Polymerization of Propene and Butene with a Chiral Zirconocene and Methylalumoxane as Cocatalyst

TLDR

The study introduces a soluble Ziegler‑Natta catalyst that enables the preparation of isotactic polypropylene with a higher degree of isotacticity than industrial heterogeneous catalysts and also allows the production of isotactic polybutene. The catalytic system consists of a chiral, rigid zirconocene derivative (1) paired with methylalumoxane (2). The polymerization activity of this catalyst system is remarkably high. An equation image is provided.

Abstract

A novel, soluble Ziegler‐Natta catalyst enables the preparation of isotactic polypropylene, which exhibits a higher degree of isotacticity than polymers that can be produced industrially with heterogeneous catalysts. Furthermore, isotactic polybutene can also be obtained with such a catalyst. The chiral, rigid zirconocene derivative 1 and methylalumoxane 2 are used for the catalysis. The polymerization activity is remarkably high. equation image