ETHYLENE POLYMERIZATION USING DISCRETE NICKEL (II) IMINOPHOSPHONAMIDE COMPLEXES

摘要

The present invention generally relates to a new method of polymerizing ethylene. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds utilized in the polymerization of ethylene and to a synthesis/polymerization method that uses same. In another embodiment, branched polyethylene is synthesized from an ethylene monomer using, in this embodiment, at least one nickel iminophosphonamide (PN₂) complex. In still another embodiment, the reaction of (phenyl) (triphenylphosphine) (diphenyl-bis (trimethylsilylimino) phosphorato)-nickel with Rh(acac)(C₂H₄)₂ and ethylene yield a branched polyethylene. In an alternative of this embodiment, the reaction of (phenyl) (triphenylphosphine) (methyl-bis(trimethylsilyl) amino-bis(trimethylsilylimino) phosphorato)-nickel and ethylene, with or without Ni(COD)₂, yields a branched polyethylene.