Syndiospecific copolymerization of styrene with styrene macromonomer bearing terminal styryl group by CpTiCl3-methylaluminoxane catalyst

Copolymerization of styrene with styrene-terminated polystyrene macromonome r (SSTM) by CpTiCl3-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst was investigated. SSTM was prepared by a reaction of living polystyrene initiated with sec-butyll ithium (s-BuLi) and p-chloromethyl styrene at -78 degrees C. The synthesize d SSTM has a high terminal functionality and a narrow molecular weight dist ribution. Graft copolymers of polystyrene consisted of syndiotactic main ch ain and atactic side chain were synthesized by CpTiCl3-MAO catalyst. The sy nthesized graft copolymer was confirmed to have highly syndiotactic sequenc e on the main chain. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. AU rights reserved.