COPOLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE WITH BICYCLO[2.2.1]HEPT-5-ENE-2-METHANOL- A FACILE ROUTE TO HYDROXYL FUNCTIONAL POLY(ETHYLENE)S

A direct and efficient route to the synthesis of hydroxyl functional p olyethylene was identified by copolymerization of ethylene with bicycl o[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-methanol prereacted with trimethylaluminium using the catalyst system metallocene/MAO. Copolymerization studies were co nducted using three metallocenes, namely, Cp2ZrCl2, Et(ind)(2)ZrCl2 an d Me2SiCp2ZrCl2 the last one of which gave a copolymer containing as m uch as 6.2 mol-% of alcohol. The effect of the Al/Zr ratio as well as of temperature was studied. The copolymers were characterized by means of H-1 NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and intrinsic viscosit y measurements.