Immobilized on MgCl2 bis(phenoxy-imine) complexes of Ti and Zr as catalysts for preparing UHMWPE and ethylene/higher α-olefin copolymers

A series of mono- and polynuclear bis(phenoxy-imine) titanium and zirconium complexes were synthesized. The complexes were immobilized on an MgCl2 carrier prepared by different methods. The homogeneous complexes and supported catalysts were evaluated for ethylene polymerization. The effects of the nuclearity of the precatalysts, nature of organoaluminum activator and the polymerization temperature were examined. It has been shown that immobilized on MgCl2 catalysts are superior in activity to homogeneous precatalysts by the level of activity (up to 6.1 ton of PE (molM h atm)−1). The precatalysts obtained in situ by the interaction of FI complexes, Bu2Mg and Et2AlCl are suitable for preparing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with molecular weight up to 6 106 Da even at elevated reaction temperatures. In addition, supported precatalysts, in the presence of MAO, effectively catalyze the ethylene–higher olefin copolymerization (activity—up to 8.2 ton of copolymer (molM⋅h⋅atm)−1).