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13ii1ilE#MsljEll 1. First off, l i t h i u m b u t y l is n o t new. W h a t is new is its commercial availability in a solvent r a t h e r t h a n a n ether vehicle. Highly stable, it can be stored a t room t e m p e r a t u r e for indefinite periods w i t h o u t de terioration. And you c a n h a n d l e it j u s t as freely u n d e r nitrogen as u n der argon or h e l i u m .
2. Lithium butyl is a single component catalyst of known composition with ho mogeneous reaction mechanism. Com pared with conventional heterogeneous catalysts of uncertain composition, lith ium butyl permits more accurate pre dictions of final polymer performance . . . makes controls easier to establish and hold. 3. T h e a m o u n t of l i t h i u m derived catalyst required in ordered isoprene polymerization is extremely small· Possibly less t h a n 0.01% of t h e iso prene. And t h e a m o u n t of t h e c a t a lyst r e m a i n i n g in t h e polymer is even s m a l l e r . . . of t h e order of p a r t s per million. T h u s , despite its rela tively h i g h price, l i t h i u m c o n t r i b u t e s very little to t h e cost of t h e product. I t m a y actually reduce t h e
cost by p e r m i t t i n g economical sim plification of post polymerization t r e a t m e n t of the polymer. 4. Little definitive information has been published as to the merits of various catalyst systems in natural rubber syn thesis. Both Ziegler and lithium cata lyzed rubber show approximately the same percentage of as-1,4 isomer. But there is one product difference. Lithium catalyzed polyisoprene has a higher mo lecular weight than either Ziegler types or natural hevea rubber. Ultimately, the efficiency of the catalyst may depend more on the purity of the monomer than on any other single factor.
5. Participants i n t h e 1958 Gordon Research Conference on polymers clearly s t a t e d time need for efficient, soluble, stereospecific catalysts in large quantities. Lithium, butyl sat isfies all of t h e s e needs.
6. Lithium butyl has been suggested as a substitute for aluminum alkyls in Zieg-
1er type catalysts. An excellent yield of m-1,4 polybutadiene has been reported as resulting from such a substitution. 7. T h e commercial future of Foote's new l i t h i u m b u t y l p r e p a r a t i o n seems assured. I t s potential in or dered polymerization has been es tablished. And n u m e r o u s research projects are focusing on it as an i n t e r m e d i a t e . If y o u ' d like to renew your acquaintance with lithium butyl, just return the coupon, checking y o u r specific interest.
of FOOTE MINERAL COMPANY 418 Eighteen West Chelten Bldg. Philadelphia 44, Pennsylvania Gentlemen : Please send me the follow ing checked monographs: Π #100—Catalytic Lithium Π #101—Lithium in Organic Chemistry • #103—Lithium Butyl Q § 104—Catalytic Lithium in Polymer ization Plus information on Π sample quanti ties D commercial quantities Name. Company. Address.
