Ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers via acyclic diene metathesis polymerization. Examining the effect of "long" precise ethylene run lengths

Tandem acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization/catalytic hydrogenat ion has been exploited to synthesize copolymers modeling ethylene/vinyl ace tate (EVA) materials. A series of four sequence-ordered ethylene-co-vinyl a cetate copolymers were prepared possessing precisely defined ethylene run l engths from 18 to 26 carbons. Use of the well-defined ADMET reaction in com bination with a quantitative olefin-hydrogen technique generates well-defin ed EVA's, all of which are semicrystalline with a linear relationship betwe en ethylene run length and melting temperature. All polymers except that wi th the lowest ethylene run length are film and fiber forming.