The synthesis and X-ray structure of a phenoxyimine catalyst tailored for living olefin polymerisation and the synthesis of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and atactic polypropylene

A phenoxyimine catalyst (bis-(N-(3′,5′-diiodo-salicylidene)-2,6-difluoroaniline)-titanium(IV)-dichloride has been synthesised. The ligand as well as the complex have been fully characterised. An X-ray structure of the titanium complex was obtained. After activation with MAO, it was used as highly active catalyst in living olefin polymerisation of ethylene and propylene. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and atactic polypropylene of low polydispersity were obtained. The living character of the polymerisation was shown by online polymerisation kinetics and linear growth of number-average molar mass with polymerisation time. In addition, the influence of hydrogen as a chain transfer agent was studied in living olefin polymerisation.