Arriving at an Experimental Estimate of the Intrinsic Activation Barrier of Olefin Insertion into the Zr−C Bond of an Active Metallocene Ziegler Catalyst

Solution-Phase Conformational/Vibrational Anharmonicity in Comonomer Incorporation Polyolefin Catalysis

The prediction of comonomer incorporation statistics in polyolefin catalysis necessitates an accurate calculation of free energies corresponding to monomer binding and insertion, often requiring sub-kcal/mol resolution to resolve experimental free energies. Batch reactor experiments are used to probe incorporation statistics of ethene and larger α-olefins for three constrained geometry complexes which are employed as model systems. Herein, over 6 ns of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics is performed in combination with the zero-temperature string method to characterize the solution-phase insertion barrier and to analyze the contributions from conformational and vibrational anharmonicity arising both in vacuum and in solution. Conformational sampling in the solution-phase results in 0-2 kcal/mol corrections to the insertion barrier which are on the same scale necessary to resolve experimental free energies. Anharmonic contributions from conformational sampling in the solution phase are crucial energy contributions missing from static density functional theory calculations and implicit solvation models, and the accurate calculation of these contributions is a key step toward the quantitative prediction of comonomer incorporation statistics.

Kinetic and Thermal Study of Ethylene and Propylene Homo Polymerization Catalyzed by ansa-Zirconocene Activated with Alkylaluminum/Borate: Effects of Alkylaluminum on Polymerization Kinetics and Polymer Structure

The kinetics of ethylene and propylene polymerization catalyzed by homogeneous metallocene were investigated using 2-thiophenecarbonyl chloride followed by quenched-flow methods. The studied metallocene catalysts are: rac-Me2Si(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2ZrCl2 (Mt-I), rac-Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 (Mt-II) activated with ([Me2NPh][B(C6F5)4] (Borate-I), [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] (Borate-II), and were co-catalyzed with different molar ratios of alkylaluminum such as triethylaluminium (TEA) and triisobutylaluminium (TIBA). The change in molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, microstructure and thermal properties of the synthesized polymer are discussed in detail. Interestingly, both Mt-I and Mt-II showed high activity in polyethylene with productivities between 3.17 × 106 g/molMt·h to 5.06 × 106 g/molMt·h, activities were very close to each other with 100% TIBA, but Mt-II/borate-II became more active when TEA was more than 50% in cocatalyst. Similarly, Polypropylene showed the highest activity of 11.07 106 g /molMt·h with Mt-I/Borate-I/TIBA. The effects of alkylaluminum on PE molecular weight were much more complicated; MWD curve changed from mono-modal in Mt-I/borate-I/TIBA to bimodal type when TIBA was replaced by different amounts of TEA. In PE, the active center fractions [C*]/[Zr] of Mt-I/borate were higher than that of Mt-II/borate and average chain propagation rate constant (k p) value slightly decreased with the increase of TEA/TIBA ratio, but the Mt-II/borate systems showed higher k p 1007 k p (L/mol·s). In PP, the Mt-I/borate presented much higher [C*]/[Zr] and k p value than the Mt-II. This work also extend to investigate the mechanistic features of zirconocenes catalyzed olefin polymerizations that addressed the largely unknown issues in zirconocenes in the distribution of the catalyst, between species involved in polymer chain growth and dormant state. In both metallocene systems, chain transfer with alkylaluminum is the dominant way of chain termination. To understand the mechanism of cocatalyst effects on PE Mw and (MWD), the unsaturated chain ends formed via β-H transfer have been investigated by 1H NMR analysis.

Extent of structural change during the reaction and its relationship to isoselectivity in polypropylene polymerization with ansa-zirconocene/borate catalyst: A computational study

The mechanism of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) polymerization with an (R,R)-ansa-zirconocene/borate catalyst system was analyzed using quantum chemistry (QC) calculations by focusing on the extent of structural change during monomer insertion. The activation energy for migratory insertion, E_a , was compared for four possible reaction paths with regard to monomer coordination, that is, 1,2-re, 1,2-si, 2,1-si, and 2,1-re, until the seventh monomer insertion step, explicitly including a borate anion cocatalyst. This indicated that the 1,2-re path was most favorable, except for the first step, which favored 1,2-si. As far as the first step, the product of 1,2-si is a conformational isomer to that of the 1,2-re path, and the exceptional favorability of 1,2-si does not affect the isoselectivity. These results support previous studies, except that our results address the unexplored seventh insertion step with a borate anion cocatalyst by QC calculations. The isoselectivity correlated with the extent of structural change in the whole system during the reaction. It was proved from our detail analysis that the advantage of 1,2-re with a small E_a is attributed to its smaller structural changes due to low steric repulsion in the system compared with other paths. Conversely, larger repulsion in the systems involved in other paths results in larger structural changes to minimize the structural strain. However, the relaxation appears insufficient due to structural restriction of the enforced four-membered ring transition state structure. A borate anion cocatalyst broke the C₂ symmetry of the electronic structures of zirconocene, resulting in an odd-even E_a frequency for the monomer insertion. Molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the d-π orbital overlaps can explain the approach direction of the olefin coordination and the bent structure of zirconocene, providing a different viewpoint from previous studies. The potential for catalyst control was discussed based on our results. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

NMR chemical shift analysis decodes olefin oligo- and polymerization activity of d0 group 4 metal complexes

d⁰ metal-alkyl complexes (M = Ti, Zr, and Hf) show specific activity and selectivity in olefin polymerization and oligomerization depending on their ligand set and charge. Here, we show by a combined experimental and computational study that the ¹³C NMR chemical shift tensors of the α-carbon of metal alkyls that undergo olefin insertion signal the presence of partial alkylidene character in the metal-carbon bond, which facilitates this reaction. The alkylidene character is traced back to the π-donating interaction of a filled orbital on the alkyl group with an empty low-lying metal d-orbital of appropriate symmetry. This molecular orbital picture establishes a connection between olefin insertion into a metal-alkyl bond and olefin metathesis and a close link between the Cossee-Arlmann and Green-Rooney polymerization mechanisms. The ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, the α-H agostic interaction, and the low activation barrier of ethylene insertion are, therefore, the results of the same orbital interactions, thus establishing chemical shift tensors as a descriptor for olefin insertion.

Unprecedented alkene complex of zinc(II): structures and bonding of divinylzinc complexes

This report describes the solid-state structures of a series of divinylzinc complexes, one of which represents the only structurally characterized zinc(II) pi-complex. Vinylzinc reagents, Zn[C(Me)=CH2]2 (1) and Zn[C(H)=CMe2]2 (2), have been synthesized and isolated as white crystalline solids in 66 and 72% yield, respectively. Each compound exhibits an infinite polymeric architecture in the solid state via a series of zinc-pi (1) and zinc-sigma-bonded (2) bridging interactions. Addition of chelating ligands to these divinylzinc compounds allowed isolation of the monomeric adducts (bipy)Zn[C(Me)=CH2]2 (1.bipy), (tmeda)Zn[C(Me)=CH2]2 (1*tmeda), (bipy)Zn[C(H)=CMe2]2 (2*bipy), and (tmeda)Zn[C(H)=CMe2]2 (2*tmeda), of which 1*bipy, 2*bipy, and 2*tmeda have been characterized crystallographically.

Stereochemical Control Mechanisms in Propylene Polymerization Mediated by C1-Symmetric CGC Titanium Catalyst Centers

This work analyzes stereochemical aspects of olefin polymerization processes mediated by the C1-symmetric constrained geometry catalyst H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiCH3+ (ind = indenyl), including the role of the cocatalyst/counteranion. The energetics of catalyst activation are first analyzed and shown to compare favorably with experiment. The energetics of heterolytic ion pair separation are next scrutinized, and the effects of solvation environment are assessed. Computed thermodynamic profiles for ethylene insertion at H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiCH3+ indicate that the kinetics of insertion processes at the H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiR+ cation can be analyzed in terms of SCF potential energies. We next compare the energetic profile for ethylene insertion at the naked H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiCH3+ cation with that at the related H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiCH3+H3CB(C6F5)3- ion pair to understand counterion effects. It is seen that the counterion, although affecting overall catalytic activity, does not significantly influence enchainment stereochemistry or polymer microtacticity. Next, the second ethylene insertion at H2Si(ind)(tBuN)Ti(nC3H7)+H3CB(C6F5)3- is analyzed to evaluate counteranion influence on the propagation barrier. It is found that the ethylene uptake transition state is energetically comparable to the first insertion transition state and that solvation has negligible effects on the energetic profile. These findings justify analysis of the propylene insertion process within the less computationally demanding "naked cation" model. Thus, monomer enchainment at H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiR+ is analyzed for H2Si(ind)(tBuN)TiCH3+ + propylene (first insertion) and for H2Si(ind)(tBuN)Ti(iC4H6)+ + propylene (second insertion). Data describing the first insertion highlight the sterically dominated regioselection properties of the system with activation energies indicating that olefin insertion regiochemistry is predominantly 1,2 (primary), while the second insertion similarly reflects the catalyst stereoinduction properties, with steric effects introduced by the growing chain (mimicked by an isobutyl group) preferentially favoring insertion pathways that afford isotactic enrichment, in agreement with experiment.

Alkenylsilane Structure Effects on Mononuclear and Binuclear Organotitanium-Mediated Ethylene Polymerization: Scope and Mechanism of Simultaneous Polyolefin Branch and Functional Group Introduction

Alkenylsilanes of varying chain lengths are investigated as simultaneous chain-transfer agents and comonomers in organotitanium-mediated olefin polymerization processes. Ethylene polymerizations were carried out with activated CGCTiMe2 and EBICGCTi2Me4 (CGC = Me2Si(Me4C5)(NtBu); EBICGC = (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta5-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)]}2) precatalysts in the presence of allylsilane, 3-butenylsilane, 5-hexenylsilane, and 7-octenylsilane. In the presence of these alkenylsilanes, high polymerization activities (up to 107 g of polymer/(mol of Ti.atm ethylene.h)), narrow product copolymer polydispersities, and substantial amounts of long-chain branching are observed. Regardless of Ti nuclearity, alkenylsilane incorporation levels follow the trend C8H15SiH3 < C6H11SiH3 approximately C4H7SiH3 < C3H5SiH3. Alkenylsilane comonomer incorporation levels are consistently higher for CGCTiMe2-mediated copolymerizations (up to 54%) in comparison with EBICGCTi2Me4-mediated copolymerizations (up to 32%). The long-chain branching levels as compared to the total branch content follow the trend C3H5SiH3 < C4H7SiH3 approximately C6H11SiH3 approximately C8H15SiH3, with gel permeation chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering-derived branching ratios (gM) approaching 1.0 for C8H15SiH3. Time-dependent experiments indicate a linear increase of copolymer Mw with increasing polymerization reaction time. This process for producing long-chain branched polyolefins by coupling of an alpha-olefin with a chain-transfer agent in one comonomer is unprecedented. Under the conditions investigated, alkenylsilanes ranging from C3 to C8 are all efficient chain-transfer agents. Ti nuclearity significantly influences silanolytic chain-transfer processes, with the binuclear system exhibiting a sublinear relationship between Mn and [alkenylsilane](-1) for allylsilane and 3-butenylsilane, and a superlinear relationship between Mn and [alkenylsilane](-1) for 5-hexenylsilane and 7-octenylsilane. For the mononuclear Ti system, alkenylsilanes up to C6 exhibit a linear relationship between Mn and [alkenylsilane](-1), consistent with a simple silanolytic chain termination mechanism.

NOE and PGSE NMR Spectroscopic Studies of Solution Structure and Aggregation in Metallocenium Ion-Pairs

The solution structures of the metallocenium homogeneous polymerization catalyst ion-pairs [Cp(2)ZrMe](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (1), [(1,2-Me(2)Cp)(2)ZrMe](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (2), [(Me(2)SiCp(2))ZrMe](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (3), [Me(2)C(Fluorenyl)(Cp)ZrMe](+)[FPBA](-) (FPBA = tris(2,2',2' '-nonafluorobiphenyl)fluoroaluminate) (4), [rac-Et(Indenyl)(2)ZrMe](+)[FPBA](-) (5), [(Me(5)Cp)(2)ThMe](+)[B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) (6), [(Me(2)SiCp(2))Zr(Me)(THF)](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (7), [(Me(2)SiCp(2))Zr(Me)(PPh(3))](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (8), [(Me(2)SiCp(2))Zr(Me)(THF)](+)[B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) (9), [(Me(2)Si(Me(4)Cp)(t-BuN)Zr(Me)(solvent)](+)[B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) (solvent = benzene, toluene) (10), [(Cp(2)ZrMe)(2)(mu-Me)](+)[MePBB](-) (PBB = tris(2,2',2"-nonafluorobiphenyl)borane) (11), and [(Cp(2)Zr)(2)(mu-CH(2))(mu-Me)](+)[MePBB](-) (12), having the counteranion in the inner (1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) or outer (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) coordination sphere, have been investigated for the first time in solvents with low relative permittivity such as benzene or toluene by (1)H NOESY and (1)H,(19)F HOESY NMR spectroscopy. It is found that the average interionic solution structures of the inner sphere contact ion-pairs are similar to those in the solid state with the anion B-Me (1, 3) or Al-F (5) vectors oriented toward the free zirconium coordination site. The HOESY spectrum of complex 6 is in agreement with the reported solid-state structure. In contrast, in outer sphere contact ion-pairs 7, 8, 9, and 10, the anion is located far from the Zr-Me(+) moiety and much nearer to the Me(2)Si bridge than in 3. The interionic structure of 8 is concentration-dependent, and for concentrations greater than 2 mM, a loss of structural localization is observed. PGSE NMR measurements as a function of concentration (0.1-5.0 mM) indicate that the tendency to form aggregates of nuclearity higher than simple ion-pairs is dependent on whether the anion is in the inner or outer coordination sphere of the metallocenium cation. Complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show no evidence of aggregation up to 5 mM (well above concentrations typically used in catalysis) or at the limit of saturated solutions (complexes 3 and 6), while concentration-dependent behavior is observed for complexes 7, 8, 10, and 11. These outer sphere ion-pairs begin to exhibit significant evidence for ion-quadruples in solutions having concentrations greater than 0.5 mM with the tendency to aggregate being a function of metal ligation and anion structure. Above 2 mM, compound 8 exists as higher aggregates that are probably responsible for the loss of interionic structural specificity.

Zirconocene-catalyzed propene polymerization: a quenched-flow kinetic study

The kinetics of propene polymerization catalyzed by ansa-metallocenes were studied using quenched-flow techniques. Two catalyst systems were investigated, (SBI)ZrMe2/Al(i)Bu3/[Ph3C][CN[B(C6F5)3]2] (1:100:1) at 25.0 degrees C and (SBI)ZrCl(2)/methylalumoxane at 40.0 degrees C (Al:Zr = 2400:1) (SBI = rac-Me(2)Si(1-Indenyl)2). The aims of the study were to address fundamental mechanistic aspects of metallocene-catalyzed alkene polymerizations, catalyst initiation, the quantitative correlation between catalyst structure and the rate of chain propagation, and the nature of dormant states. One of the most important but largely unknown factors in metallocene catalysis is the distribution of the catalyst between dormant states and species actively involved in polymer chain growth. Measurements of polymer yield Y versus reaction time t for propene concentrations [M] = 0.15-0.59 mol L(-1) and zirconocene concentrations in the range [Zr] = (2.38-9.52) x 10(-5) mol L(-1) for the borate system showed first-order dependence on [M] and [Zr]. Up to t approximately 1 s, the half-life of catalyst initiation is comparable to the half-life of chain growth; that is, this phase is governed by non-steady-state kinetics. We propose a rate law which takes account of this and accurately describes the initial rates. Curve fitting of Y(t) data provides an apparent chain growth rate constant k(p)(app) on the order of 10(3) L mol(-1) s(-1). By contrast, the evolution with time of the number-average polymer molecular weight, which is independent of the concentration of catalyst involved, leads to a k(p) which is an order of magnitude larger, (17.2 +/- 1.4) x 10(3) L mol(-1) s(-1). The ratio k(p)(app)/k(p) = 0.08 indicates that under the given conditions only about 8% of the total catalyst is actively engaged in chain growth at any one time. The system (SBI)ZrCl(2)/methylalumoxane is significantly less active, k(p)(app) = 48.4 +/- 2.7 and k(p) = (6 +/- 2) x 10(2) L mol(-1) s(-1), while, surprisingly, the mole fraction of active species is essentially identical, 8%. Evidently, the energetics of the chain growth sequence are strongly modulated by the nature of the counteranion. Increasing the counteranion/zirconium ratio from 1:1 to 20:1 has no influence on catalyst activity. These findings are consistent with a model of closely associated ion pairs throughout the chain growth sequence. For the borate system, propagation is approximately 6000 times faster than initiation, while for the MAO catalyst, k(p)/k(i) approximately 800. Polymers obtained at 25 degrees C show 0.1-0.2 mol % 2,1-regioerrors, and end-group analysis identifies 2,1-misinsertions as the main cause for chain termination (66%), as compared to 34% for the vinylidene end groups. The results suggest that 2,1-regioerrors are a major contributor to the formation of dormant species, even at short reaction times.

Kinetics of initiation, propagation, and termination for the [rac-(C(2)H(4)(1-indenyl)(2))ZrMe][MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)]-catalyzed polymerization of 1-hexene

Metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of 1-alkenes offers fine control of critical polymer attributes such as molecular weight, polydispersity, tacticity, and comonomer incorporation. Enormous effort has been expended on the synthesis and discovery of new catalysts and activators, but elementary aspects of the catalytic processes remain unclear. For example, it is unclear how the catalyst is distributed among active and dormant sites and how this distribution influences the order in monomer for the propagation rates, for which widely varying values are reported. Similarly, although empirical relationships between average molecular weights and monomer have been established for many systems, the underlying mechanisms of chain termination are unclear. Another area of intense interest concerns the role of ion-pairing in controlling the activity and termination mechanisms of metallocene-catalyzed polymerizations. Herein we report the application of quenched-flow kinetics, active site counting, polymer microstructure analysis, and molecular weight distribution analysis to the determination of fundamental rate laws for initiation, propagation, and termination for the polymerization of 1-hexene in toluene solution as catalyzed by the contact ion-pair, [rac-(C(2)H(4)(1-indenyl)(2))ZrMe][MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)] (1) over the temperature range of -10 to 50 degrees C. Highly isotactic (>99% mmmm) poly-1-hexene is produced with no apparent enchained regioerrors. Initiation and propagation processes are first order in the concentrations of 1-hexene and 1 but independent of excess borane or the addition of the contact ion-pair [PhNMe(3)][MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)]. Active site counting and the reaction kinetics provide no evidence of catalyst accumulation in dormant or inactive sites. Initiation is slower than propagation by a factor of 70. The principal termination process is the formation of unsaturates of two types: vinylidene end groups that arise from termination after a 1,2 insertion and vinylene end groups that follow 2,1 insertions. The rate law for the former termination process is independent of the 1-hexene concentration, whereas the latter is first order. Analysis of (13)C-labeled polymer provides support for a mechanism of vinylene end group formation that is not chain transfer to monomer. Deterministic modeling of the molecular weight distributions using the fundamental rate laws and kinetic constants demonstrates the robustness of the kinetic analysis. Comparisons of insertion frequencies with estimated limits on the rates of ion-pair symmetrization obtained by NMR suggest that ion-pair separation prior to insertion is not required, but the analysis requires assumptions that cannot be validated.

Homogeneous single-component betaine Ziegler-Natta catalysts derived from (butadiene)zirconocene precursors

(Butadiene)zirconocene adds B(C(6)F(5))(3) at a terminal diene carbon atom to yield the zirconocene-(mu-hydrocarbyl)-borate betaine Cp(2)Zr[C(4)H(6)-B(C(6)F(5))(3)] (4). The dipolar complex 4 contains a distorted pi-allyl moiety and features an additional stabilizing Zr-F-C(arene) coordination. Under kinetic control, an isomeric betaine system is formed, characterized by an internal Zr(+).CH(2)[B](-) ion-pair interaction, that rearranges to 4 upon heating. A great variety of ansa-metallocene(butadiene) complexes and related systems cleanly form analogous metallocene-(mu-conjugated diene)-borate betaines upon treatment with B(C(6)F(5))(3) and related Lewis acids. Most of these systems represent very active homogeneous single-component Ziegler-Natta catalysts for alpha-olefin polymerization and copolymerization. In addition, these betaine catalysts are ideally suited for carrying out mechanistic studies in active Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. They allow for an experimental observation of the first alkene insertion step at the active single-component catalyst. This feature has been used for studying the mechanism of transfer of the stereochemical information from the bent metallocene backbone and for an experimental characterization of the energy profile of the alkene addition/alkene insertion reaction sequence in active homogeneous Ziegler-Natta systems. The neutral dipolar single-component catalysts (e.g., 4) produce a polyolefin-modified R'-(CHR-CH(2))-C(4)H(6)-B(C(6)F(5))(3)(-) counterion at the end of the initiation period upon entering into the repetitive active catalytic cycle.