Organometallic compounds, polymerizations propagation

Unfortunately, at present the information characterizing the properties of the active bond in polymerization catalysts is very scant. The analogy between the features of the active bonds in the propagation centers and those of the transition metal-carbon bond in individual organometallic compounds is sure to exist, but as in the initial form the latter do not show catalytic activity in olefin polymerization this analogy is restricted to its limits. 

Water, alcohols, ethers, or amines can cause inhibition of ionic polymerization. However, these substances can act in different ways according to their concentration. For example, in polymerizations initiated by Lewis acids (BF3 with isobutylene) or organometallic compounds (aluminum alkyls), water in small concentrations behaves as a cocatalyst, but in larger concentrations as an inhibitor (reaction with the initiator or with the ionic propagating species). 

To begin, let s consider the anionic polymerization of styrene. For an initiator, we will choose an organometallic compound an organic compound bonded to a metal atom) such as butyllithium, C4H9 Li+. Although the details differ, you should recognize the overall similarity of the mechanism for this anionic polymerization to that for the free radical polymerization of ethylene, above (initiation, propagation, and termination). 

As in free radical polymerization, there are initiation and propagation steps. Various initiators, such as organometallic compounds, alkali metals, Grignard reagents, or metal amides, like sodium amide, shown in Figure 3-31, can be used. Propagation proceeds in the usual manner, but there is no termination... 

The two-component catalytic systems used for olefin polymerization (Ziegler-Natta catalysts) are combinations of a compound of a IV-VIII group transition metal (catalyst) and an organometallic compound of a I-III group non-transition element (cocatalyst) An active center (AC) of polymerization in these systems is a compound (at the surface in the case of solid catalysts) which contains a transition metal-alkyl bond into which monomer insertion occurs during the propagation reaction. In the case of two-component catalysts an AC is formed by alkylation of a transition metal compound with the cocatalyst, for example ... 

Apparently, the reactivity of organometallic compounds in the addition of olefins to Mt—C bonds is determined by the capability of these compounds to coordinate olefins. The formation of intermediate n-complexes ensures further insertion of olefin by a concerted mechanism with a low activation energy. Thus, a high reactivity of active centers, containing a transition metal, comparable to the reactivity of the radical active centers, is achieved. The activation energy of the propagation in olefin polymerization on catalysts containing transition metals (2-6 kcal/mol) does not exceed its value for the radical polymerization (Table 10). 

A number of organometallic compounds acting as initiators can cause epoxide polymerization to proceed through anionic coordination mechanism. Propagation in such systems involves a concerted or coordinated process in which the epoxide monomer is inserted into an oxygen-metal (0-M) bond (Odian, 1991) ... 

Initiation The mechanism of initiation of anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers with alkyllithium compounds and other organometallic compounds is complicated by association and cross-association phenomena in hydrocarbon solvents and by the presence of a variety of ionic species in polar media [3, 4, 45, 48, 55, 56]. The kinetics of initiation is complicated by competing propagation and the occurrence of cross-association of the alkyllithium initiator with the propagating organolithium [55]. Thus, only the initial rates provide reliable kinetic data. 

One-component catalysts cause polymerization without organometallic activators in this case the formation of the propagation centers takes place at the interaction of the transition metal compound with the monomer. 

The importance of the electrophilic character of the cation in organo-alkali compounds has been discussed by Morton (793,194) for a variety of reactions. Roha (195) reviewed the polymerization of diolefins with emphasis on the electrophilic metal component of the catalyst. In essence, this review willattempt to treat coordination polymerization with a wide variety of organometallic catalysts in a similar manner irrespective of the initiation and propagation mechanisms. The discussion will be restricted to the polymerization of olefins, vinyl monomers and diolefins, although it is evident that coordinated anionic and cationic mechanisms apply equally well to alkyl metal catalyzed polymerizations of polar monomers such as aldehydes and ketones. 

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