NU 1995-059

Inventor

Tobin Marks

You-Xian

Eugene Chen

Short Description

Innovative co-catalyst for olefin polymerization reduces the overall amount of catalysts used and increases control over the type of olefin polymers obtained

Abstract

Northwestern researchers have discovered a family of organo-Lewis acids as powerful co-catalysts for olefin polymerization. Polyolefins are ubiquitous in all phases of commerce. However, catalyzing reactions for their production demands constant improvement in selectivity, yield and cost of manufacture. Often catalysts have to be used in high excess to show preference towards a particular olefin monomer, or the reactions results in polyolefin mixtures that are difficult to separate. The novel catalysis offered here advance previously catalyst performance by incorporation of organo-Lewis acids (like perfluorobiphenylborane), which reduce catalyst requirements and provide improved control over the types of polyolefin produced. With these superior properties, organo-Lewis acid catalysts stand to revolutionize the field of industrial polyolefin production.

Applications

• Catalysis

Advantages

• Reduces the need for excess co-catalyst
• Increases control over reaction products

Publications

Chen Y-X, Stern C, Yang S, Marks T (1996) Organo-Lewis Acids as Cocatalysts in Cationic Metallocene Polymerization Catalysis. Unusual Characteristics of Sterically Encumbered Tris(perfluorobiphenyl)borane . Journal of the American Chemical Society. 118: 12451-12452.

Chen EYX, Marks TJ (2000) Cocatalysts for Metal-Catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Activators, Activation Processes, and Structure-Activity Relationships. Chemical Reviews. 100: 1391-1434.

IP Status

Issued US patents 6,291,695; 5,856,256; 6,274,752; 6,403,733; 6,403,432; and 6,078,460.