TiIV complexes with an OSSO-type diol ligand in the catalysis of olefin polymerization

The OSSO-type diol ligand and the Ti-IV dichloride and bis-isopropoxide complexes with this ligand were synthesized. The structure of the latter complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic activity of the systems based on the complexes (OSSO)TiCl2 and (OSSO)Ti(OPri)(2), which were activated with mixtures of alkylaluminum chlorides (Et2AlCl, Et3Al2Cl3) and dibutylmagnesium, was studied in the polymerization of ethylene and its copolymerization with propylene. It was found that the homopolymerization affords ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a molecular weight up to 10.6 center dot 10(6), and the copolymerization gives copolymers containing up to 43 mol.% propylene units.