Synthesis of bromine-functionalized polyolefins by scandium-catalyzed copolymerization of 10-bromo-1-decene with ethylene, propylene, and dienes

By use of a THF-containing trimethylsilylmethyl scandium catalyst system (C5Me4SiMe3)Sc(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF)/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)(4)], the multi-component copolymerization of 10-bromo-1-decene (BrDC) with ethylene, propylene, and dienes has been achieved to afford a new family of bromine-functionalized polyolefins with controllable composition and high molecular weight. The copolymerization of BrDC with ethylene afforded the well-defined BrDC-ethylene copolymers with high BrDC incorporation (up to 12 mol%) and high molecular weight (M-w > 100 kg mol(-1)). The terpolymerization of propylene, ethylene with BrDC afforded random ethylene-propylene-BrDC terpolymers with controllable bromine content (2 similar to 11 mol%), high molecular weight (M-w > 100 kg mol(-1)) and low glass transition temperature (T-g = -51 degrees C similar to -67 degrees C). Moreover, the tetrapolymerization of ethylene, propylene, BrDC, and ethylidene norbornene or conjugated dienes such as isoprene and myrcene has been achieved for the first time to afford selectively the bromine-functionalized ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers containing various types of double bonds.

Automated summary

By utilizing a specific catalyst system, the multi-component copolymerization led to the formation of bromine-functionalized polyolefins with controlled composition and high molecular weight. Different combinations of monomers resulted in copolymers with high bromine content, high molecular weight, and low glass transition temperature. The tetrapolymerization for bromine-functionalized ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers containing various types of double bonds was achieved for the first time.