Polymerizations Ziegler-Natta method

Considerable effort in the 1970s by Pittman, George, Hayes, Korshak, and others was applied to exploring the addition polymerization of vinylferrocene 6.1 to give organic polymers with pendent ferrocenyl side groups (6.2 in reaction (l)).1 6 This type of polymerization reaction has been attempted with the use of free radical, cationic, anionic, and Ziegler-Natta methods. 

Styrene is one of the few monomers that may be polymerized by free-radical, anionic, cationic, or coordination (Ziegler-Natta) methods. This property, common to styrene and most of its derivatives, is the consequence of the availability of a benzylic position in these monomers, which is capable of stabilizing a radical, carbanionic, or carbocationic center, as well as possessing a polarizability amenable to the charge distributions required by coordination methods of polymerization. 

A number of block copolymers prepared with Ziegler-Natta catalysts have been reported however, in most cases the compositions may include significant amounts of homopolymer. The Ziegler-Natta method appears to be inferior to anionic polymerization for synthesizing carefully tailored block copolymers. Nevertheless, bock copolymers of ethylene and propylene (Eastman Kodak s Pofyallomers) have been commercialized. Unlike the elastomeric random copolymers of ethylene and propylene, these are high-impact plastics exhibiting crystallinity characteristics of both isotactic polypropylene and linear polyethylene. They also contain homopolymers in addition to block copolymers. 

Cationic initiation and Ziegler-Natta methods have also been employed successfully in order to obtain poly(vinylferrocene) [14]. Due to the electron-donating nature of a ferrocene substituent, it was initially believed that anionic initiators would not be able to induce the polymerization of vinylferrocene. However, in the early 1990s, living anionic polymerization of vinylferrocene in solution was achieved at low temperatures (-70°C to -30°C) in THE using alkyllithium initiators [15]. Block copolymers of poly(vinylferrocene) with poly(methyl methacrylate), PVEc-b-PMMA (2.5) or polystyrene, PVFc-h-PS, as coblocks were also reported (Scheme 2.1) [15]. 

Some monomers can only be polymerized by specific polymerization methods while some others can be polymerized by many methods. For example, styrene can be polymerized by fi-ee-radical, anionic or Ziegler-Natta methods, while vinyl chloride can be polymerized only by free-radical methods. Also, each polymerization method has specific attributes, which are reflected in the properties of the pol3uners. Thus, for example, polyethylene prepared by the free-radical polymerization of ethylene has a branched structure and has low mechanical strength. This is known as low-density polyethylene (LDPE). In contrast, polyethylene prepared by the Ziegler-Natta catalysis of ethylene has a linear structure and has higher mechanical strength. This is known as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Thus, the choice of the polymerization method is dictated not only by the nature of the monomer but also by the properties that are required in the polymer. 

Polymer theory tends to emphasize simple systems, such as polyethylene. Unfortunately, ethylene polymerization, even using advanced Ziegler-Natta methods, is not controlled enough to allow production of, for example, a series of polyethyl-enes with M of 10,000,15,000, 20,000, etc. for comparison with theory. Suggest how olefin metathesis chemistry could provide a solution to this problem. 

There are several approaches to the preparation of multicomponent materials, and the method utilized depends largely on the nature of the conductor used. In the case of polyacetylene blends, in situ polymerization of acetylene into a polymeric matrix has been a successful technique. A film of the matrix polymer is initially swelled in a solution of a typical Ziegler-Natta type initiator and, after washing, the impregnated swollen matrix is exposed to acetylene gas. Polymerization occurs as acetylene diffuses into the membrane. The composite material is then oxidatively doped to form a conductor. Low density polyethylene (136,137) and polybutadiene (138) have both been used in this manner. 

We have reviewed experiments on two classes of systems, namely small metal particles and atoms on oxide surfaces, and Ziegler-Natta model catalysts. We have shown that metal carbonyls prepared in situ by reaction of deposited metal atoms with CO from the gas phase are suitable probes for the environment of the adsorbed metal atoms and thus for the properties of the nucleation site. In addition, examples of the distinct chemical and physical properties of low coordinated metal atoms as compared to regular metal adsorption sites were demonstrated. For the Ziegler-Natta model catalysts it was demonstrated how combination of different surface science methods can help to gain insight into a variety of microscopic properties of surface sites involved in the polymerization reaction. 

The initiation of polymerizations by metal-containing catalysts broadens the synthetic possibilities significantly. In many cases it is the only useful method to polymerize certain kinds of monomers or to polymerize them in a stereospecific way. Examples for metal-containing catalysts are chromium oxide-containing catalysts (Phillips-Catalysts) for ethylene polymerization, metal organic coordination catalysts (Ziegler-Natta catalysts) for the polymerization of ethylene, a-olefins and dienes (see Sect. 3.3.1), palladium catalysts and the metallocene catalysts (see Sect. 3.3.2) that initiate not only the polymerization of (cyclo)olefins and dienes but also of some polar monomers. 

Radioactive, 4C0 has been used to determine the number of active centers in Ziegler-Natta catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene and a-olefins 31 33>. However, the reliability of this method for active center determination is a matter of discussion 105,106). The argument arises from an uncertainty in the mechanism of the reaction of CO with a metal-polymer bond in the active center. Some model systems have been employed to investigate the mechanism. 

The method for the manufacture of polypropylene by the Ziegler-Natta process, which has been in widespread use for several decades, involved some years ago a polymerization in a relatively volatile solvent, for example a light petroleum fraction. That was the drawback of this process, since in the separation and subsequent drying of the polymer formed the solvent could not be completely recovered. Problems are thus experienced in fulfilling environmental protection requirements. An additional obstacle was the large volume of aqueous waste that is generated during workup of the polymer suspension. 

In only a few polymerization processes are metallocene catalysts used in a soluble form. Supported metallocene catalysts are preferred for the production of polyethylene or isotactic polypropylene on an industrial scale, especially in the slurry and gas-phase processes. To use them in existing technological processes (drop-in technology) as replacements for the conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts, the metallocenes have to be anchored to an insoluble powder support, including silica, alumina, and magnesium dichloride (208-217). Various methods of anchoring catalysts to supports are possible (Fig. 25) ... 

Applications of HT-type catalysts, prepared by the above methods, have been reported in recent years for basic catalysis (polymerization of alkene oxides, aldol condensation), steam reforming of methane or naphtha, CO hydrogenation as in methanol and higher-alcohol synthesis, conversion of syngas to alkanes and alkenes, hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, oxidation reactions, and as a support for Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Table 2). 

The all-cis structure of natural rubber is vita) to its elasticity. The all-trans compound is known and it is hard and brittle. Though dienes such as isoprene can easily be polymerized by cationic methods, the resulting rubber is not all-cis and has poor elasticity and durability. However, polymerization of isoprene in the Ziegler-Natta way gives an all-cis (90-95% at least) polyisoprene very similar to natural rubber. 

The electronic configuration of titanium is [Ar] 3d24s2, which means that Ti(IV) compounds are d° species with free coordination sites 1-27,28). H-NMR and 13C-NMR data are known and have been occasionally discussed in terms of bond polarity 19), but such interpretations are obviously of limited value. The electronic structure of methyltitanium trichloride 17 and other reagents have been considered qualitatively 52) and quantitatively S3 56> using molecular orbital procedures. It is problematical to compare these calculations in a quantitative way with those that have been carried out for methyllithium 57> since different methods, basis sets and assumptions are involved, but the extreme polar nature of the C—Li bond does not appear to apply to the C—Ti analog. Several MO calculations of the w-interaction between ethylene and methyltitanium trichloride 17 (models for Ziegler-Natta polymerization) clearly emphasize the role of vacant coordination sites at titanium 58). 

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