MgCl2.6PhCH2OH – A new molecular adduct as support material for Ziegler–Natta catalyst: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity

Abstract

Benzyl alcohol has been used to prepare a single phase MgCl₂.6BzOH molecular adduct as a support for an ethylene polymerization catalyst (Ziegler catalyst). The structural, spectroscopic and morphological aspects of the MgCl₂.6BzOH molecular adduct and the Ziegler catalyst have been thoroughly studied by various physicochemical characterization techniques. The presence of MgO₆ octahedrons due to the interaction of Mg²⁺ with six –OH groups of the benzyl alcohol is confirmed from a Raman feature at 703 cm⁻¹, and structural studies. The supported catalyst activity has been evaluated for the ethylene polymerization reaction. The lower polymerization activity of the titanated Ziegler–Natta catalyst compared with a standard catalyst is attributed to the strong interaction of titanium chloride with the support and associated electronic factors.