Copolymerization of 3-buten-1-ol and propylene with an isospecific zirconocene/methylaluminoxane catalyst

The copolymerization of propylene and 3-buten-1-ol protected with alkylaluminum [trimethylaluminum (TMA) or triisobutylaluminum] was conducted with an isospecific zirconocene catalyst [rac-dimethylsilylbis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride], combined with methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, in the presence of additional TMA or H2 as the chain-transfer reagent if necessary. The results indicated that end-hydroxylated polypropylene was obtained in the presence of the chain-transfer reagents because of the formation of dormant species after the insertion of the 3-buten-1-ol-based monomer followed by chain-transfer reactions. The selectivity of the chain-transfer reactions was influenced by the alkylaluminum protecting the comonomer and the catalyst structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5600–5607, 2004