Polymerization of a-olefins

Mashima K, Nakayama Y and Nakamura A 1997 Recent trends in polymerization of a-olefins catalyzed by organometallic complexes of early transition metals Adv. Polym. Sc/. 133 1-54... 

These siUca-supported catalysts demonstrate the close connections between catalysis in solutions and catalysis on surfaces, but they are not industrial catalysts. However, siUca is used as a support for chromium complexes, formed either from chromocene or chromium salts, that are industrial catalysts for polymerization of a-olefins (64,65). Supported chromium complex catalysts are used on an enormous scale in the manufacture of linear polyethylene in the Unipol and Phillips processes (see Olefin polymers). The exact stmctures of the surface species are still not known, but it is evident that there is a close analogy linking soluble and supported metal complex catalysts for olefin polymerization. 

The Kinetics of the Stereospecific Polymerization of a-Olefins G. Natta and I. Pasquon Surface Potentials and Adsorption Process on Metals... 

Bent ansa-metallocenes of early transition metals (especially Ti, Zr, Hf) have attracted considerable interest due to their catalytic activity in the polymerization of a-olefins. Ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis has been used to connect two Cp substituents coordinated to the same metal [120c, 121a] by RCM or to connect two bent metallocenes by cross metathesis [121b]. A remarkable influence of the catalyst on E/Z selectivity was described for the latter case while first-generation catalyst 9 yields a 1 1 mixture of E- and Z-dimer 127, -127 is the only product formed with 56d (Eq. 19). 

Mashima, K., Nakayama, Y. and Nakamura, A. Recent Trends in Polymerization of a-Olefins Catalyzed by Organometallic Complexes of Early Transition Metals. Vol. 133, pp. 1-52. 

Zirconium bis(amides) such as (35) and (36) display moderate ethylene polymerization activities.133,134 Complex (37) containing a chelating diamide ligand has been shown to initiate the living polymerization of a-olefins such as 1-hexene (Mw/Mn= 1.05-1.08) with activities up to 750gmmol-1 h-1.135-137 The living polymerization of propylene using this system activated with... 

Although group 4 metallocenes display high activities as catalysts for the polymerization of a-olefins, methacrylates and styrenes, to date very few reports have appeared examining their use as lactone ROP initiators. Zr(OR)4 and Ti(OR)4 (R = Pr, Bu) have been briefly investigated for the polymerization of CL and LA,744 913 but high temperatures (100-150 °C) are required. Less control is afforded by Zr(acac)2914,915 or ZrCl4.916... 

Recent Trends in the Polymerization of a-Olefins Catalyzed by Organometallic Complexes 3... 

Eisch s work promoted investigation into the preparation of cationic metallocene complexes of Group 4 metals. Several preparative routes to cationic group 4 metallocene complexes are illustrated in Scheme II. Catalytic activities of some selected cationic metallocene complexes for the polymerization of a-olefins are summarized in Tables 5 and 6. The catalyst systems based on these cationic complexes are just as active as M AO-activated metallocene catalysts for the polymerization of a-olefins. 

The Dow corporation has recently developed constrained geometry addition polymerization catalysts (CGCT), typically Me2Si(C5Me4)(NBut)MCl2 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) (141) activated with MAO. The homo-polymerization of a-olefins by CGCT afford atactic or somewhat syndiotactic (polypropylene rr 69%) polymers. The metal center of the catalyst opens the coordination sphere and enables the co-polymerization of ethylene to take place, not only with common monomers such as propylene, butene, hexene, and octene, but also with sterically hindered a-olefins such as styrene and 4-vinylcyclohexene [202]. 

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. 

Non-metallocene complexes, such as aryloxide 31 and amide 138, have also been utilized as catalyst systems for the polymerization of a-olefins. Moreover, the homogeneous olefin polymerization catalysts have been extended to metals other than those in Group 4, as described in Sect. 7. Complexes such as mono(cyclopentadienyl)mono(diene) are in isoelectronic relationship with Group 4 metallocenes and they have been found to initiate the living polymerization of ethylene. These studies will being further progress to the chemistry of homogeneous polymerization catalysts. 

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