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 THE POLYMERIZATION OF ISOPRENE COMPRISING PREPARING A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST COMPONENT BY REACTING UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY-ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INERT LIQUID DILUENT A HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP IVA 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 HIGH HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP VA OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, REACTING SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE WITH SAID REDUCING AGENT TO REDUCE SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING SAID CATALYST COMPONENT WITH FURTHER CATALYST COMPONENTS BEING AN ALUMINUM TRIALKYL AND A ZINC DIALKYL, AND POLYMERIZING ISOPRENE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CATALYST SO PRODUCED TO EFFECT POLYMERIZATION OF THE ISOPRENE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A METHOD FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF ISOPRENE COMPRISING PREPARING A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST COMPONENT BY REACTING UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY-ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INERT LIQUID DILUENT A HIGHER HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP IVA 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 HIGH HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM GROUP VA OF THE MENDELEEFF PERIODIC TABLE, REACTING SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE WITH SAID REDUCING AGENT TO REDUCE SAID FURTHER HIGHER HALIDE TO A LOWER HALIDE, MIXING SAID CATALYST COMPONENT WITH FURTHER CATALYST COMPONENTS BEING AN ALUMINUM TRIALKYL AND A ZINC DIALKYL, AND POLYMERIZING ISOPRENE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CATALYST SO PRODUCED TO EFFECT POLYMERIZATION OF THE ISOPRENE.