Stereoselective and regioselective propylene polymerization with group 4 bisphenolate ether complexes

Octahedral group 4 bisphenolate ether complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane, were tested in propylene polymerization in the presence and absence of diethyl zinc. The resulting polypropylenes were analyzed thoroughly by means of differential scanning calorimetry and ¹³C NMR techniques. Despite structural similarity of the Hf and Zr complexes, the performance in propylene polymerization differs significantly in terms of productivity, isospecificity, and propensity to incorporate specific regioerrors. These catalysts are capable of generating high‐molecular weight polypropylene (M_n = 130,000–360,000 g/mol) with isotacticities [mmmm] up to 97% and melting points as high as 165 °C when very bulky ligands are used. ¹³C NMR analysis revealed that the type and the number of regioerrors being incorporated into the polymer chain highly depend on the ligand and the metal. Polymerizations in the presence of diethyl zinc generate saturated low‐molecular weight polypropylenes (M_n = 1700–9900 g/mol) and facilitated an end‐group analysis, which revealed the presence of isobutyl and 2‐methylbutyl groups. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of a series of 2‐aminopyridine nickel(II) complexes and their catalytic properties toward ethylene polymerization

A series of 2‐aminopyridine Ni(II) complexes bearing different substituent groups {(2‐PyCH₂NAr)NiBr, Ar = 2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl ( 3a) , 2,6‐dichlorophenyl ( 3b ), 2,6‐dimethylphenyl ( 3c) , 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl ( 3d ), 2,6‐difluorophenyl ( 3e ); (2‐PyCH₂NHAr)₂NiBr₂, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl ( 4a )} have been synthesized and investigated as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). High molecular weight branched polymers as well as short‐chain oligomers were simultaneously produced with these complexes. Enhancing the steric bulk of the ortho‐aryl‐substituents of the catalyst resulted in higher ratio of solid polymer to oligomer and higher molecular weight of the polymer. With ortho‐haloid‐substitution, the catalysts afforded a product with low polymer/oligomer ratio ( 3b ) and even only oligomers ( 3e ) in which C₁₄H₂₈ had the maximum content. Compared with complex 3d containing ionic ligand, complex 4a containing neutral ligand exhibited obviously low catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. The molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and microstructure of the resulted polymer were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹³C NMR spectrogram. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1618–1628, 2008     

Living syndiospecific polymerization of propylene promoted by C1‐symmetric titanium complexes activated by dried MAO

A series of C₁‐symmetric titanium complexes with both salicylaldiminato and β‐enaminoketonato as the ligands have been synthesized and investigated as the catalysts for propylene polymerization. In the presence of dried methylaluminoxane (dMAO), the complex with bulky substituent tert‐butyl ortho to alkyl oxygen can promote living polymerization of propylene with improved catalytic activity at ambient temperature, producing high molecular weight syndiotactic polypropylenes (rrrr 90.2%) with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.07–1.22), via a propagation of 1,2‐insertion of monomer and chain‐end control of stereoselectivity. The propagation of polymer chain is completely different from that mediated by FI catalysts (the titanium complexes with phenoxy‐imine chelate ligands) which favor 2,1‐insertion of monomer. The interaction between a fluorine and a β‐hydrogen of a growing polymer chain, negligible chain transfer to monomer and dMAO without any free AlMe₃ were responsible for the achievement of living propylene polymerization. The substituent ortho to alkyl oxygen determined the stereo structure of the resultant polypropylene. In the case of less steric congested complexes with two nonequivalent coordination positions, the growing polymer chain might swing back to the favorite coordination position (site‐epimerization), forming m dyads regioirregular units. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Control of Conformation and Chirality of Nonplanar π‐Conjugated Diporphyrins Using Substituents and Axial Ligands

Nonplanar conformations of pyrazine‐fused Zn^II diporphyrins could be controlled by the choice of the meso‐aryl substituents and an axial ligand on the central metals. Zn^II diporphyrins bearing sterically demanding meso‐aryl groups with ortho‐substituents led to a twisted chiral D₂ conformation, while an achiral C_2h form was preferred in the case of aryl groups without ortho‐substituents. Helical chirality induction on Zn^II diporphyrins in the twisted conformation was achieved by controlling their handedness of the molecular twist through coordination of optically active 1‐phenethylamine.     

Design and synthesis of structurally well-defined functional polypropylenes via transition metal-mediated olefin polymerization chemistry

Functionalization of polyolefins is an industrially important yet scientifically challenging research subject. This paper summarizes our recent effort to access structurally well-defined functional polypropylenes via transition metal-mediated olefin polymerization. In one approach, polypropylenes containing side chain functional groups of controlled concentrations were obtained by Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed copolymerization of propylene in combination with either living anionic or controlled radical polymerization of polar monomers. The copolymerization of propylene with 1,4-divinylbenzene using an isospecific MgCl₂-supported TiCl₄ catalyst yielded polypropylenes containing pendant styrene moieties. Both metalation reaction with n-butyllithium and hydrochlorination reaction with dry hydrogen chloride selectively and quantitatively occurred at the pendant reactive sites, generating polymeric benzyllithium and 1-chloroethylbenzene species. These species initiated living anionic polymerization of styrene (S) and atom transfer radical polymerization (in the presence of CuCl and pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) of methyl methacrylate (MMA), respectively, resulting in functional polypropylene graft copolymers (PP-g-PS and PP-g-PMMA) with controllable graft lengths. In another approach, chain end-functionalized polypropylenes containing a terminal OH-group with controlled molecular weights were directly prepared by propylene polymerization with a metallocene catalyst through a selective aluminum chain transfer reaction. Both approaches proved to be desirable polyolefin functionalization routes in terms of efficiency and polymer structure controllability.     

Stereoselective Copolymerization of Unprotected Polar and Nonpolar Styrenes by an Yttrium Precursor: Control of Polar‐Group Distribution and Mechanism

Styrene underwent unprecedented coordination–insertion copolymerization with naked polar monomers (ortho ‐/meta ‐/para ‐methoxystyrene) in the presence of a pyridyl methylene fluorenyl yttrium catalyst. High activity (1.26×10⁶ g mol_Y⁻¹ h⁻¹) and excellent syndioselectivity were observed, and high‐molecular‐weight copolymers (24.6×10⁴ g mol⁻¹) were obtained. The insertion rate of the polar monomers could be adjusted in the full range of 0–100 % simply by changing the loading of the polar styrene monomer. Strikingly, the copolymers had tapered, gradient, and even random sequence distributions, depending on the position of the polar methoxy group on the phenyl ring and thus on its mode of coordination to the active metal center, as shown by tracking the polymerization process and DFT calculations.     

Novel Ortho effects detected in the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of substituted bisaryl phosphate antagonists of platelet-activating factor

A series of substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds, (R¹CH₂)⁺ ArOP = O(O^?)(OArR²R₃), was analyzed and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Abundant fragment ions were observed and correlated with the proposed structures. From fragmentation pattersn, ‘ortho effect’ reactions were demonstrated to have occurred when the phosphoryl oxygen reacted with the (CH₂R¹)⁺ and C?O(OCH₃) substituents in the ortho position, relative to the phosphate group, and displaced the R¹ and OCH₃ groups, respectively, to produce phosphorus containing six-membered rings fused to the aryl moiety. When the (CH₂R¹)⁺ substituents were in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were not observed. However, when the C?O(OCH₃) substituent was in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, an abundant fragment ion containing a five-membered phosphate ring fused to the aryl ring was detected with the original phosphoryl oxygen ortho to both the phosphate oxygen and a formyl group, formed from the original C?O(OCH₃) substituent. All other fragmentations not involving the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were nearly identical for the different structural isomers of the substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds.     

Effect of the Constrained Environment on the Interactions between the Surfactant and Different Polar Solvents Encapsulated within AOT Reverse Micelles

Herein, we report a study of the interactions between different nonaqueous polar solvents, namely, ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (GY), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylacetamide (DMA), and the polar heads of sodium 1,4‐bis‐2‐ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) in nonaqueous AOT/n‐heptane reverse micelles. The goal of our study is to gain insights into the unique reverse‐micelle microenvironment created upon encapsulation of these polar solvents. For the first time, the study is focused on determining which regions of the AOT molecular structure are involved in the interactions with the polar solvents. We use FTIR spectroscopy—a noninvasive technique—to follow the changes in the AOT C?O band and the symmetric and asymmetric SO₃^? vibration modes upon increasing the content of polar solvents in the micelles. The results show that GY interacts through H bonds with the SO₃^? group, thereby removing the Na⁺ counterions from the interface remaining in the polar core of the micelles. PG and EG interact through H bonds, mainly with the C?O group of AOT, penetrating into the oil side of the interface. Thus, they interact weakly with the Na⁺ counterion, which seems to be close to the AOT sulfonate group. Finally, DMF and DMA, encapsulated inside the reverse micelles, interact neither with the C?O nor with the SO₃^? groups, but their weakly bulk‐associated structure is broken because of the interactions with Na⁺. We suggest that DMF and DMA can complex the Na⁺ ions through their carbonyl and nitrogen groups. Hence, our results do not only give insights into how the constrained environment affects the bulk properties of polar solvents encapsulated within reverse micelles but—more importantly—they also help us to answer the tricky question about which regions of the AOT moiety are involved in the interactions with the polar solvents. We believe that our results show a clear picture of the interactions present at the nonaqueous reverse‐micelle interface; this is important because these media are interesting nanoreactors for heterogeneous chemistry, templates for nanoparticles, and models for membranes.     

Propylene polymerization with nickel–diimine complexes containing pseudohalides

DADNiX₂ nickel–diimine complexes [DAD = 2,6‐iPr₂? C₆H₃? N?C(Me)? C(Me)?N? 2,6‐iPr₂? C₆H₃] containing nonchelating pseudohalide ligands [X = isothiocyanate (NCS) for complex 1 and isoselenocyanate (NCSe) for complex 2 ] were synthesized, and the propylene polymerization with these complexes and also with the Br ligand (X = Br for complex 3 ) activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated (systems 1 , 2 , and 3 /MAO). The polypropylenes obtained with systems 1 , 2 , and 3 were amorphous polymers and had high molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Catalyst system 1 showed a relatively high activity even at a low Al/Ni ratio and reached the maximum activity at the molar ratio of Al/Ni = 500, unlike system 3 . Increases in the reaction temperature and propylene pressure favored an increase in the catalytic activity. The spectra of polypropylenes looked like those of propylene–ethylene copolymers containing syndiotactic propylene and ethylene sequences. At the same temperature and pressure, system 2 presented the highest number of propylene sequences, and system 3 presented the lowest. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 458–466, 2006     

Fluorinated α-Diimine Nickel Mediated Ethylene (Co)Polymerization

Fluorine substituents in transition metal catalysts are of great importance in olefin polymerization catalysis; however, the comprehensive effect of fluorine substituents is elusive in seminal late transition metal α-diimine catalytic system. In this contribution, fluorine substituents at various positions (ortho-, meta-, and para-F) and with different numbers (F_n; n=0, 1, 2, 3, 5) were installed into the well-defined N-terphenyl amine and thus were studied for the first time in the nickel α-diimine promoted ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers. The position of the fluorine substituent was particularly crucial in these polymerization reactions in terms of catalytic activity, polymer molecular weight, branching density, and incorporation of polar monomer, and thus a picture on the fluorine effect was given. As a notable result, the ortho-F substituted α-diimine nickel catalyst produced highly linear polyethylenes with an extremely high molecular weight (M_w=8703 kDa) and a significantly low degree of branching of 1.4/1000 C; however, the meta-F and/or para-F substituted α-diimine nickel catalysts generated highly branched (up to 80.2/1000 C) polyethylenes with significantly low molecular weights (M_w=20-50 kDa).     

17O NMR studies of ortho‐substituent effects in substituted phenyl tosylates

¹⁷O NMR spectra for 35 ortho‐, para‐, and meta‐substituted phenyl tosylates (phenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonates), 4‐CH₃‐C₆H₄SO₂OC₆H₄‐X, at natural abundance in acetonitrile at 50 °C were recorded. The ¹⁷O NMR chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), of the sulfonyl (SO₂) and the single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens for para and meta derivatives correlated well with dual substituent parameter treatment using the Taft inductive, σ_I, and resonance, σº_R, constants. The influence of ortho substituents on the sulfonyl oxygen and the single‐bonded phenoxy oxygen chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), was found to be nicely described by the Charton equation: δ(¹⁷O)_ortho = δ(¹⁷O)_H + ρ_Iσ_I + ρ_Rσ°_R + δE_s^B when the data treatment was performed separately for electron‐donating +R substituents and electron‐attracting ?R substituents. Electron‐attracting meta and para substituents in the phenyl moiety caused deshielding while the electron‐donating meta, para and ortho +R substituents produce shielding effects on the sulfonyl (SO₂) and single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens. The influence of ortho inductive and resonance effects in the case of +R substituents was found to be approximately twice higher than the corresponding influence from the para position. Due to the steric effect of ortho substituents a decrease in shielding of the oxygens at the sulfonyl group (δE_s^B > 0, E_s^B < 0) was detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Elaboration of All‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐Tetrafluoro‐3‐Phenylcyclohexane: A Polar Cyclohexane Motif

A stereocontrolled synthesis of all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐ tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane is developed as the first functionalised example of this polar cyclohexane motif. The dipolar nature of the ring, arising due to two 1,3‐diaxial C?F bonds, is revealed in the solid‐state (X‐ray) structure. The orthogonal conformation of the aryl and cyclohexyl rings in all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane, and in an ortho‐nitro derivative, result in intramolecular ^1hJ_HF and ^2hJ_CF NMR couplings relayed through hydrogen bonding. The aryl group of all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane is elaborated in different ways to demonstrate the versatility of this compound for delivering the motif to a range of molecular building blocks.     

Synthesis of ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight ethylene‐propylene copolymer via quasi‐living copolymerization with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligated vanadium complexes

The quasi‐living copolymerization of ethylene with propylene was achieved by using N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligated vanadium complex ( V3 , VOCl₃[1,3‐(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂(NCH?)₂C:]) due to the stabilization of active center by the introduction of bulky and electron rich NHC ligand with bulky isopropyl substituents at the ortho positions of the phenyl rings. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) of the resulting copolymer increases linearly with its weight in 20 min. The ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight (UHMW) ethylene‐propylene copolymer (M_w = 1612 kg mol^?1) can be synthesized with V3 /Et₃Al₂Cl₃ catalytic system. The novel complex V4′ (VCl₃[1,3‐(2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂)₂(NCH?)₂C:]·2THF) was constructed by the introduction of two coordinated tetrahydrofuran molecules and decrease in steric hindrance at the ortho positions of phenyl rings. The UHMW ethylene‐propylene copolymer (M_w = 1167 kg mol^?1) can also be synthesized by using V4′ /Et₃Al₂Cl₃ catalytic system. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 553–561     

Re‐formation Reaction of Cyclic Nitroxide‐Based Alkoxyamines: Steric and Polar/Stabilization Effects

In nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization, the polymerization times decrease with the increasing re‐formation rate constant of the C? ON bond (→ alkoxyamine) between the growing polymer chain and the nitroxide radical. The factors influencing the re‐formation rate constant are of considerable interest, but up to now, the polar/stabilization effects have not been addressed thoroughly. The combination of new data with previously reported data now showed that the re‐formation rate constant k_c increases with the increasing polar character of the substituents attached to the nitroxide moiety. The polar/stabilization effects are weaker for the re‐formation than for the homolysis of the C? ON bond, and may be mainly attributed to the relocation of the odd electron onto the O‐atom of the N? O moiety, i.e., the stabilization of the nitroxide moiety. Hence, it is possible to predict the values of k_c by combining both the polar/stabilization (σ_I) and steric effects (E ), i.e., log(k_c/M ^?1 s^?1) = 9.86 + 0.57 ? σ_I + 0.40 ? E_s.     

Dicarboxylic acid promoted immortal copolymerization for controllable synthesis of low‐molecular weight oligo(carbonate‐ether) diols with tunable carbonate unit content

Low‐molecular weight oligo(carbonate‐ether) diols are important raw materials for polyurethane formation, which with tunable carbonate unit content (CU) may endow new thermal and mechanical performances to polyurethane. Herein, facile synthesis of oligo(carbonate‐ether) diols with number average molecular weight (M_n) below 2000 g mol^?1 and CU tunable between 40% and 75% are realized in high activity by immortal copolymerization of CO₂/propylene oxide (PO) using zinc‐cobalt double metal cyanide complex (Zn‐Co‐DMCC) in the presence of sebacic acid (SA). M_n of the oligomer is in good linear relationship to the mole ratio of PO and SA (PO/SA) and hence can be precisely controlled by adjusting PO/SA. Besides, the molecular weight distribution is quite narrow due to the rapid reversible chain transfer in the immortal copolymerization. High pressure and low temperature are favorable for raising CU. In all the reactions, the weight fraction of propylene carbonate (W_PC) can even be controlled as low as 2.0 wt %, and the catalytic activity of Zn‐Co‐DMCC is above 1.0 kgg^?1 cat. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of ethylene/propylene elastomers containing a terminal reactive group: The combination of metallocene catalysis and control chain transfer reaction

This article discusses a chemical route to prepare new ethylene/propylene copolymers (EP) containing a terminal reactive group, such as ?‐CH₃ and OH. The chemistry involves metallocene‐mediated ethylene/propylene copolymerization in the presence of a consecutive chain transfer agent—a mixture of hydrogen and styrene derivatives carrying a CH₃ (p‐MS) or a silane‐protected OH (St‐OSi). The major challenge is to find suitable reaction conditions that can simultaneously carry out effective ethylene/propylene copolymerization and incorporation of the styrenic molecule (St‐f) at the polymer chain end, in other words, altering the St‐f incorporation mode from copolymerization to chain transfer. A systematic study was conducted to examine several metallocene catalyst systems and reaction conditions. Both [(C₅Me₄)SiMe₂N(^t‐Bu)]TiCl₂ and rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, under certain H₂ pressures, were found to be suitable catalyst systems to perform the combined task. A broad range of St‐f terminated EP copolymers (EP‐t‐p‐MS and EP‐t‐St‐OH), with various compositions and molecular weights, have been prepared with polymer molecular weight inversely proportional to the molar ratio of [St‐f]/[monomer]. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1858–1872, 2005     

High‐Speed Living Polymerization of Polar Vinyl Monomers by Self‐Healing Silylium Catalysts

This contribution describes the development and demonstration of the ambient‐temperature, high‐speed living polymerization of polar vinyl monomers (M) with a low silylium catalyst loading (≤ 0.05 mol % relative to M). The catalyst is generated in situ by protonation of a trialkylsilyl ketene acetal (^RSKA) initiator (I) with a strong Brønsted acid. The living character of the polymerization system has been demonstrated by several key lines of evidence, including the observed linear growth of the chain length as a function of monomer conversion at a given [M]/[I] ratio, near‐precise polymer number‐average molecular weight (M_n, controlled by the [M]/[I] ratio) with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD), absence of an induction period and chain‐termination reactions (as revealed by kinetics), readily achievable chain extension, and the successful synthesis of well‐defined block copolymers. Fundamental steps of activation, initiation, propagation, and catalyst “self‐repair” involved in this living polymerization system have been elucidated, chiefly featuring a propagation “catalysis” cycle consisting of a rate‐limiting C? C bond formation step and fast release of the silylium catalyst to the incoming monomer. Effects of acid activator, catalyst and monomer structure, and reaction temperature on polymerization characteristics have also been examined. Among the three strong acids incorporating a weakly coordinating borate or a chiral disulfonimide anion, the oxonium acid [H(Et₂O)₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? is the most effective activator, which spontaneously delivers the most active R₃Si⁺, reaching a high catalyst turn‐over frequency (TOF) of 6.0×10³ h^?1 for methyl methacrylate polymerization by Me₃Si⁺ or an exceptionally high TOF of 2.4×10⁵ h^?1 for n‐butyl acrylate polymerization by iBu₃Si⁺, in addition to its high (>90 %) to quantitative efficiencies and a high degree of control over M_n and MWD (1.07–1.12). An intriguing catalyst “self‐repair” feature has also been demonstrated for the current living polymerization system.     

Asymmetric [2,3]‐Wittig Rearrangement of Oxygenated Allyl Benzyl Ethers in the Presence of a Chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) Ligand: A Novel Synthetic Approach to THF Lignans

We have accomplished highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangements of functionalized allyl benzyl ethers in the presence of a chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) ligand. In various oxygenated benzylic ethers, the reactions proceeded with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities, although the presence of a methoxy substituent at the ortho‐position on the benzyl group drastically decreased the enantioselectivity. Conversely, o‐ethyl and o‐phenyl substituents had no significant effect on the selectivity. We found that the C2‐substituent of the allylic moiety played an important role in producing high enantioselectivity. Highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangement in the presence of catalytic amounts of the chiral ligands is also described.     

Conformation of hydrogen‐bonded dimeric o‐methyl‐substituted benzoic acids

Molecules of 2,4‐dimethylbenzoic acid, C₉H₁₀O₂, form typical centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers. The carboxyl group is twisted with respect to the benzene ring and the methyl group in the ortho position shows evasive in‐plane splaying. The relation between the in‐plane splaying and the twist angle of the carboxyl group for various ortho‐substituted dimeric derivatives of benzoic acid is presented. It shows how the steric strains are released depending on the numbers and positions of the substituents.     

Elaboration of rac‐Like Active Species from Lewis Base Functionalized Unbridged Zirconocenes for Isospecific Propylene Polymerization

A series of ortho or meta Lewis base functionalized unbridged zirconocenes, [{1‐(E_n‐Ph)‐3,4‐Me₂C₅H₂}₂ZrCl₂] (E=NMe₂, OMe; n=1, 2), and a half‐functionalized zirconocene, [{1‐(p‐Me₂NC₆H₄)‐3,4‐Me₂C₅H₂}{1‐(p‐tolyl)‐3,4‐Me₂C₅H₂}ZrCl₂], were prepared. The crystal structures of these compounds determined by X‐ray diffraction revealed the presence of only C₂‐symmetric rac‐like isomers in the asymmetric units. In combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst, the meta‐functionalized complexes afforded mixtures of polymers that exhibit multimelting transition temperatures and broad molecular‐weight distributions (MWDs) in propylene polymerization at atmospheric monomer pressure, whereas the ortho‐functionalized complexes did not give rise to polymerization. Stepwise solvent extraction of the polymer mixtures showed that the polymers consist of amorphous, moderately isotactic, and highly isotactic portions, the weight ratio of which is dependent on the reaction temperature. ¹³C NMR spectral analysis indicated that the [mmmm] methyl pentad value of the isotactic portion reached around 90 %. Among the meta‐functionalized zirconocenes, the di‐OMe‐substituted one afforded the largest amount of the isotactic portion at all temperatures, and the portion comprised 82 wt % of the crude polymer obtained at 25 °C. In contrast, propylene polymerization with the half‐functionalized unbridged zirconocene resulted in the formation of nearly atactic polypropylene with a narrow MWD of around 2. These results corroborate the proposition that the rigid rac‐like cation–anion ion pair of type [rac‐L₂ZrP]⁺[Me‐MAO]^? generated in situ, through Lewis acid–base interactions between the functional groups and [Me‐MAO]^?, is responsible for the isospecific propylene polymerization with the given class of functionalized unbridged zirconocenes and further indicate that the formation of such ion pairs can be favored by difunctionalization at the meta position of the phenyl ring with OMe groups.