Methanol → 1-Hexene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 54 grams (0.64 mole) 1-hexene and 3.8 grams (0.034 mole) 1,7-octadiene (molar charge ratio 95:5) in 80 ml pentane was polymerized with Et2AlCl/triethylphosphate/δ-TiCl3 catalyst (1.0 millimole δ-TiCl3). The molar ratio of Et2AlCl to δ-TiCl3 was 1.5:1 and of triethylphosphate to Et2AlCl was 0.7:1. After agitation for 24 hours at 25° C., the resulting copolymer was isolated by methanol coagulation and dried. The conversion to copolymer was 74 percent, with an inherent viscosity of 5.1 and zero percent gel. A copolymer prepared similarly but without triethylphosphate was obtained in 84 percent conversion. It had an inherent viscosity of 4.8 and 20 percent gel. These data show that triethylphosphate, like hexamethylphosphoric triamide, suppresses gel formation during polymerization.

Provenance & Evidence