Polymerization catalyst comprising amidine ligand
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polymer comprising at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl C 2-20 olefin in the presence of an ionic catalyst, comprising an organometallic compound and an activator, and optionally a scavenger.
1. Process for the preparation of a polymer comprising at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl C 2-20 olefin in the presence of an ionic catalyst comprising an organometallic compound, an activator and optionally a scavenger, characterized in that the organometallic compound is a compound according to formula 1:
where:
M is a metal of group 3-13 or the lanthanide series, and p is the valency of the metal M;
A represents a neutral or anionic spectator ligand whose valency v is 0, 1 or 2, and q is an integer denoting the number of spectator ligands A;
Z is an optional bridging moiety, and n is the integer number of parallel bridging moieties Z;
Y is an amidine-containing spectator ligand represented by formula 2:
wherein the amidine-containing ligand is covalently bonded to the metal M via the imine nitrogen atom, Sub 1 is a substituent, which comprises a group 14 atom through which Sub 1 is bonded to the imine carbon atom, Sub 2 is a substituent, which comprises a heteroatom of group 15-16, through which Sub 2 is bonded to the imine carbon atom;
r is an integer >0;
L is an optional neutral Lewis basic ligand, and j is an integer denoting the number of neutral ligands L, and
X is an anionic ligand that may be independently selected from the group consisting of hydride, halide, alkyl, silyl, germyl, aryl, amide, aryloxy, alkoxy, phosphide, sulfide, acyl, pseudo halides and a combination thereof.
2. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the activator is a borate.
3. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is UHMWPE.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein said process is performed in the presence of said ionic catalyst comprising said organometallic compound, said activator and said scavenger.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein said organometallic compound comprises Z which is a bridging moiety.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein said organometallic compound comprises L which is a neutral Lewis basic ligand.
7. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the activator is a borane.
8. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the activator is an alkylaluminoxane.
9. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is EPDM.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein the pseudo halides are selected from the group consisting of cyanide, azide, acetylacetonate and a combination thereof.