Organoaluminum catalyst
View Patent ↗An organoaluminum reaction product of A.) a ligand of the formula I, wherein R 1 represents an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C 3-24 silyl group, or hydrogen, R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 12 , and R 13 are the same or different and represent an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C 3-24 silyl group, halide, or hydrogen, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R 4 and R 13 represents hydrogen, R 8 represents an alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C 3-24 silyl group, halide, hydroxyl radical, or hydrogen, E represents O, S, Se, or Te, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, and B.) an aluminum compound of formula AlR 9 R 10 R 11 , wherein R 9 and R 10 are the same or different and represent C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, or hydrogen, and R 11 is a C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl or alkoxy group, hydrogen, or halogen is useful as a polymerization catalyst, particularly for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of an alkylene oxide.
1. A process for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of an alkylene oxide in the presence of an organoaluminum reaction product of
A.) a ligand of the formula I,
wherein
R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 12 and R 13 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group or hydrogen, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R 4 and R 13 represents hydrogen,
R 8 represents the hydroxyl radical,
E represents sulfur S, and
n is 1, and
B.) an aluminum compound of formula AlR 9 R 10 R 11 , wherein R 9 and R 10 are the same or different and represent a C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, or hydrogen, and R 11 is a C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, hydrogen, or halogen;
wherein the process comprises the step of contacting a reaction mixture comprising at least one alkylene oxide with the organoaluminum reaction product of the ligand of the formula I and the aluminum compound as a polymerization catalyst.
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerization is conducted in a slurry of a hydrocarbon.
3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.
4. The process according to claim 3 wherein ethylene oxide is copolymerized with epichlorohydrin or 1,2-cyclohexene epoxide.
5. The process according to claim 4 wherein the molar ratio between epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide or the molar ratio between 1,2-cyclohexene epoxide and ethylene oxide is from 0.01:1 to 1:1.