Olefin trimerization and ethylene tandem conversion to linear low density polyethylene

Supporting a titanium catalyst (FI)TiCl_3 (FI = (N-(5-methyl-3-(1-adamantyl)salicylidene)-2'-(2"-methoxyphenyl) anilinato) onto MAO/silica affords a more active catalytic system for ethylene and 1-olefin trimerization. Cosupporting the (FI)TiCl_3 catalyst with the ethylene polymn. catalyst (CpSiNR)TiCl_2 (CpSiNR = (C5Me4) SiMe_2NCMe_3), either on sep. or the same MAO/silica particles, affords a catalyst system for producing butyl-branched LLDPE from and ethylene-only feed. Recent expts. aimed at defining the mechanism and LLDPE structure will be described.