Synthesis and structures of dialkyl zirconium complexes with an [OSSO]-type bis(phenolate) ligand bearing a trans-1,2-cyclooctanediylbis(thio) unit

Recent Advances in Nickel Catalysts with Industrial Exploitability for Copolymerization of Ethylene with Polar Monomers

The direct copolymerization of ethylene with polar monomers to produce functional polyolefins continues to be highly appealing due to its simple operation process and controllable product microstructure. Low-cost nickel catalysts have been extensively utilized in academia for the synthesis of polar polyethylenes. However, the development of high-temperature copolymerization catalysts suitable for industrial production conditions remains a significant challenge. Classified by the resultant copolymers, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the research progress in nickel complex catalyzed ethylene-polar monomer copolymerization at elevated temperatures in the past five years. The polymerization results of ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-tert-butyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-other fundamental polar monomer copolymers, and ethylene-special polar monomer copolymers are thoroughly summarized. The involved nickel catalysts include the phosphine-phenolate type, bisphosphine-monoxide type, phosphine-carbonyl type, phosphine-benzenamine type, and the phosphine-enolate type. The effective modulation of catalytic activity, molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, melting point, and polar monomer incorporation ratio by these catalysts is concluded and discussed. It reveals that the optimization of the catalyst system is mainly achieved through the methods of catalyst structure rational design, extra additive introduction, and single-site catalyst heterogenization. As a result, some outstanding catalysts are capable of producing polar polyethylenes that closely resemble commercial products. To achieve industrialization, it is essential to further emphasize the fundamental science of high-temperature copolymerization systems and the application performance of resultant polar polyethylenes.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Lithium and Titanium Complexes Bearing a Bulky Aryloxide Ligand Based on a Rigid Fused-Ring s-Hydrindacene Skeleton

The bulky aryl alcohols, (Rind)OH (1) [Rind = EMind (a) and Eind (b)], based on the rigid fused-ring 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octa-R-substituted s-hydrindacene skeleton were prepared by the reaction of (Rind)Li with nitrobenzene followed by protonation. The treatment of 1 with (n)BuLi affords the lithium aryloxide dimers [(Rind)OLi(THF)]2 (2) or trimers [(Rind)OLi]3 (3), depending on the employed solvents (THF = tetrahydrofuran). The salt metathesis reaction of [(EMind)OLi(THF)]2 (2a) with TiCl4(THF)2 leads to the formation of the mononuclear diamagnetic mono- and bis(aryloxide) Ti(IV) complexes, [(EMind)O]TiCl3(THF) (4a) and [(EMind)O]2TiCl2 (5a). We also isolated a trace amount of the tris(aryloxide) Ti(IV) complex, [(EMind)O]3TiCl (6a). The reaction between 2a and TiCl3(THF)3 resulted in the isolation of the mononuclear paramagnetic mono- and bis(aryloxide) Ti(III) complexes, [(EMind)O]TiCl2(THF)2 (7a) and [(EMind)O]2TiCl(THF)2 (8a). The discrete monomeric structures of the titanium complexes 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, and 8a were determined by X-ray crystallography.

Highly Isospecific Polymerization of Silyl-Protected ω-Alkenols Using an [OSSO]-Type Bis(phenolato) Dichloro Zirconium(IV) Precatalyst

The coordination polymerization of silyl-protected ω-alkenols such as ω-alken-α-oxytriisopropylsilanes 1 provides poly(ω-alkenyl-α-oxytriisopropylsilalne)s with a highly isospecific microstructure ([mmmm] > 95%) when a combination of [OSSO]-type bis(phenolato) dichloro zirconium(IV) complex 2 and dried methylaluminoxane is used as the precatalyst and activator, respectively. The resulting siloxy-substituted polymers could be efficiently transformed into the corresponding functionalized polyolefins, which contained up to 90% acetyl groups and ≈7% hydroxy groups in the terminal side chains.

Highly Active and Isospecific Styrene Polymerization Catalyzed by Zirconium Complexes Bearing Aryl-substituted [OSSO]-Type Bis(phenolate) Ligands

[OSSO]-type dibenzyl zirconium(IV) complexes 9 and 10 possessing aryl substituents ortho to the phenoxide moieties (ortho substituents, phenyl and 2,6-dimethylphenyl (Dmp)) were synthesized and characterized. Upon activation with dMAO (dried methylaluminoxane), complex 9 was found to promote highly isospecific styrene polymerizations ([mm] = 97.5%–99%) with high molecular weights M_w up to 181,000 g·mmol⁻¹. When the Dmp-substituted pre-catalyst 10/dMAO system was used, the highest activity, over 7700 g·mmol(10)⁻¹·h⁻¹, was recorded involving the formation of precisely isospecific polystyrenes of [mm] more than 99%.

Extremely active α-olefin polymerization and copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by a dMAO-activated zirconium(iv) dichloro complex having an [OSSO]-type ligand

We report here the polymerization of α-olefins and copolymerization of ethylene with 1-hexene catalyzed by a zirconium complex incorporating an [OSSO]-type ligand with dried methylaluminoxane (dMAO) as an activator.