Synthesis of oxazoline functionalized polypropene using metallocene catalysts

Abstract

Using two different zirconocene/MAO catalyst systems, propene was copolymerized with the comonomers 2-(9-decene-1-yl)-1,3-oxazoline and 2-(4-(10-undecene-1-oxo)phenyl)-1,3-oxazoline, respectively. The catalysts used were rac-Et[Ind]2ZrCl2 and rac-Me2Si[2-Me-4, 5-BenzInd]2ZrCl2. Up to 0.53 mol-% oxazoline could be incorporated into polypropene. Oxazoline content, molecular weight, degree of isotacticity and melting behavior were dependent on the catalyst system, comonomer structure and comonomer concentration in the feed.