Hydrogen-assisted unique incorporation of 1,4-divinylbenzene in copolymerization with propylene using an isospecific zirconocene catalyst

Propylene was copolymerized with 1,4-divinylbenzene (1,4-DVB) using rac-Me₂Si(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and MAO in the presence of hydrogen. ¹H NMR spectra of the obtained copolymer confirmed the successful incorporation of 1,4-DVB. ¹³C NMR analysis revealed a unique copolymer structure with the incorporated 1,4-DVB units predominantly forming 1,4-substituted phenyl repeating units in the polymer main chain. A plausible mechanism involving spontaneous insertion of terminal styryl into Zr-H species was proposed to rationalize the unique incorporation of 1,4-DVB.