POLYMERIZATION OF 3-METHYL-1-BUTENE PROMOTED BY METALLOCENE CATALYSTS

3-Methyl-1-butene was polymerized in the presence of a number of homog eneous metallocene catalysts (co-catalyst methylalumoxane). Contrary t o literature reports, it was found that even the simplest C-2-symmetri c metallocenes promote the isotactic polymerization of this monomer wi th reasonable productivities. Quite surprisingly, a prevailingly isota ctic polymer was also obtained in the presence of C-s-symmetric metall ocenes, which are instead syndiotactic-specific in propene polymerizat ion.