Copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene via polymethylene bridged dinuclear constrained geometry catalysts

Abstract

The dinuclear half-sandwich CGCs (constrained geometry catalyst) with a polymethylene bridge, [Ti(η 5 :η 1-indenyl)SiMe2NCMe3]2(CH2)n][n = 6 (1) and 12 (2)], have been employed in the copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene (NBE). To compare the mononuclear metallocene catalysts; Ti(η 5:η 1-2-hexylindenyl) SiMe2NCMe3 (3), (Cp* SiMe2NCMe3)Ti (Dow CGC) (4) andansa-Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 (5), were also studied for the copolymerization of ethylene and NBE. It was found that the activity increased in the order:1 <2 <3 <5 <4, indicating that the presence of the bridge between two the CGC units contributed to depressing the polymerization activity of the CGCs. This result strongly suggests that the implication of steric disturbance due to the presence of the bridge may play a significant role in slowing the activity. Dinuclear CGCs have been found to be very efficient for the incorporation of NBE onto the polyethylene backbone. The NBE contents in the copolymers formed ranged from 10 to 42%, depending on the polymerization conditions. Strong chemical shifts were observed at δ 42.0 and 47.8 of the isotactic alternating NBE sequences, NENEN, in the copolymers with high NBE contents. In addition, a resonance at 47.1 ppm for the sequences of the isolated NBE, EENEE, was observed in the13C-NMR spectra of the copolymers with low NBE contents. The absence of signals for isotactic dyad at 48.1 and 49.1 ppm illustrated there were no isotactic or microblock (NBE-NBE) sequences in the copolymers. This result indicated that the dinuclear CGCs were effective for making randomly distributed ethylene-NBE copolymers.