Borane comonomers polymers

Dong JY, Manias E, Chung TC (2002) Functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene polymers prepared by the combination of metallocene catalyst and Borane comonomer. Macromolecules 35 3439... 

Unlike molecules containing electron-rich heteroatoms, boron compounds do not poison Ziegler-Natta or metallocene polymerization catalysts. Borane-containing olefin comonomers are therefore well suited to produce olefin copolymers while retaining good catalyst activity. The resulting polymers are suitable for subsequent conversion into a variety of functional groups. In principle, two approaches are possible (1) hydroboration of the terminal double bond (formed by typical chain transfer processes) of a preformed polyolefin, and (2) direct copolymerization of propylene or a 1-alkene with an alkenyl borane (Scheme 11.4). 

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