Polymerization of olefinic compounds and catalysts therefor

Abstract

Abstract AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS IS DESCRIBED FOR MAKING CERTAIN BIS-(HALOMETAL) METHANES SUCH AS BIS(DICHLOROALUMINUM)METHANE, C12A1CH2A1C12, WHICH IS A NEW COMPOUND, AND THESE COMPOUNDS CAN BE COMBINED WITH TRANSITION METAL COMPOUNDS SUCH AS VOC13 TO MAKE VERY ACTIVE CATALYSTS FOR POLYMERIZING OLEFINIC COMPOUNDS SUCH AS ETHYLENE. IN THE ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS BORON, A GROUP II, GROUP III-A OR GROUP IV-A METAL, E.G., ALUMINUM, IS USED AS AN ANODE WITH AN ELECTROLYTE SUCH AS HOA1C12 IN THE PRESENCE OF A METHYLENE DIHALIDE SUCH AS CH2C12 OR A GEM DIHALIDE WHICH DOES NOT READILY DEHYDROHALOGENATE OR ALKYLATE. IT IS PREFERRED TO CARRY OUT THE ELECTROLYSIS IN THE PRESENCE OF ETHYLENE OR ANOTHER OLEFINIC COMPOUND TO PROMOTE CONDUCTIVITY. ALSO, IT IS PREFERRED THAT ALL REACTANTS BE SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF WATER, EXCEPT FOR SMALL KNOWN AMOUNTS OF WATER WHICH MAY BE ADDED TO PROMOTE ELECTROLYSIS. ALSO, IT IS PREFERRED TO BLANKET THE ELECTROLYSIS WITH ETHYLENE WHICH ALSO SERVES TO PROMOTE CONDUCTIVITY, OR AN INERT GAS TO EXCLUDE MOISTURE, OXYGEN AND OTHER UNDESIRABLE MATERIALS. THE CATALYSTS POLYMERIZE OLEFINIC COMPOUNDS TO LIQUID OR SOLID POLYMERS DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR CATALYST USED AND THE OLEFIN BEING POLYMERIZED. THE CATALYSTS ARE PROMOTED OR MODIFIED BY SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER OR OTHER ELECTRON DONOR COMPOUNDS.

Inventors

• 👤 Edward H Mottus
• 👤 Morris R Ort

Bibliographic Details