SiO2‐Supported Ni(II) and Fe(II) Catalysts Bearing Sodium‐Sulfonate Group for Olefin Polymerization†

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryHeterogeneous catalysts have been dominant for industrial polyolefin production, offering many distinct advantages, such as controlling the morphology of the polymer and preventing reactor fouling. In this contribution, we designed several types of imine ligands bearing sodium‐sulfonate ionic groups and the corresponding nickel/iron catalysts. These catalysts could be immobilized on SiO2 with strong affinity and high catalyst loadings. The SiO2‐supported catalysts behaved better than their homogeneous counterparts during ethylene polymerization with extremely high activity (2.6 × 104 kg·mol−1·h−1) and high thermal stability. In addition, the supported nickel catalysts generated free‐flowing polyethylene with high molecular weight (Mn up to 2.65 × 103 kg·mol–1) and excellent morphology control, indicating no reactor fouling due to the leaching of catalyst. Moreover, for copolymerization, immobilized nickel catalysts showed a higher tolerance of polar monomers, and the efficient copolymerization of ethylene with undecylenic acid was achieved with high activity (450 kg·mol−1·h−1) and a high incorporation ratio (up to 12.3%).