Copolymerization of Ethylene with iPr3Si-Protected 5-Hexen-1-ol with an [OSSO]-Type Bis(phenolato) Dichloro Zirconium(IV) Complex

The ability of dichlorozirconium(IV) complex 4 incorporating an [OSSO]-type bis(phenolate) ligand with dMAO (dried methylaluminoxane) as an activator for the copolymerization of ethylene with iPr(3)Si-protected 5-hexen-1-ol, 5-hexen-1-oxy-triisopropylsilane (5H1OSi), is described. This catalyst system efficiently promoted ethylene copolymerization with different feed ratios of 5H1OSi at 25 degrees C under an atmospheric pressure producing ethylene/5H1OSi copolymers with molecular weights M-w of 3800-10800 g mol(-1). In the (HNMR)-H-1 spectroscopic analysis, the contents of 5H1OSi in the copolymers were found to be in the range of 7.5-21.4 mol % depending upon the feed concentration of 5H1OSi. The sequence distributions and calculated reactive ratios (gamma(E)gamma(P) = 1.48-3.48) obtained from the C-13 NMR spectra revealed that the catalytic system produced highly random ethylene/5H1OSi copolymers.