Summary: Fluorinated bis(phenoxy‐imine)Ti complexes 1 – 3 combined with MgCl2/i‐BunAl(OR)3−n (MgCl2‐supported catalysts) were able to polymerize propylene in a living fashion at room temperature to provide slightly to highly syndiotactic poly(propylenes) (PPs) with extremely narrow distributions of molecular weight. These represent the first examples of MAO‐ and borate‐free group 4 metal‐based living catalysts. The supported complexes 2 and 3 formed PPs with higher syndiotacticity and Tm's than the corresponding homogeneous MAO‐activation systems (e.g., 3 : rr 97%, Tm 155 °C; MAO activation: rr 93%, Tm 152 °C). The measured Tm of 155 °C represents the highest known Tm for syndiotactic PPs synthesized at room temperature.
Polymerization of propylene to poly(propylene) with supported Ti‐based catalysts.
