Hydrocarbon-Soluble Borate Cocatalyst Composition for Olefin Polymerization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional borate compounds used as cocatalysts for olefin and diene polymerization are insoluble in hydrocarbon solvents, particularly aliphatic hydrocarbons, and can act as catalyst poisons due to impurities, leading to reduced reaction efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a base A or a compound with specific carbon number ranges and a borate compound represented by certain formulas, which are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents and do not generate catalyst poisons, allowing for effective polymerization of olefins and dienes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If general tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate compounds are used as cocatalysts, then thermal stability and catalytic activity are improved, but solubility in hydrocarbon solvents deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the borate compound by replacing aryl groups with specific fluoroaryl groups (R1-R4 in formula 1) and selecting particular counterions (formula 2), which fundamentally alters the solubility characteristics while preserving thermal stability and catalytic activity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure consisting of the borate anion (formula 1) and specific cationic components (formula 2), where the combination of these two elements produces synergistic effects that simultaneously achieve solubility in hydrocarbon solvents and maintain high catalytic performance
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional production methods using lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and dialkylmethylamine hydrochloride are used, then borate compound is obtained, but catalyst poison impurities remain in the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic intermediate steps involving lithium salt and hydrochloride that generate impurities. The new method directly synthesizes the desired borate compound without forming these harmful intermediates, thereby removing the source of catalyst poison impurities from the production process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary selection of pure starting materials and optimizes reaction conditions to prevent impurity formation from the beginning. By carefully controlling the reaction between compound (1) and compound (2) under specific conditions, the method prevents the generation of catalyst poison impurities rather than attempting to remove them afterward
3Ease of operation
If trialkylamine compounds are used to improve solubility, then solubility in hydrocarbon solvents is improved, but catalyst poison formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modification by specifically designing the molecular structure of the borate compound with fluoroaryl groups at particular positions (R1-R4 in formula 1) and selecting specific cationic components (formula 2), creating localized regions of the molecule that provide solubility without the harmful nucleophilic properties of trialkylamines
Data Source
AI summary
A borate compound-containing composition soluble in hydrocarbon solvents. A composition containing base A, or a compound having a total carbon number of not less than 8 and represented by the formula (5):wherein R and R′ are each independently an optionally substituted C1-30 alkyl group, an optionally substituted C3-15 cycloalkyl group, or an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group; anda borate compound represented by the following formula (1):wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a C6-14 aryl group substituted by one or more fluorine atoms or fluoro C1-4 alkyl groups; and[A-H]+ is a base A-derived cation. A method for producing a polymer, by polymerizing at least one kind of monomer selected from the group consisting of olefins and dienes by using the composition A as a cocatalyst.