Homogeneous Ziegler‐Natta catalysis: Efficiency improvement of vanadium catalyst systems by tributyltin hydride for the ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymerization

Abstract

Abstract The effect of tributylin hydride on different vanadium‐based homogeneous catalytic systems for the ethylene/propylene/diene (EPD) terpolymerization was studied. Productivity improvements were always observed. Studied on the composition of the polymerization residues as well as on the interaction between single components of the catalytic system were also carried out. The results are interpreted on the basis of the enhanced oxidation of the vanadium(II) species by radical intermediates resulting from the reaction between tin hydrides and the chlorinated organic activator.