Bis [N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene) cyclooctylamine] titanium dichloride activated with MAO for ethylene polymerization

Bis [N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene) cyclooctylamine] titanium dichloride (C-8 FI; complex 1) was synthesized by the Schiff base reaction and formed complex with TiCl4. This catalyst is highly active for producing polyethylene having high molecular weight (1.1 x 10(6)-1.97 x 10(6) g/mole) and narrow polydispersity (1-2) in the presence of MAO as co-catalyst under atmospheric pressure. Comparing with the bis[N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene) cycloheptylamine] titanium dichloride (C-7 FI; complex 2), complex 1 exhibits higher activity upon the same polymerization condition over the temperature from 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C. Polyethylene obtained from the complex 1 has molecular weight lower than that obtained from the complex 2 due to steric bulky congestion. Additionally, the molecular weight of polymer obtained from the complex 1 increased with increasing the polymerization time from 10 to 60 min. It is evident that the complex 1 has a living fashion in ethylene polymerization. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.