A New Approach to the Synthesis of Diethyl 2,3-Diisobutylsuccinate, a Component of Titanium–Magnesium Catalysts for Propylene Polymerization

A procedure was developed for preparing 2,3-dialkyl-substituted succinates by condensation of a succinic acid diester with two isobutyraldehyde molecules, followed by esterification and hydrogenation of the sum of dienes. Diethyl 2,3-diisobutylsuccinate of 75–99% purity was prepared by this procedure in a good yield. The use of the synthesized diethyl 2,3-diisobutylsuccinate as a stereoregulating component of titanium–magnesium catalysts allows synthesis of polypropylene with broad molecular-mass distribution. The catalysts prepared using >95% pure diethyl 2,3-diisobutylsuccinate have the best characteristics and allow preparation of polypropylene with high isotacticity index in a high yield.