Octahedral bis(phenolate) ether group IV metal complexes for polymerization and copolymerization of alpha-olefins

Placeholder Show Content

Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Octahedral group IV bis(phenolate) ether complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane, are highly active and stereospecific [alpha]-olefin polymerization catalysts. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals the Zr and Hf complexes to be closely isostructural; the bond lengths of the Hf complex are slightly shorter, but the maximum deviation is only 0.062 Å. Despite the structural similarity of the Hf and Zr complexes, the Hf complexes generate more highly stereoselective catalysts. In addition to the influence of the transition metal, the structure of the ligand has a large influence on the stereospecificity. Bis-t-Butyl phenyl substituted complexes of Hf and Zr, when activated by MAO at 50 - 80 °C, generate high molecular weight polypropylene (Mn = 130,000 - 360,000 g/mol) with isotacticities [mmmm] > 0.97 and melting points as high as 165°C. Octahedral group IV bisphenolate ether complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane, were also tested in propylene polymerization in the presence diethyl zinc. Although the Hf and Zr complexes are structurally similar, propylene polymerization behavior of the two catalysts differs significantly in terms of productivity, isospecificity and propensity to incorporate specific regioerrors. 13C-NMR analysis revealed that the type and the number of regioerrors being incorporated into the polymer chain are strongly dependent on the identity of the ligand and the metal. Low molecular weight polypropylene oligomers (Mn = 1700 - 9900 g/mol), generated in the presence of diethyl zinc facilitated end group analysis, which revealed the presence of isobutyl and 2-methylbutyl groups. Octahedral bis(phenolate) catalysts are highly active catalysts for the isospecific polymerization of 1-hexene and the production of high molecular weight ethylene/1-hexene copolymers. These catalysts are active for the production of high molecular weight copolymers even at high temperatures. The reactivity ratios for these complexes were determined; all of the bis(phenolate) complexes tested showed reasonable 1-hexene incorporations. The complexes prepared from the more sterically demanding ligands showed higher incorporations of comonomers than those prepared from the less sterically demanding ligands. Complexes of the type Cp*TiX2(ONR'R'') (Cp* = [Eta]5-C5Me5, X = Me, Cl; R = Et, TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl); X = R' = Me, R'' = tBu) were synthesized by several routes. Upon activation with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]- and AliBu3, these complexes generate highly active catalysts for propylene polymerization, although significant catalyst deactivation was observed. Activation with B(C6F5)3/AliBu3 or methylaluminoxane (MAO) resulted in reduced polymerization activity; the latter leading to increased catalyst lifetime. Reaction of Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONEt2) and Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONtBu(Me)) with B(C6F5)3 resulted in clean formation of the zwitterionic contact ion pairs, [Cp*Ti(Me)([Eta]2-ONEt2)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]- and [Cp*Ti(Me)([Eta]2-ONtBu(Me))]+[MeB(C6F5)3]- respectively whereas reaction of Cp*Ti(Me)2([Eta]2-ONtBu(Me)) with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]- resulted in the clean formation of the solvent-separated ion pair [Cp*Ti(Me)([Eta]2-ONtBu(Me))]+[B(C6F5)4]-. Addition of AliBu3 or AlMe3 to the cationic [Cp*Ti(Me)(ONtBu(Me))]+[B(C6F5)4]- resulted in decomposition of the cations.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Copyright date 2011
Publication date 2010, c2011; 2010
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Kiesewetter, Elizabeth Tanzini
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Chemistry
Primary advisor Waymouth, Robert M
Thesis advisor Waymouth, Robert M
Thesis advisor Stack, T. (T. Daniel P.), 1959-
Thesis advisor Wender, Paul A
Advisor Stack, T. (T. Daniel P.), 1959-
Advisor Wender, Paul A

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Elizabeth Tanzini Kiesewetter.
Note Submitted to the Department of Chemistry.
Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2011
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2011 by Elizabeth Tanzini Kiesewetter
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

Also listed in

Loading usage metrics...