Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.121, No.38, 8791-8802, 1999
Silicon-modified Ziegler-Natta polymerization. Catalytic approaches to silyl-capped and silyl-linked polyolefins using "single-Site" cationic Ziegler-Natta catalysts
This contribution reports efficient and selective organotitanium-mediated silanolytic (PhSiH3, PhMeSiH2, Me2SiH2, Et2SiH2) chain transfer in the homogeneous polymerization and copolymerization of a variety of a-olefins. The result is several broad classes of silyl-capped and silyl-linked polyolefins which have been characterized by H-1/C-13/Si-29 NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by GPC. "Single-site" Ziegler-Natta catalysts effect this chain transfer with significant efficiency and scope. For [Me2Si(Me4C5)(BuN)-Bu-t]TiMe+B(C6F5)(4)(-)-mediated propylene polymerization, the mechanism of chain transfer is supported by the observation that M-n of the capped atactic polypropylenes produced at constant [catalyst]. [PhSiH3], and [propylene] is inversely proportional to[PhSiH3]. Using the same catalyst, this process also efficiently products silyl endcapped poly(l-hexene), ethylene + l-hexene copolymers, ethylene + styrene copolymers (both with high degrees of comonomer incorporation), and (at low temperatures) polyethylene. In the case of rac-C2H4(Ind)(2)TiMe+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + propylene and (Me5C5)TiMe2+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + styrene, PhH2Si-functionalized isotatic polypropylene and syndiotactic polystyrene, respectively, are produced. Using 1, 4-disilabenzene and 1,3,5-trisilabenzene as chain-transfer agents in the presence of [Me2Si(Me4C5)(BuN)-Bu-1]TiMe+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + propylene, linear diblock and starlike atactic polypropylene structures, respectively, are produced. In addition to primary silanes, secondary silanes (PhMeSiH2, Me2SiH2:, Et2SiH2) are efficient and selective chain-transfer agents in this organotitanium-mediated polymerization. In the presence of [Me2Si(Me4C5)(BuN)-Bu-1]TiMe+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + propylene (Me5C5)TiMe2+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + propylene, and (Me5C5)TiMe2+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + styrene, PhMeHSi-or Me2HSi-capped atactic polypropylene and PhMeHSi-, Me2HSi-, or Et2HSi-capped syndiotactic polystyrene are produced, respectively. Using PhH2Si-capped polypropylene as a chain-transfer agent, an atactic polypropylene-syndiotactic polystyrene AB block; copolymer is produced in the presence of (Me5C5)TiMe2+B(C6F5)(4)(-) + styrene.