Tandem catalysis of iron and titanium non-metallocene catalysts for the production of branched polyethylene

• A novel binary tandem catalyst system composed of two non-metallocene catalysts
• 2,6-Bis(imino)pyridyl iron complex (1) and mono β-diiminato titanium complex (2)
• In-situ copolymerize ethylene to branched polyethylene with high activity
• Polymers with various branches and branching degrees can be efficiently produced.

Branched polyethylene was successfully produced with ethylene as the sole monomer stock by a novel binary tandem catalyst system composed of 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complex (1) and mono β-diiminato titanium complex (2) activated only by MMAO, in which the complex 2 was the first non-metallocene titanium complex used as copolymerization catalyst. The copolymerization activity can reach up to 106 g/mol Ti·h·atm. And by simple adjustment of the catalyst molar ratios and polymerization conditions, polymers with various branches including ethyl, butyl and long branches and varying branching degrees (from 0 to 10.7/1000 C) can be efficiently produced.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide