CATALYST FOR POLYMERIZING LACTONE AND POLYMERIZATION OF LACTONE

摘要

PURPOSE: To obtain the subject catalyst comprising a specific transition metal compound and a specific ionic compound or a specific organoboron compound and capable of giving a polylactone high in the mol.wt. and narrow in the mol.wt. distribution under a mild condition by a simple operation. ;CONSTITUTION: A catalyst for polymerizing a lactone comprises (A) a transition metal compound of the formula (M is the group IVB transition metal atom in the periodic table; Cp¹, Cp² are a ligand having a cyclopentadienyl skeleton; X¹, X² are H, a halogen, etc.,) (e.g. dicyclopentadienyl zirconium dimethyl), and (B) an ionic compound of formula: Y⁺Z^- (Y⁺ is a proton-having quaternary ammonium cation of formula: HN⁺R¹R²R³ (R¹-R³ are an alkyl, an aryl), a metal cation, etc.; Z^- is boron anion, ClO₄^-, etc.,] or an organic boron compound of formula: B(C₆F_nH_5-n)₃ (n is 0-5). The component B is preferably B(C₆F₅)₃, etc. On the polymerization, the component A is preferably used in an amount of 0.05-0.0002 mole per mole of the lactone monomer. The molar ratio of the components A:B is preferably 1:5 to 5:1.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1996,JPO