Comparison of silyl chromate and chromium oxide based olefin polymerization catalysts

A comparison of the ethylene polymerization performance conducted with an oxo and a triphenylsilyl chromate catalyst on silica was performed. The oxo catalyst has higher activity and better comonomer response. The silylchromate catalyst has a much longer induction time and made a much broader molecular weight distribution polymer compared to the oxo analogue. Performance similar to silylchromate on silica was observed when triphenylsilanol (TPS) was added to the oxo chromium catalyst. The oxo catalyst was converted to the silyl chromate catalyst by ligand substitution. Analysis of the catalyst components when TPS was added to the oxo chrome analogue showed that bis triphenylsilyl chromate can form and be removed from the support.