Catalytic activity of some organolanthanoid derivatives in styrene and propene polymerization

Organolanthanoids of several classes were examined as potential styrene and propene polymerization catalysts. They are: molecular hydrides of divalent lanthanoids (samarium, europium, ytterbium); naphthalene and stilbene complexes of neodymium(III), samarium(II), europium(II), ytterbium(II), lutetium(III); amides and alkoxides (including heterobifunctional derivatives) of praseodymium(III), neodymium(In), samarium(II), europium(II), thulium(III), ytterbium(II, LII); thiolate of samarium(III); phenyl and phenylethinyl derivatives of europium(II), thulium(III), ytterbium(II); methylytterbium cluster Yb-8 (mu -CH3)(14)(mu -L -CH2)(THF)(6); heterobimetallic samarium(II), ytterbium(TI, III) complexes; diazabutadiene ytterbium(III) derivatives; metallic praseodymium and ytterbium, activated by iodine. The highest activity in styrene polymerization revealed hydrides, naphthalene and stilbene complexes of samarium(II), europium(LI) and ytterbium(II). In the propene polymerization only [(eta (5)-C5H4)CH2CH (CHzOBu)(eta (1)-O)]YbMe(THF) displayed noticeable activity. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.