La phase initiale (de quelque fractions de seconde à quelques minutes) de la polymérisation catalytique des oléfines est encore peu comprise. Elle est pourtant reconnue comme une étape cruciale pour contrôler la morphologie de la particule de polymère et pour garantir la performance optimale du catalyseur et une certaine stabilité thermique du procédé. Ce travail présente l'étude et l'optimisation d'un mini réacteur à lit fixe pour mener des polymérisations catalytiques en phase gaz avec des durées très faibles (minimum 0.1s) dans des conditions proches à celles utilisées industriellement. La possibilité de suivre la température du gaz et de récupérer les particules de polymère pour les caractériser permet de décrire d'une façon complète le comportement du catalyseur au début de la réaction. L'étude a été limitée à la polymérisation de l'éthylène (avec un catalyseur métallocène supporté sur silice) et l'attention a été particulièrement mise sur la relation entre transfert de chaleur de la particule et performance du catalyseur. Il a été montré que des températures trop élevées peuvent être responsable localement de la modification du comportement du site active et de l'altération des propriétés des polymères. Un choix adéquat des conditions de réaction permet de suivre indirectement l'évolution de la température des particules en mesurant celle de la phase gaz. Dans un deuxième temps différents métallocènes ont été utilisés pour étudier l'influence des conditions de réaction, de la préparation du catalyseur et des propriétés du support sur l'activité, les propriétés du polymère et la morphologie des particules au temps court. Une attention particulière a été portée sur l'évolution des sites actifs et sur la cristallisation des chaînes de polymère dans un support poreux en évolution. Une activité élevée a été mesurée dans les premières cinq secondes et les températures de fusion et cristallisation des polymères ont été utilisées comme sondes pour mesurer l'avancement de la fragmentation du support. Les résultats ainsi obtenus peuvent non seulement clarifier certains aspects clé du début de la polymérisation mais aussi être utilisés comme donnés de départ pour modéliser la particule en croissance et contribuer à réduire l'écart qui est actuellement présent entre comportement réel du catalyseur et prédictions des modèles / The early stages (from less than 1s to few minutes) of catalytic olefin polymerization are still fairly understood even if they are nowadays recognized to be crucial for the determination of the morphology of the polymer particle, the optimization of the whole catalyst performance and the thermal stability of the process. In this work we will present how we studied and optimized a specially conceived packed bed reactor to perform gas phase catalytic olefin polymerizations as short as 0.1s under industrially relevant conditions. The possibility to measure the reactor temperature and to recover unaltered the polymer particles allows to take a complete picture of the catalyst behavior at the reaction start-up. The study will be restrained to ethylene polymerization with silica supported metallocenes and special attention will be given to the relation between heat transfer from the growing particle and catalyst performance. It will be seen how particle temperature evolution can be followed indirectly by measuring the gas phase temperature .In the second part of this work different metallocene complexes will be used to study the influence of process conditions, catalyst preparation method and support properties on the evolution of reaction rate, and polymer MWD during the first reaction seconds. Special attention will be given to the active site evolution during the transient phase and it will be shown that temperature excursions can be responsible for a local variation in active site behavior thus altering the properties of the formed polymer. The last section will be dedicated to the study of the peculiar crystallization behavior of the polymer chains in an evolving inorganic support. It will be shown how the melting and crystallization temperatures of the polymers can be used as “sensors” to measure the degree of fragmentation of the support particle. The results obtained in this work allow to gain a deeper understanding of the key parameters for the polymerization start-up and can be used as input for single particle models thus allowing to reduce the gap actually present between real catalyst behavior and model predictions

The research goal of this work was dedicated to improvement of the properties and enhancement of the application potential of commodity polymer based on polyolefins by choosing different synthesis routes to create new structures and materials. More precisely, the presented study explores different aspects of metallocene and post-metallocene catalyzed olefin polymerization leading to synthesis of novel copolymers and nanocomposites. The first part of this thesis deals with controlled polymerization of α-olefins catalyzed by post-metallocenes. Bis(phenoxyamine) zirconium complexes with [ONNO]-type ligands bearing cumyl (bPA-c) and 1-adamantyl (bPA-a) ortho-substituents were applied. For the polymerization catalyzed by bPA catalyst quasi-living kinetic character is proposed. The bPA catalyst was applied for synthesis of block copolymers by employing the strategy of sequential monomer addition. The blocky structure of the copolymer was successfully achieved and confirmed by NMR techniques. Moreover, the monomodal distribution of molar mass in SEC chromatogram confirmed the absence of homopolymers. In the second part of the work new defined comb-like copolymers (CLC) having a poly(10-undecene-1-ol) (PUol) backbone and densely grafted poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) side chains are presented. These copolymers were synthesized in two steps by means of metallocene polymerization followed by ring opening polymerization. Copolymers with varied and adjustable graft length (PCL segments) were synthesized. It was proved that the melting and crystallization temperatures of the CLC correlate with the PCL side chain length, i.e. longer chains result in higher Tm and Tc,o values. The melting enthalpy was found to be asymptotically dependent on the length of PCL side chains. The bulk morphology of the comb-like copolymers is proposed to be lamellar as judged from the TEM micrographs. The third part of the thesis is focused on the synthesis of polypropylene nanocomposites via in situ polymerization. Thereby, organomodified aluminumphosphate with kanemite-type layered structure (AlPO-kan) has been used as novel filler. Melt compounding composites were prepared for comparison purposes to evaluate the influence of in situ synthesis on the dispersion quality of the filler in polymer matrix. Melt compounding of neat AlPO-kan with PP did not lead to formation of nanocomposites. TEM images show macro-composites with the lamellar solid remaining agglomerated. On the contrary, in situ polymerization of propene yielded materials with exfoliated nanocomposite morphology. In XRD, diffractions of the AlPO-kan pilling of layers are not detectable. It can be concluded that the primary existing layers are delaminated. Very fine distribution of the filler in the polypropylene matrix has been impressively demonstrated by TEM.

The synthesis of a rigid 4,5-bis(triphenylphosphinimino)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene (Ph3PN)2XT (1) ligand is outlined, along with a modified synthesis for previously reported 1,8-bis(triphenylphosphinimino)naphthalene (Ph3PN)2NAP (3). Reaction of neutral (Ph3PN)2XT with [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] resulted in double cyclometallation, yielding the base-free monoalkyl complex, [({Ph2(C6H4)PN}2XT)Y(CH2SiMe3)] (2). Layering a concentrated THF solution of 2 with hexanes at −28 °C afforded THF-coordinated [({Ph2(C6H4)PN}2XT) Y(CH2SiMe3)(THF)]·2THF (2-THF·2THF), with a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry and approximately meridional coordination of the pentadentate {Ph2(C6H4)PN}2XT dianion. Similarly, (Ph3PN)2NAP reacted with [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] to afford a THF-coordinated monoalkyl complex, [{(Ph2(C6H4)PN)2NAP}Y(CH2SiMe3)(THF)] (4-THF). Layering a DME solution of 4-THF with hexanes at −28 °C afforded X-ray quality crystals of [{(Ph2(C6H4)PN)2NAP}Y(CH2SiMe3)(κ2-DME)]·hexane (4-DME·hexane), with a highly distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry and a facial coordination mode of the tetradentate {Ph2(C6H4)PN}2NAP dianion The synthesis of a rigid 4,5-bis(1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-imine)-2,7,9,9-tetramethylacridan H(AII2) ligand (5) was achieved via a Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction. Reaction of the proligand H(AII2) with [M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] (M = Y(6), Sc(8)) yielded the base free dialkyl complexes [(AII2)Y(CH2SiMe3)2] (6) and [(AII2)Sc(CH2SiMe3)2] (8). The reaction of 6 with one equivalent of [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] yielded [(AII2)Y(CH2SiMe3)][B(C6F5)4] (7) in-situ. Complex 7 proved to be a potent intramolecular hydroamination catalyst for a variety of aminoalkane substrates. The attempted synthesis of 4,5-bis(1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-imine)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene (XII2) via the Staudinger reaction resulted in the isolation of the triazene intermediate 4,5-bis(1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-yliedene{triazene})-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene XIA2 (9). Reaction of XIA2 with one equivalent of [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] led to the isolation of [(XIA2)Y(CH2SiMe3)3] (10). Synthesis of XII2 (11) was achieved via a Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction. Reaction of XII2 with one equivalent of YCl3(THF)3.5 resulted in the isolation of [(XII2)YCl3] (12). In contrast, the reaction of XII2 with one equivalent of [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] led to several unidentified products. Reaction of XII2 with 1 equivalent of [H(Et2O)2][B(C6F5)4] led to the isolation of the precursor [H(XII)2][B(C6F5)4] (13). The reaction of 13 with 1.1 equivalents of [M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] (M = {Y(14), Sc(15)} led to the isolation of the monocationic [(XII)2M(CH2SiMe3)2][B(C6F5)4] complexes. The reaction of [(XII)2Sc(CH2SiMe3)2][B(C6F5)4] with 1.1 equivalents of B(C6F5)3 led to the abstraction of a methyl anion from the silicon center, with concomitant migration of the remaining alkyl group to the positively charged silicon, forming a new CH2SiMe2CH2SiMe3 alkyl group. This process is accompanied by MeB(C6F5)3 anion formation, forming a contact ion pair to afford the dicationic species [(XII)2Sc(CH2SiMe3)][MeB(C6F5)3][B(C6F5)4] 16. In contrast, the reaction of 15 with 1.3 equivalents of [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] in the presence of 5 equivalents of toluene resulted in the synthesis of [(XII)2Sc(CH2SiMe3)(ɳx-toluene)][B(C6F5)4]2 17 in-situ. Complex 17 is a highly potent ethylene polymerization catalyst with an activity of 868 kg/mol·atm·h. The reaction of 15 with [HNMe2Ph][B(C6F5)4] led to the cyclometallation of the resulting NMe2Ph byproduct to yield [(XII2)Sc(C6H4NMe2)][B(C6F5)4]2 (18) in-situ. The synthesis of a rigid, asymmetric 4-(1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-imine)-5-(2,6-diisopropylanilido)- 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene XAI (19) ligand was achieved by a two step Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction with initial cross coupling of 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-imine followed by the cross-coupling of 2,6-diisoproylaniline. The reaction of XAI with 1.1 equivalents of [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] yielded [(XAI)Y(CH2SiMe3)2] (20). Subsequent reaction of [(XAI)Y(CH2SiMe3)2] with 1 equivalent of [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] in the presence of 10 equivalents of toluene resulted in the synthesis of the toluene coordinated [(XAI)Y(CH2SiMe3)(ɳx-toluene)][B(C6F5)4] (21) complex. Similar to 7, complex 21 was highly active for intramolecular hydroamination of various substrates. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Cationic group 3 alkyl complexes are underreported in comparison to analogous group 4 complexes. The scarcity of these complexes can be attributed to their propensity to engage in undesirable reactions such as ligand redistribution and cyclometallation. To increase the thermal stability of such complexes, design features, such as carefully positioned steric bulk and ligand rigidity are beneficial. Additionally, such ligands must also have considerable donor ability, in order to stabilize inherently electron deficient cationic metal centers. This work details the synthesis of a variety of neutral and monoanionic ligands that incorporate the aforementioned design features, which were utilized in the successful synthesis of a variety of neutral, monocationic and extremely rare dicationic group 3 alkyl complexes. The cationic monoalkyl complex in this work proved to be a highly potent intramolecular hydroamination catalyst. Furthermore, a rare dicationic scandium complex was highly active for ethylene polymerization

No description available.

The research goal of this work was dedicated to improvement of the properties and enhancement of the application potential of commodity polymer based on polyolefins by choosing different synthesis routes to create new structures and materials. More precisely, the presented study explores different aspects of metallocene and post-metallocene catalyzed olefin polymerization leading to synthesis of novel copolymers and nanocomposites. The first part of this thesis deals with controlled polymerization of α-olefins catalyzed by post-metallocenes. Bis(phenoxyamine) zirconium complexes with [ONNO]-type ligands bearing cumyl (bPA-c) and 1-adamantyl (bPA-a) ortho-substituents were applied. For the polymerization catalyzed by bPA catalyst quasi-living kinetic character is proposed. The bPA catalyst was applied for synthesis of block copolymers by employing the strategy of sequential monomer addition. The blocky structure of the copolymer was successfully achieved and confirmed by NMR techniques. Moreover, the monomodal distribution of molar mass in SEC chromatogram confirmed the absence of homopolymers. In the second part of the work new defined comb-like copolymers (CLC) having a poly(10-undecene-1-ol) (PUol) backbone and densely grafted poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) side chains are presented. These copolymers were synthesized in two steps by means of metallocene polymerization followed by ring opening polymerization. Copolymers with varied and adjustable graft length (PCL segments) were synthesized. It was proved that the melting and crystallization temperatures of the CLC correlate with the PCL side chain length, i.e. longer chains result in higher Tm and Tc,o values. The melting enthalpy was found to be asymptotically dependent on the length of PCL side chains. The bulk morphology of the comb-like copolymers is proposed to be lamellar as judged from the TEM micrographs. The third part of the thesis is focused on the synthesis of polypropylene nanocomposites via in situ polymerization. Thereby, organomodified aluminumphosphate with kanemite-type layered structure (AlPO-kan) has been used as novel filler. Melt compounding composites were prepared for comparison purposes to evaluate the influence of in situ synthesis on the dispersion quality of the filler in polymer matrix. Melt compounding of neat AlPO-kan with PP did not lead to formation of nanocomposites. TEM images show macro-composites with the lamellar solid remaining agglomerated. On the contrary, in situ polymerization of propene yielded materials with exfoliated nanocomposite morphology. In XRD, diffractions of the AlPO-kan pilling of layers are not detectable. It can be concluded that the primary existing layers are delaminated. Very fine distribution of the filler in the polypropylene matrix has been impressively demonstrated by TEM.