Binuclear Ti(IV) complex with new compartmental ligand 2,6‐(bis‐CF3‐carbinol)‐4‐tert‐butylphenol as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization and its copolymerization with propylene and 5‐ethylidene‐norbornene

The coordination chemistry of a new compartmental ligand 2,6‐(bis‐CF3‐carbinol)‐4‐tert‐butylphenol with Ti(IV) and Zr(IV) has been studied. The structures of Al, Ti, and Zr complexes with the participation of this ligand were established by X‐ray diffraction. Upon activation with Et2AlCl or Et3Al2Cl3 and Bu2Mg, Ti(IV) complex exhibited moderate catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. The obtained UHMWPE samples were processed into high‐strength (up to 2.7 GPa) and high‐modulus (up to 162 GPa) films through solid‐phase molding and orientation drawing. The mononuclear and binuclear Ti(IV) complexes catalyzed the ternary copolymerization of ethylene, propylene, and 5‐ethylidene‐norbornene. Tercopolymers with a content of propylene units up to 36 mol% and 5‐EBN up to 8.6 mol% were synthesized with a high activity (2.8–6.3 tons of copolymer/mol Ti h); the mechanical characteristics of elastomeric materials have been studied. A new compartmental ligand 2,6‐(bis‐CF3‐carbinol)‐4‐tert‐butylphenol with Ti(IV) and Zr(IV) has been synthesized. Al, Ti, and Zr complexes were fully characterized. Ti(IV) complex exhibits moderate activity for ethylene polymerization and higher activity on its tercopolymerization with propylene and 5‐ethylidene‐norbornene. Binuclear complex is inferior in activity to mononuclear analogue which indicates that a close arrangement of metal centers complicates the activation processes.