Lanthanidocene Catalysts for the Homo- and Copolymerization of Ethylene with Butadiene

✍ Scribed by Christophe Boisson; Vincent Monteil; David Ribour; Roger Spitz; Fanny Barbotin

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 129 KB
• Volume: 204
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1352
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.200350037

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Alkylation of lanthanidocene chloride complexes was performed with BuLi, Mg(Bu)(Oct), or an equimolar mixture of BuLi and AlH(__i__Bu)~2~. In the case of the latter, chain transfer reactions were observed between neodymium and aluminium, and higher activities were obtained. The use of the silylene‐bridged complex, [Me~2~Si(3‐Me~3~SiC~5~H~3~)~2~]NdCl, in combination with BuLi and AlH(__i__Bu)~2~ provided an efficient and unique catalyst for the copolymerization of ethylene with butadiene. Copolymers with high butadiene contents (up to 62 mol‐%) were synthesized. The microstructure of butadiene units was mostly trans‐1,4, and copolymers exhibited a strong alternating character. The influence of butadiene content on the thermal properties of the copolymers was also investigated.

Copolymerization of ethylene with butadiene using 4/BuLi/AlH(__i__Bu)~2~ (▪) and 2/BuLi/AlH(__i__Bu)~2~ (▴).

magnified imageCopolymerization of ethylene with butadiene using 4/BuLi/AlH(__i__Bu)~2~ (▪) and 2/BuLi/AlH(__i__Bu)~2~ (▴).