Ring-opening polymerizations of cyclic olefins

A ziegler-type catalyst system consisting of tungsten hexachloride and alkyl or aryl tin compounds was found to polymerize cyclopentene and other cyclic olefins through a ring-opening mechanism. This catalyst system also polymerized α-olefins such as ethylene and 1-octene. An attempt was made to copolymerize cyclopentene and ethylene. Other catalyst systems were also employed for ring-opening polymerizations with limited success.