Olefin polymerization catalyzed by organolanthanide compounds

Author(s)

Alessandra de Souza Maia

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2004-10-19

Examining board members

Wanda de Oliveira; Maria Claudia França da Cunha Felinto; Yoshio Kawano; Antonio Eduardo Mauro; Ulf Friedrich Schuchardt

• Advisor: Wanda de Oliveira

Abstract

In the last decades, the specific properties of organolanthanide compounds have attracted attention, specially in applications as catalysts in organic reactions. In an attempt to contribute to the application of these compounds in olefin polymerization reactions, we studied the catalytic systems based on LnBrCp2(THF)2 and LnBrCp*2THF (Cp = cyclopentadienyl , Cp* = pentamethylciclopentadienyl, Ln = Pr, Yb) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst in polymerization of ethylene, propylene, methyl methacrylate and styrene. The organolanthanide compounds were obtained by the reaction of anydrous lanthanide tribromides and NaCp or NaCp* in THF, in the molar proportion of 1:2,2 (Ln:Cp, Cp*) and were characterized by %Ln, %Br, thermogravimetry, vibrational spectroscopy in the infrared region and 1H NMR. The catalytic systems were not active in ethylene, propylene, methyl methacrylate polymerizations, but were able to form polystyrene with yields up to 8.0 % in 1.5 h in toluene and 26% in 1.5 h in absence of solvent, using PrBrCp*2THF/MAO at 90º C. The polymers obtained are atactic, indicating no stereospecificity of the catalytic system, and have low molar masses. (AU)