One of the most exciting developments in the areas of catalysis, organometallic chemistry, and polymer science in recent years has been the intense exploration and commercialization of new polymerization technologies based on single-site and metallocene coordination olefin polymerization catalysts.1 The vast number of specifically designed/synthesized transition metal complexes (catalyst precursors) and main-group organometallic compounds (cocatalysts) allows unprecedented control over polymer microstructure, the generation of new polymer architectures, and the development of new polymerization reactions. Commercialization of new generations of single-site and metallocene catalyst-based technologies has provided the multibillion pound per year polyolefins industry with the ability to deliver a wide range of new and innovative olefin-based polymers having improved properties.2-4 The intense industrial activity in the field and the challenges to our basic understanding that have come to light have in turn 1391 Chem. Rev. 2000, 100, 1391−1434

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Cocatalysts for Metal-Catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Activators, Activation Processes, and Structure−Activity Relationships

Elastic substantially linear olefin polymers are disclosed which have processability similar to highly branched low density polyethylene (LDPE), but the strength and toughness of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The polymers have processing indices (PI's) less than or equal to 70 percent of those of a comparative linear olefin polymer and a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50 percent greater than the critical shear rate at the onset of surface melt fracture of a traditional linear olefin polymer at about the same I2 and Mw?Mn. The novel polymers can also have from 0.01 to 3 long chain branches/1000 carbons along the polymer backbone and have higher low/zero shear viscosity and lower high shear viscosity than comparative linear olefin polymers. The novel polymers can also be characterized as having a melt flow ratio, I10/I2, » 5.63, a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, defined by the equation: Mw/Mn « (I10/I2) - 4.63, and a critical shear stress at onset of gross melt fracture greater than 4 x 10?6? dyne/cm2.

Elastic substantially linear olefin polymers

Selectivity in propene polymerization with metallocene catalysts.

Cationic alkyl complexes of Group 4 metallocenes of the type [MCp2R]+(M = Ti, Zr or Hf, Cp = C5H5) have been recognised as the catalytically active species in metallocene-based olefin polymerisation catalysts. These highly electrophilic 14-electron species possess a very complex chemistry in which the formation of temporarily dormant stabilised adducts plays a dominant role. Cationic metal alkyls of this kind are found to be extremely active polymerisation catalysts, with high stereoselectivities and the potential to produce numerous previously inaccessible polymeric materials. A detailed understanding of the chemistry of these species promises to lead to a new generation of well defined polymerisation catalysts. Metallocene-based catalysts already play an increasing role in major industrial polymerisation processes.

Cationic Group 4 metallocene complexes and their role in polymerisation catalysis: the chemistry of well defined Ziegler catalysts

Stereospezifische Olefinpolymerisation mit chiralen Metallocenkatalysatoren

Homogeneous Ziegler-Natta systems for the ethylene polymerization, deriving from R2R2′M complexes (R = cyclopentadienyl; R′ = alkyl, aryl; M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and oligomeric oxoalane compounds, were studied Further results concerning the methyl aluminoxane synthesis and the related chemistry are reported On the basis of spectroscopic data a delocalized electronic structure could be inferred for these compounds Results from polymerization experiments showed that the highest productivities are obtained only by oxoalane cocatalysts having a high degree of oligomerization The catalytic activity of the systems under investigation was strongly affected also by changing both the σ-alkyl and the π-cyclo-pentadienyl ligands Furthermore, it was found that in the presence of methyl aluminoxane, the homoleptic σ-alkyl derivatives of IVB transition metals, such as Zr(CH2C6H5)4, are also able to polymerize ethylene with a fairly high productivity Active species containing ZrOAl bonds have been postulated

Giuseppe Martino Nicoletti

Papers

Homogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysis. II. Ethylene polymerization by IVB transition metal complexes/methyl aluminoxane catalyst systems