SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE USING A NOVEL SOLUBLE MAGNESIUM TITANIUM CATALYST

A 1:2 complex of MgCl2 and tetrahydrofuran (THF) was prepared by a sim ple Grignard decomposition reaction using Mg metal and 1,2-dichloroeth ane in THF as diluent. The MgCl2.2THF complex formed a homogeneous sol ution with titanium-n-butoxide in xylene at 60-degrees-C. The soluble Mg-Ti complex in xylene polymerized ethylene under homogeneous conditi ons in the presence of organoaluminium compounds. The kinetic behaviou r of the polymerization reaction was studied. It was observed that the presence of MgCl2 transformed the Ti centre from a dimerization to a polymerization catalyst.