Copolymerization of atactic polypropene macromonomer with propene by an isospecific metallocene catalyst

Atactic polypropene macromonomer (PPM) with a number-average polymerization degree of ca 20 was synthesized by bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconi um dichloride-methylaluminoxane and its structure was analyzed by H-1 and C -13 NMR spectroscopies. Copolymerization of propene and PPM was conducted w ith isospecific rac-dimethylsilylenebis(2-methylbenz[e]indenyl)zirconium di chloride using methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. The detailed analyses of resulting copolymers by GPC, DSC, and C-13 NMR proved that PPM was copolyme rized with propene to give poly(propene-co-PPM). PPM content in the copolym er was found to be controlled by the amount of PPM in feed.