POLYMERIZATION OF PROPYLENE CATALYZED OVER HIGHLY-ACTIVE AND STEREOSPECIFIC CATALYSTS SYNTHESIZED WITH MG(OET)2/BENZOYL CHLORIDE/TICL4

Abstract

A series of monoester catalysts has been studied, each catalyst prepared by the reaction of magnesium diethoxide with benzoyl chloride [BzCOCl, to produce ethyl benzoate (EB) in situ] in the presence of excess titanium tetrachloride. Solid product and catalysts obtained by subsequent treatments with titanium tetrachloride were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, BET measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The catalysts yielded very high activity (above 20 kg polymer/g Ti h atm) for the polymerization of propylene in slurry reactions. From the results of polymerization as well as catalyst characterization, the effects of internal and external Lewis bases on the isospecificity and stability of catalysts are discussed in detail.