Syndiotactic polymerization of amino-functionalized styrenes using (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanatrane/MMAO catalyst system

Abstract

A set of unprecedented syndiospecific dimethyl- and diethylamino- functionalized polystyrenes was prepared by catalytically polymerizing the corresponding monomers using (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanatrane/ MMAO catalytic system. Dialkylamino-functionalized styrene monomers were synthesized by Wittig reaction from the corresponding aldehyde in high yield. The resulting polymers are soluble in polar organic solvents such as THF and show good thermal stability. The chemical transformation of the syndiospecific poly(4-diethylaminostyrene) also gave new polar polymers, namely syndiotactic poly(4-diethylaminostyrene hydrochloride), which is unattainable by traditional synthetic methods.