Catalyst Deactivation Processes during 1-Hexene Polymerization
Anuj Joshi, Harmen S. Zijlstra, Scott Collins, J. Scott McIndoe
Abstract
The catalyst [Cp2Zr(μ-Me)2AlMe2]+[B(C6F5)4]− (1) has been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in order to better understand the complexities of catalyst deactivation in the polymerization of 1-hexene. Using off-line, online, and flow-based methods, we observe that zirconium π-allyl species are unstable in solution and previously unobserved dimethylalane complexes are more stable. The dimethylalane complexes are resistant to further 1-hexene additions, and their formation represents a previously unrecognized pathway for catalyst deactivation.
Topics & Concepts
1-HexeneCatalysisPolymerizationZirconiumChemistryElectrospray ionizationHexeneMass spectrometryElectrosprayPhotochemistryPolymer chemistryOrganic chemistryPolymerChromatographyEthyleneOrganometallic Complex Synthesis and CatalysisRadioactive element chemistry and processingMass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications