Polymerization of methyl methacrylate using bis(imine)cobalt, a polyolefin catalyst

A mono-nuclear catalyst of bis-imine cobalt (MC) was synthesized with using ۲,۶-dibenzhydryl-۴-ethoxy phenyl as a ligand. The so huge ligand was prepared via the reaction of ۲,۶-dibenzhydryl-۴-ethoxy phenyl)-N=(CH۳)-C(CH۳)=O with diacetyl with equal mole stoichiometry in presence of formic acid catalysis. The catalyst was synthesized via a reaction between the ligands and cobalt salt (CoCl۲). The catalyst was used for polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), (a polar monomer) in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). The highest polymerization activity (۸.۶ g PMMA/mmol cat. h) was obtained at [cocatalyst]/[catalyst]=۱۰۰۰:۱ molar ratio and at room temperature reaction. For the prepared PMMA, Polymer with branching density of ۲۶۳/۱۰۰۰C was obtained using ۱H NMR technique calculation. The microstructure of one of the produced PMMA was as follow: ۴۸% syndiotactic, ۲۹% isotactic and ۲۳% atactic. GPC analysis of the polymer showed a number average molecular weight of about ۵.۷ × ۱۰۵ g/mol and a narrow molecular weight distribution of ۱.۵۷.