IR-spectroscopic study of alkyl alumoxane complex catalysts for the polymerization of olefin α-oxides☆

Differential and consecutive IR-spectroscopic studies have been made of the reactions between the components of catalytic systems based on triisobutyl aluminium, etherates (diphenyl, diethyl, anisol, 1,4-dioxane), water and acetylacetone in binary, ternary and quaternary systems dissolved in toluene at a 1:1:1:0·5 ratio of triisobutyl aluminium: ether: water: acetylacetone. The reactions of the components produced a complex posessing donor-acceptor bonds. Water addition to the complex solution produced a partial hydrolysis and gave rise to polyalkyl alumoxanes while the bound ether was liberated. A 1:1:0·5 ratio of triisobutyl aluminium: ether:: : water yielded alkyl alumoxane and free ether. The presence of these etherates could not be detected by IR-spectroscopy. The introduction of acetylacetone into the described system resulted in its reaction with the alkyl alumoxane and the production of Al-acetylacetonate.