Abstract A polymerization catalyst is made by first preparing component (a) by reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions a halide of metal in its highest normal valency state, of Group IVa, Va, VIa, or VIIa, or VIII of the Mendeleeff Periodic Table with a metal hydride, or organometallic compound of a metal of Groups I to III of the Table to reduce the halide to one in a lower than normal valency state, mixing this lower halide with another halide of a metal in its highest normal valency state selected from the first mentioned Groups and reacting the added halide with a reducing agent to reduce it to a lower halide, and mixing this component with (b) a zinc dialkyl and a hydride, organometallic compound, organometallic hydride, or organometallic halogen compound of a metal of Group III of the Periodic Table. The reduction of the halides is preferably effected in an inert diluent. The catalyst is used to polymerize ethylene, propylene, butadiene, and in particular isoprene. During the polymerization diisopropyl ether may be present. In the examples isoprene is polymerized with a catalyst consisting of (a) VCl3 + TiCl3 + (b) Al(C2H5)3 + Zn(C2H5)2, in varying proportions.
A METHOD FOR POLYMERIZING AT LEAST ONE UNSATURATED MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MONOOLEFFINS AND DIOLEFINS WHICH COMPRISES PREPARING A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST COMPONENT BY REACTING, UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INERT LIQUID FILUENT, A HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP IV-A OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, WITH A REDUCING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF THE METALS OF GROUPS I TO III OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, HYDRIDES OF SAID METALS AND ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUNDS OF SAID METALS TO REDUCE SAID HIGHER HALIDE TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING SAID LOWER HALIDE WITH A FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP V-A OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, AND REACTING SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE WITH SAID REDUCING AGENT TO REDUCE IT TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING A FURTHER CATALYST COMPONENT WITH THE REACTION MIXTURE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS OF GROUPS I TO III TO THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, METAL HYDRIDES, ORGANO-METALLIC HYDRIDES, AND ORGANO-METALLIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS AND MIXING AT LEAST ONE UNSATURATED POLYMERIZABLE MONOMER WITH THE CATALYST SO FORMED TO EFFECT POLYMERIZATION OF EACH MONOMER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A METHOD FOR POLYMERIZING AT LEAST ONE UNSATURATED MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MONOOLEFFINS AND DIOLEFINS WHICH COMPRISES PREPARING A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST COMPONENT BY REACTING, UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INERT LIQUID FILUENT, A HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP IV-A OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, WITH A REDUCING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF THE METALS OF GROUPS I TO III OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, HYDRIDES OF SAID METALS AND ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUNDS OF SAID METALS TO REDUCE SAID HIGHER HALIDE TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING SAID LOWER HALIDE WITH A FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP V-A OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, AND REACTING SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE WITH SAID REDUCING AGENT TO REDUCE IT TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING A FURTHER CATALYST COMPONENT WITH THE REACTION MIXTURE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS OF GROUPS I TO III TO THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, METAL HYDRIDES, ORGANO-METALLIC HYDRIDES, AND ORGANO-METALLIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS AND MIXING AT LEAST ONE UNSATURATED POLYMERIZABLE MONOMER WITH THE CATALYST SO FORMED TO EFFECT POLYMERIZATION OF EACH MONOMER.