13C NMR Studies on Zr(ansa-Fluorenyl) Complexes. Molecules with Flexible Bonding Modes

Propylene Polymerization and Deactivation Processes with Isoselective {Cp/Flu} Zirconocene Catalysts

Industrially relevant single-site precatalysts used to produce isotactic polypropylene (iPP) include C2-symmetric {SBI} and C1-symmetric {Cp/Flu} complexes of group 4 metals. While the latter can produce iPPs with a higher degree of isotacticity, they also suffer from poor productivity compared to their {SBI} counterparts. Several causes for this trend have been suggested—2,1-Regioinsertions are frequently pointed out, as they are suspected to drive the catalyst into a dormant state. While this event does not seem to significantly impact the productivity of {SBI} systems, the influence of these regioerror is poorly documented for isoselective {Cp/Flu} precatalysts. To address this issue, new Ph2X(Cp)(Flu) (Ph2X = Ph2C, FluC, Ph2Si) proligands (2a–k) and some of the corresponding dichlorozirconocenes (3a–h,k) were synthesized. These new compounds were characterized and tested in homogeneous propylene polymerization at 60 °C and the amounts of regioerrors in the resulting polymers were examined by 13C NMR spectroscopy. A possible correlation between poor productivity and a high number of regioerrors was investigated and is discussed. Furthermore, a C-H activation process in the bulky nBu3C substituent upon activation of 4c (the dimethylated analog of 3c) by B(C6F5)3 has been evidenced by NMR; DFT calculations support this C-H activation as a deactivation mechanism.

{Cyclopentadienyl/Fluorenyl}-Group 4 ansa-Metallocene Catalysts for Production of Tailor-Made Polyolefins

The development of new metallocene-based polymerization catalysts and innovative processes derived thereof still constitutes a challenge for the manufacturing of polyolefinic materials with tailored properties (e. g. particular microstructure or topology, ultra-high molecular weight, high melting transition, and their combinations) for contemporary commercial applications. This personal account summarizes our continuing endeavors to advance the family of industry-relevant stereoselective propylene polymerization catalysts based on C₁ -symmetric group 4 ansa-metallocenes incorporating multi-substituted fluorenyl-cyclopentadienyl {Cp/Flu} ligands. Within the framework of this project, valuable structural and catalytic data, harvested both for neutral metallocenes and for metallocenium ion-pairs, have been used for rational design of more efficient catalytic systems, reluctant towards side reactions, and for providing new stereoregular value-added polymer materials.

Allylansa-Lanthanidocenes: Single-Component, Single-Site Catalysts for Controlled Syndiospecific Styrene and Styrene–Ethylene (Co)Polymerization

A series of new neutral allyl Group 3 metal complexes bearing ansa-bridged fluorenyl/cyclopentadienyl ligands [[Flu-EMe(2)-(3-R-Cp)]Ln(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))(THF)] (E=C, R=H, Ln=Y (2), La (3), Nd (4), Sm (5); R=tBu, Ln=Y (8), Nd (9); E=Si, R=H, Ln=Y (12), Nd (13)) were synthesized in good yields via salt metathesis protocols. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy for diamagnetic complexes, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies for 2, 4, 9 and 12. Some of the allyl ansa-lanthanidocenes, especially 4, are effective single-component catalysts for the polymerization of styrene, giving pure syndiotactic polystyrenes (rrrr > 99 %) with low to high molecular weights (M(n)=6000-135,000 g mol(-1)) and narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n)=1.2-2.6). The catalyst systems are remarkably stable, capable of polymerizing styrene up to 120 degrees C with high activities, while maintaining high syndiotacticity via chain-end control as established by a Bernoullian analysis. Highly effective copolymerization of styrene with ethylene was achieved using neodymium complex 4 (activity up to 2530 kg PS-PE mol(-1) h(-1)) to give true copolymers void of homopolymers with M(n)=9000-152,000 g mol(-1) and narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n)=1.2-2.5). The nature of the resultant P(S-co-E) copolymers was ascertained by NMR, size-exclusion chromatography/refractive index/UV, temperature rising elusion fractionation, and differential scanning calorimetry. It is shown that, regardless the amount of ethylene incorporated (1-50 mol %), P(S-co-E) copolymers have a microstructure predominantly made of long highly syndiotactic PS sequences separated by single or few ethylene units. Co-monomers feed and polymerization temperature can be used straightforwardly to manipulate with the physical and mechanical characteristics of the P(S-co-E) copolymers (molecular weights and distributions, co-monomer content, microstructure, T(m), T(g), T(c)).