Synthesis of branched polyethylene from ethylene stock by an interference-free tandem catalysis of TiCl4/MgCl2 and iron catalyst

An interference-free tandem catalysis, based on [(2-ArNC(CH3))2C5H3N]FeCl2 (Ar = 2-Cl-4-CH3C6H3)/MAO and /TiCl4/MgCl2/MAO, was used for the synthesis of branched polyethylene with ethylene as the only monomer stock. The deactivation due to the side reactions of catalysts and cocatalysts could be totally avoided because MAO was used as the sole cocatalyst. By changing the reaction conditions and Fe/Ti molar ratio, a series of branched polyethylene with different branching degrees were effectively produced.