Copolymerization of olefins
AssigneeE.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsAlison Margareta Anne Bennett, Jerald Feldman, Elizabeth Forrester Mccord
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ethylene and/or propylene, and α-olefins may be copolymerized by contacting then with certain iron or cobalt complexes of selected 2,6-pyridinecarboxaldehydebis(imines) and 2,6-diacylpyridinebis(imines). The polymers produced, some of which are novel, are useful as molding resins.
Claims28
A polymerization process, comprising, contacting, at a temperature of about −100° C. to about +200° C., a compound of the formula
- 19
- with one or both of ethylene and propylene, an α-olefin of the formula H2C═CHR21, and:
- (a) a first compound W, which is a neutral Lewis acid capable of abstracting X−and alkyl group or a hydride group from M to form WX−, WR20 or WH and which is also capable of transferring an alkyl group or a hydride to M, provided that WX− is a weakly coordinating anion;
- or
- (b) a combination of a second compound which is capable of transferring an alkyl or hydride group to M and a third compound which is a neutral Lewis acid which is capable of abstracting X−, a hydride or an alkyl group from M to form a weakly coordinating anion;
- wherein:
- M is Co or Fe;
- each X is an anion;
- n is 1, 2 or 3 so that the total number of negative charges on said anion or anions is equal to the oxidation sate of a Fe or Co atom present in (II);
- R1, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group, or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- R6 and R7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- R20 is alkyl;
- and
- R21 is alkyl
A polymerization process, comprising contacting, at a temperature of about −100° C. to about +200° C., a Co[II], Co[III], Fe[II] or Fe[III] complex of a tridentate ligand of the formula
- 20
- with one or both of ethylene and propylene, and an α-olefin of the formula H2C═CHR21, wherein:
- R1, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- R6 and R7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- and
- R21 is alkyl;
- and provided that a Co[II], Co[III], Fe[II] or Fe[III] atom also has bonded to it an empty coordination site or a ligand that may be displaced by said ethylene, and a ligand that may add to said ethylene.
A polymerization process, comprising, contacting, at a temperature of about −100° C. to about +200° C., one or both of ethylene and propylene, an α-olefin of the formula H2C═CHR21, and a compound of the formula
- 22
- wherein:
- M is Co or Fe;
- R1, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- R6 and R7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- R21 is alkyl;
- T1 is hydride or alkyl or any other anionic ligand into which ethylene or an α-olefin can insert;
- Y is a neutral ligand capable of being displaced by ethylene or a vacant coordination site;
- Q is a relatively non-coordinating anion;
- P is a divalent polyolefin group;
- and
- T2 is an end group.
A copolymer of ethylene and a one or more olefins of the formula H2C═CHR2 wherein said copolymer has methyl branches and —R21 branches, and wherein the total of said branches indicate an incorporation of H2C═CHR21 of at least 0.5 mole percent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.