Polymerization of MMA catalyzed by different novel mixed ligand lanthanocene {(Cp)(Cl) LnSchiff-base(THF)}, (COT)-Ln(methoxyethylindenyl)(THF)/Al(i-Bu)(3) systems

This article deals that the rare earth metal complexes along with Al(i-Bu)( 3) can catalyze the polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) into high mo lecular weight poly(MMA) along with narrow molecular weight distributions ( MWD). A typical example was mentioned in the case of {Cp(Cl) Sm-Schiff-base (THF)} which expresses maximum (conv.% = 55.46 and M-n = 354 x 10(3)) effic iency along with narrow MWD (M-w/M-n < 2) at 60 degrees C. The resulting po lymer was partially syndiotactic (> 60%). The effect of the catalyst, tempe rature, catalyst/MMA molar ratio, catalyst/Al(i-Bu)(3) molar ratio on the p olymerization of MMA at 60 degrees C were also investigated.