Scandium-catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene with dicyclopentadiene and terpolymerization of ethylene, dicyclopentadiene, and styrene

The scandium-catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene with dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and terpolymerization of ethylene, DCPD and styrene were investigated. The copolymerization of ethylene with DCPD could be carried out over a wide range of temperatures between 0-70°C. The highest catalytic activity was achieved at 50 °C with a DPCD incorporation of ca. 44 mol %. The results show that cationic half-sandwitch rare earth metal alkyl complexes are of unprecedented potentials as a catalysts for copolymerization and terpolymerization of cyclic (di)olefins.