Synthesis of 4‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene and its copolymerization with styrene using (η5‐indenyl)trichlorotitanium in the presence of methylaluminoxane

Poly(styrene‐co‐4‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene) as a precursor of hydroxyl‐functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene was successfully synthesized via (η⁵‐indenyl)trichlorotitanium (IndTiCl₃)‐catalyzed copolymerization of styrene with 4‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene in toluene at 25°C in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) (Al]/Ti] = 2 000). The amount of styrene derivative incorporated into the polymeric chain for a 20,7 : 1 mole feed ratio of styrene to 4‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene was found to be 1,8 mol‐% from a ¹H NMR analysis. The styrene derivative was successfully prepared from 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde via first protecting the hydroxyl group using tert‐butyldimethylchlorosilane followed by the ‘Wittig‐type’ reaction with the ‘Tebbe’ reagent. The yield was about 82 wt.‐% on the basis of the initial amount of 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde used.