Direct conversion of trans-2-butene into a mixture of monomers with different composition over vanadium supported catalysts

Terpolymerization of 1,3-butadiene, ethylene and propylene became an important process to access EPDM rubbers materials with unique properties. Having a mixture of these monomers is preferred rather than mixing them from separated sources. Hence, we developed for the first time, well defined single-site V based-catalysts by SOMC of [V(=O)(OtBu)3] on SiO2–200 and on Al2O3–500 affording [(≡MO)2V(=O)(OtBu)], (M = Si or Al). The catalytic activity of these materials in 2-butenes conversion into different composition of monomers depends on the support and the working temperature. A mechanism for the formation of these monomers has been proposed based on β-H elimination and β-alkyl transfer as elementary steps.