Ethylene-Propene Copolymerization with C 1-symmetric ansa-Fluorenyl-zirconocene Catalysts: Effects of Catalyst Structure and Comonomer on Molar Mass

Ethylene-propene copolymers have been synthesized by three C-symmetric metallocene molecules (1, 2, and 3), having tert-butyl substituents on the Cp moiety, on the fluorenyl moiety, or on both moieties, and methylaluminoxane (MAO) at different polymerization temperatures and monomer concentrations. Copolymers were investigated by C-NMR, H-NMR, and SEC analyses. A relationship was found between [EEE]/[E] ratios and copolymer molar masses in each series: the higher the [EEE]/[E] ratio, the lower the copolymer molar mass. At parity of [EEE]/[E] ratio, copolymer molar mass follows the order 1 >> 3 > 2. Chain end group analysis reveals that copolymers mainly terminate when propene is the last inserted unit, confirming that it is the greater facility of Mt-P-E-poly(E-co-P) to terminate that influences the copolymer molar mass. Among the catalysts considered, catalyst 1, which gives syndiospecific polypropene, gives greater activities, comonomer incorporation, and molar masses. Catalyst 3, which gives isospecific polypropene, in copolymerization performs better than 2, having the same bridge, with respect to activities, ethylene content, and molar masses. The good performance of this catalyst arises from the not necessity of polymer chain to back skip when ethylene is the last inserted unit.