Polymerization of propylene
AssigneesE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, University of North Carolina
InventorsMaurice S. Brookhart, Brooke L. Small
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Propylene may be polymerized by contacting it with certain iron complexes of selected 2,6-pyridinecarboxaldehydebis(imines) and 2,6-diacylpyridinebis(imines). The polymers produced are useful as molding resins.
Claims32
A process for the polymerization of propylene, comprising, contacting, at a temperature of about -40.degree. C. to about +300.degree. C., a compound of the formula ##STR13## with propylene and:
- (a) a first compound W, which is a neutral Lewis acid capable of abstracting X.sup.-, an alkyl group or a hydride group from Fe to form WX.sup.-, WR.sup..degree. or WH and which is also capable of transferring an alkyl group or a hydride to Fe, provided that WX.sup.- is a weakly coordinating anion;
- or
- (b) a combination of a second compound which is capable of transferring an alkyl or hydride group to Fe and a third compound which is a neutral Lewis acid which is capable of abstracting X.sup.-, a hydride or an alkyl group from Fe to form a weakly coordinating anion;
- wherein:
- 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 state of a Fe atom present in (II);
- R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group, or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- and
- R.sup.20 is alkyl.
A process for the polymerization of propylene, comprising contacting, at a temperature of about -40.degree. C. to about +300.degree. C., a Fe[II] or Fe[III] complex of a tridentate ligand of the formula ##STR14## with propylene, wherein:
- R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- and
- R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- and provided that a Fe[II] or Fe[III] atom also has bonded to it an empty coordination site or a ligand that may be displaced by said propylene and a ligand that may add to said propylene.
A process for the polymerization of propylene, comprising, contacting, at a temperature of about -40.degree. C. to about +300.degree. C., propylene and a compound of the formula ##STR16## wherein:
- R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
- R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarbyl;
- R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are aryl or substituted aryl;
- T.sup.1 is hydride or alkyl or any other anionic ligand into which propylene can insert;
- Y is a neutral ligand capable of being displaced by propylene or a vacant coordination site;
- Q is a relatively non-coordinating anion;
- P is a divalent polyolefin group;
- and
- T.sup.2 is an end group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.