Patent GB-887362-A (GB)
Title: Polymerization of unsaturated compounds
IPC: C08F10/00
Filed: 1958-12-03
Abstract: The polymerization of compounds containing an unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond is effected in the presence of a chloride or bromide of platinum or palladium.  Other polymerization-inducing components may be present, particularly if high molecular weight polymers are desired.  Temperatures of 50 DEG -170 DEG C. and pressures of 1-30 atmospheres may be used in the presence of an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent.  In Examples (1) ethylene is polymerized to butylene at 90 DEG C. and an initial pressure of 55 atmospheres for 10 hours in the presence of PdCl2, hydrochloric acid and acetic acid; (2) ethylene is polymerized to butylene and a high-molecular weight polymer with PdCl2 and NaNO2 in methyl ethyl ketone; (3) propylene is dimerized with PdCl2 in hydrochloric acid and acetic acid; (4) ethylene is polymerized to liquid products with H2PtCl6 in propionic acid; (5) acetylene is polymerized to vinyl- and divinyl-acetylenes using PdCl2 in dimethyl sulphoxide and in ethyl alcohol, LiPdCl3 in propionic acid, PtCl2 in tetrahydrofuran, PtCl4 in nitrobenzene and in dioxane, H2PtCl6 in water, in acetic acid, and in dimethyl sulphoxide, and H2PtBr6 in water; (7) phenyl acetylene, propyl acetylene or butylacetylene are polymerized to sticky resinous polymers with PdCl2 or H2PtCl6 in acetone at 100 DEG C. for one hour; (8) acetylene is dimerized with silica gel impregnated with H2PtCl6; (9) ethylene is converted to butylene and hexene isomers with PdBr2, HBr and propionic acid or PdBr2, LiBr, HClO4 and propionic acid; (10) ethylene is dimerized with PdCl2, HCl and methyl ethyl ketone.ALSO:The polymerisation of compounds containing an unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond is effected in the presence of a chloride or bromide of platinum or palladium.  Other polymerisationinducing components may be present, particularly if high molecular weight polymers are desired.  Temperatures of 50 DEG C.-170 DEG C. and pressures of 1-30 atmospheres may be used in the presence of an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent.  In Examples (1) ethylene is polymerised to butylene at 90 DEG C. and an initial pressure of 55 atmospheres for 10 hours in the presence of PdCl2, hydrochloric acid and acetic acid; (2) ethylene is polymerised to butylene and a high-molecular weight polymer with PdCl2 and NaNO2 in methyl ethyl ketone; (3) propylene is dimerised with PdCl2 in hydrochloric acid and acetic acid; (4) ethylene is polymerised to liquid products with H2PtCl6 in propionic acid; (5) acetylene is polymerised to vinyl- and divinyl-acetylenes using PdCl2 in dimethyl sulphoxide and in ethyl alcohol, LiPdCl3 in propionic acid, PtCI2 in tetrahydrofuran, PtCl4 in nitrobenzene and in dioxane, H2PtCl6 in water, in acetic acid, and in dimethyl sulphoxide, and H2PtBr6 in water; (7) phenyl acetylene, propyl acetylene or butylacetylene are polymerised to sticky resinous polymers with PdCl2 or H2PtCl6 in acetone at 100 DEG C. for one hour; (8) acetylene is dimerised with silica gel impregnated with H2PtCl6; (9) ethylene is converted to butylene and hexene isomers with PdBr2, HBr and propionic acid or PdBr2, LiBr, HC104 and propionic acid; (10) ethylene is dimerised with PdCl2, HCl and methyl ethyl ketone.