Synthesis of a novel syndiotactic poly(macromonomer) consisting of styrene-terminated polyisoprene macromonomers using half-titanocene catalysts

Homopolymerization of a styrene-terminated polyisoprene macromonomer (SIPM) by half-titanocene catalysts in combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) w as investigated. Polymerization of the SIPRI with CpTiCl3-MAO as the cataly st was found to proceed readily to give a high molecular weight polymer. H- 1 and C-13 NMR spectra of the poly(SIPM) after ozonolysis of the isoprene s ide chain revealed that poly(SIPM) is a highly syndiotactic polymer. Syndio tactic poly(STPM) is soluble in usual solvents in spite of having highly sy ndiotactic sequences on its main chain and a considerable degree of polymer ization.