A Tandem Catalytic System for the Synthesis of Ethylene–Hex‐1‐ene Copolymers from Ethylene Stock

Abstract Summary: A tandem catalytic system, composed of ( η 5 ‐C 5 H 4 CMe 2 C 6 H 5 )TiCl 3 ( 1 )/MMAO (modified methyl aluminoxane) and [( η 5 ‐C 5 Me 4 )SiMe 2 ( t BuN)]TiCl 2 ( 2 )/MMAO, was applied for the synthesis of ethylene–hex‐1‐ene copolymers with ethylene as the only monomer stock. During the reaction, 1 /MMAO trimerized ethylene to hex‐1‐ene, while 2 /MMAO copolymerized ethylene with the in situ produced hex‐1‐ene to poly(ethylene–hex‐1‐ene). By changing the catalyst ratio and reaction conditions, a series of copolymer grades with different hex‐1‐ene fractions at high purity were effectively produced. The overall strategy of the tandem 1 / 2 /MMAO catalytic system. image The overall strategy of the tandem 1 / 2 /MMAO catalytic system.