Immobilization of a C2-Symmetric ansa-Zirconocene Complex on Silica Surfaces Using a Si-Cl Anchor: Catalysts for Isospecific Propene Polymerization

A C2-symmetric ansa-zirconocene complex which has a Si-Cl moiety on its bridge was immobilized on SiO2 by the reaction of the Si-Cl anchor with Si-OH on the solid surface. The prepared solid catalyst was found to be effective for isospecific propene polymerization. It exhibited higher productivity compared to a catalyst prepared using the zirconocene without a Si-Cl anchor. The effect of pretreatment of silica surfaces with Me3SiCl on catalyst performance is also described.