Alternating Copolymers of Ethylene and Diolefins Containing Pendent Functional Groups

Abstract The catalyst [Me 2 C(Flu)(3‐MeCp)ZrCl 2 ] ( 1 ), activated by MAO, was used for the copolymerization of ethylene and 1,7‐octadiene (OD) to form copolymers with pendent double bonds. The properties of the copolymers were strongly dependent on the purity of the comonomer. Formation of ethylene‐rich sequences and increased levels of crosslinking were observed with highly purified 1,7‐octadiene. Catalysts 1 and [Me 2 Si(Flu) 2 ZrCl 2 ] ( 2 ), activated by MAO, were used for the copolymerization of ethylene and 7‐methyl‐1,6‐octadiene (MOD). In both cases, alternating copolymers were formed with unreacted pendent double bonds. The triad distributions were analyzed by Markovian first‐ and second‐order statistics. Copolymers produced by catalyst 2 were significantly more alternating than copolymers produced by catalyst 1 despite the fact that catalyst 2 is highly symmetrical. Epoxidation of pendent double bonds was examined. magnified image