One‐Pot Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polyethylenes Tethered with Pendant Acryloyl Functionalities by Chain Walking Copolymerizations

Abstract

Abstract Chain walking copolymerization of ethylene with 1,4‐butanediol diacrylate at elevated concentrations for the synthesis of low‐viscosity hyperbranched polyethylenes tethered with a controllable amount of acryloyl functionality is reported. At concentrations much higher than the critical gelation concentrations, the diacrylate comonomer is copolymerized predominantly following the mono‐insertion pattern. A range of hyperbranched polyethylenes tethered with acryloyl functionality (1.3–4.8 mol‐%) and having low melt viscosity (ca. 25 Pa · s at 25 °C) and low glass transition temperature ( T g = −69 °C) has been synthesized. This unique method is specific to the Pd‐diimine‐catalyzed chain‐walking copolymerization system. magnified image