Methanol → 1-Hexene

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 54 grams (0.64 mole) 1-hexene and 7.9 grams (0.072 mole) 1,7-octadiene (molar charge ratio 90:10) in 80 ml pentane was polymerized with the required amount of Et2AlCl/hexamethylphosphoric triamide/δ-TiCl3 catalyst (2.4 millimoles δ-TiCl3). The molar ratio of hexamethylphosphoric triamide to Et2AlCl was 0.7:1 and of Et2AlCl to TiCl3 was 1.5:1. After agitating for 24 hours at 25° C., the resulting copolymer was isolated by methanol coagulation and dried. The conversion to copolymer was 83 percent, inherent viscosity 3.5 and percent gel=0. A copolymer prepared similarly but without hexamethylphosphoric triamide was obtained in 95 percent conversion. It had inherent viscosity of 1.1 and 78 percent gel. These data show the remarkable ability of the modified catalyst to suppress gel formation during polymerization while producing a higher molecular weight copolymer.

Provenance & Evidence