Polymerization and copolymerization of ethene initiated with disiloxane-bridged biscyclopentadienylzirconium complexes and methylaluminoxane

The disiloxane-bridged zirconocene complexes, tetramethyldisiloxanediylbis (cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride and tetramethyldisiloxanediylbis(cyclopentadienyl) dimethylzirconium initiate the homopolymerization of ethene as well as the copolymerization of ethene and α-olefin with a modified methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst. The catalyst systems give resonable activity but the molecular weight of polyethene decreases drastically with increasing polymerization temperature.