Novel polymerization and copolymerization of ethylene, styrene, and/or butadiene by new organolanthanide-based catalysts

Abstract

Replacement of one of the two C5Me5 ligands in the samarocene(II) complex (C5Me5)2Sm(THF)2 with a monodentate anionic ligand (e.g., OAr, SAr, or NR1R2) gives a unique catalytic system, which can not only polymerize styrene and ethylene, but also copolymerize them into block styrene-ethylene copolymers under the presence of both monomers. On the other hand, addition of an appropriate cocatalyst such as MMAO or AIR3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] to the samarocene complex (C5Me5)2Sm(THF)2 or (C5Me5)2Sm(μ-Me)2 AlMe2 affords a novel catalytic system for stereospecific 1,4-cis living polymerization of butadiene and copolymerization of butadiene with styrene.