Highly fluorous zirconocene(IV) complexes and their catalytic applications in the polymerization of ethylene

The catalytic activities of the highly fluorous systems formed by the zirconocene(IV) complexes [Zr{η5-C5H4SiMe2C2H4RF}2Cl2] (RF = C6F13 (4a), C10F21 (4b)) or [Zr-{η5-C5H3(SiMe2C2H4C6F13)2}2Cl2] (5a) and MMAO in toluene have been studied and compared with analogous nonfluorous systems generated from [Zr{η5-C5H4SiMe3}2Cl2] and [Zr{η5-C5H5}2Cl2]. Although less active than the reference systems, the fluorous catalysts are stable over prolonged polymerization times, giving rise to polymers with similar molecular weights to those obtained with [Zr{η5-C5H4SiMe3}2Cl2].

Graphical abstractNew highly fluorous zirconocene(IV) complexes have been synthesized and tested in ethylene polymerization in combination with MMAO. As compared with analogous nonfluorous systems, the resulting fluorous catalysts display longer lifetimes, whereas the properties of the polyethylenes obtained with both type of catalysts are essentially the same.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide