Ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium Dichloride/Methylaluminoxane-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and 1-Alkene-n-trimethylsilanes

In this study a series of new copolymers, namely, poly(ethylene-co-3-butenyltrimethylsilane), poly(ethylene-co-4-pentenyltrimethylsilane), and poly(ethylene-co-5-hexenyltrimethylsilane), were synthesized via ethylenebisindenylzirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO)-catalyzed polymerizations. In parallel with these polymerizations, also poly(ethylene-co-allyltrimethylsilane), poly(ethylene-co-vinyltrimethylsilane), poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene), and poly(ethylene-co-1-decene) were synthesized in similar conditions. All of the synthesized polymers were characterized thoroughly (molar masses with GPC and the microstructures with 1H NMR and 13C NMR), and the influence of the Lewis acidic trimethylsilane (−Si(CH3)3) comonomer in the polymerization performance is discussed. With the shortest silane monomers (vinyl-Si(CH3)3 and allyl-Si(CH3)3) the electronic influence of the silicon was seen in regiospesific insertions and increased rate of chain termination via β-hydrogen abstraction. In paralle...