Polymerization of Methylmethacrylate by Tridentate Schiff Base Derivative of Indenyl and Cyclooctatetraenyl Lanthanoid Complexes Along with Al(i-Bu)3 Catalytic System

Abstract

Different types of the tridentate Schiff base, [N-(2-methoxyphenyl) salicylideneamine] derivative of lanthanoid complexes along with Al(i-Bu)₃ are proved to be versatile tools for the polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA). The complexes, derived from indene and tridentate Schiff base ligands, express better efficiency (Mv = 195 × 10³ – 355×10³ ) than the complexes, prepared from cyclooctatetraene (COT) and tridentate Schiff base ligands (Mv=105 × 10³ – 175 × 10³ ). The effect of catalyst, temperature, catalyst/MMA molar ratio and catalyst/Al(i-Bu)3 molar ratio on the polymerization of MMA at 70 º C are studied. It is observed that ligand size and radius of the metal are important factors in determining the catalytic efficiency of the complexes.