolymers. Although many copolymers of ethylene can be made, only a few have been commercially produced. These commercially important copolymers are Hsted in Table 4, along with their respective reactivity coefficient (see Co polymers. The basic equation governing the composition of the copolymer is as follows, where and M2 are the monomer feed compositions, and r2 ate the reactivity ratios (6). 

Idemitsu Process. Idemitsu built a 50 t x 10 per year plant at Chiba, Japan, which was commissioned in Febmary of 1989. In the Idemitsu process, ethylene is oligomerised at 120°C and 3.3 MPa (33 atm) for about one hour in the presence of a large amount of cyclohexane and a three-component catalyst. The cyclohexane comprises about 120% of the product olefin. The catalyst includes sirconium tetrachloride, an aluminum alkyl such as a mixture of ethylalurninumsesquichloride and triethyl aluminum, and a Lewis base such as thiophene or an alcohol such as methanol (qv). This catalyst combination appears to produce more polymer (- 2%) than catalysts used in other a-olefin processes. The catalyst content of the cmde product is about 0.1 wt %. The catalyst is killed by using weak ammonium hydroxide followed by a water wash. Ethylene and cyclohexane are recycled. Idemitsu s basic a-olefin process patent (9) indicates that linear a-olefin levels are as high as 96% at C g and close to 100% at and Cg. This is somewhat higher than those produced by other processes. 

Ethylene Glycol Process. Oxahc acid is also prepared by the nitric acid oxidation of ethylene glycol (15—21), and the process is basically the same as in the case of carbohydrates except for the absence of the hydrolyzer (see Eig. 1). In this process, ethylene glycol is oxidized in a mixture of... 

Etherification. Many of the mono alkylphenols and some of the dialkylphenols are converted into ethoxylates which find commercial apphcation as nonionic surfactants (9). For example, -nonylphenol reacts with ethylene oxide under mild basic conditions. 

Ethoxylation and Propoxylation. Ethylene oxide [75-21-8] or propylene oxide [75-56-9] add readily to primary fatty amines to form bis(2-hydroxyethyl) or bis(2-hydroxypropyl) tertiary amines secondary amines also react with ethylene or propylene oxide to form 2-hydroxyalkyl tertiary amines (1,3,7,33—36). The initial addition is completed at approximately 170°C. Additional ethylene or propylene oxide can be added by using a basic catalyst, usually sodium or potassium hydroxide. 

PVC. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), a very versatile polymer, is manufactured by the polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer, a gaseous substance obtained from the reaction of ethylene with oxygen and hydrochloric acid. In its most basic form, the resin is a relatively hard material that requites the addition of other compounds, commonly plasticisers and stabilisers as well as certain other ingredients, to produce the desired physical properties for roofing use. The membranes come in both reinforced and nonreinforced constmctions, but since the 1980s the direction has been toward offering only reinforced membranes. The membrane thickness typically mns from 0.8—1.5 mm and widths typically in the range of 1.5—4.6 m. 

Epichlorohydrin. Commercial polyester elastomers include both the homopolymer and the copolymer of epichl orohydrin with ethylene oxide. The very polar chloromethyl groups create basic resistance to oil for these polymers, and they have been extensively used in fuel lines however, the desire for lower fuel permeation is causing a search to be made for other polymers (10) (see Elastomers, synthetic-polyethers). 

Cyclohexanoae is miscible with methanol, ethanol, acetone, benzene, / -hexane, nitrobenzene, diethyl ether, naphtha, xylene, ethylene glycol, isoamyl acetate, diethylamine, and most organic solvents. This ketone dissolves cellulose nitrate, acetate, and ethers, vinyl resias, raw mbber, waxes, fats, shellac, basic dyes, oils, latex, bitumea, kaure, elemi, and many other organic compounds. 

All lene Oxides and Aziridines. Alkyleneamines react readily with epoxides, such as ethylene oxide [75-21-8] (EO) or propylene oxide [75-56-9] (PO), to form mixtures of hydroxyalkyl derivatives. Product distribution is controlled by the amine to epoxide mole ratio. If EDA, which has four reactive amine hydrogens, reacts at an EDA to EO mole ratio which is greater than 1 4, a mixture of mono-, di-, tri,-, and tetrahydroxyethyl derivatives of EDA are formed. A 10 1 EDA EO feed mole ratio gives predominandy 2-hydroxyethylethylenediamine [111-41-1], the remainder is a mixture of bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamines (7). If the reactive NH to epoxide feed mole ratio is less than one and, additionally, a strong basic catalyst is used, then oxyalkyl derivatives, like those shown for EDA and excess PO result (8,9). 

By virtue of their unique combination of reactivity and basicity, the polyamines react with, or cataly2e the reaction of, many chemicals, sometimes rapidly and usually exothermically. Some reactions may produce derivatives that ate explosives (eg, ethylenedinitrarnine). The amines can cataly2e a mnaway reaction with other compounds (eg, maleic anhydride, ethylene oxide, acrolein, and acrylates), sometimes resulting in an explosion. 

Polyester fibers are based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) some modified versions are formed by copolymerization, eg, basic dyeable polyester. The modified forms dye in analogous manner to other fibers of similar charge. 

J. W. Crary, Ethylene/Mery lie Elastomer—Basic Principles of Compounding and Processing, Bulletin EA-030.0482, Du Pont Polymers, Stow, Ohio, Apr. 1982. 

The reactions are highly exothermic. Under Uquid-phase conditions at about 200°C, the overall heat of reaction is —83.7 to —104.6 kJ/mol (—20 to —25 kcal/mol) ethylene oxide reacting (324). The opening of the oxide ring is considered to occur by an ionic mechanism with a nucleophilic attack on one of the epoxide carbon atoms (325). Both acidic and basic catalysts accelerate the reactions, as does elevated temperature. The reaction kinetics and product distribution have been studied by a number of workers (326,327). 

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