Hydrogen‐Assisted Unique Incorporation of 1,4‐Divinylbenzene in Copolymerization with Propylene Using an Isospecific Zirconocene Catalyst

Summary: Propylene was copolymerized with 1,4‐divinylbenzene (1,4‐DVB) using rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and MAO in the presence of hydrogen. ¹H NMR spectra of the obtained copolymer confirmed the successful incorporation of 1,4‐DVB. ¹³C NMR analysis revealed a unique copolymer structure with the incorporated 1,4‐DVB units predominantly forming 1,4‐substituted phenyl repeating units in the polymer main chain. A plausible mechanism involving spontaneous insertion of terminal styryl into Zr‐H species was proposed to rationalize the unique incorporation of 1,4‐DVB.

Copolymerization of propylene with 1,4‐divinylbenzene in the presence of hydrogen.