Polyethylene Waxes: Catalytic Synthesis by Ti‐Biphenolates

Soluble complexes of Ti (IV) bearing biphenol groups such as 1,1′‐binaphthelene 2, 2′ diol (Binol), 1,1′‐methylene di‐2‐naphthol, biphenol were prepared and characterized. These catalyst precursors formulated as [Ti(O‐O)(OPr ⁱ )Cl] are found to be active in polymerization of ethylene at high temperatures in combination with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et₃Al₂Cl₃) as co‐catalyst. The ultra low‐molecular weight polyethylenes are linear, crystalline and display narrow polydispersities. The PE waxes obtained with this catalytic system exhibit unique properties that have potential applications in surface coating and adhesive formulations.

Keywords:

• titanium‐biphenolate catalysts
• ethylene polymerization
• polyethylene wax
• ethyl aluminum sesquichloride

5 Acknowledgements

One of the authors (PSU) gratefully acknowledges the management of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited for technical facility and the Head, Department of Chemistry, M. S. University of Baroda for supporting the project. The authors thank the Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre, IIT Mumbai and Central Drug Research Lab., Lucknow for NMR and FAB mass spectral analysis.