Saturated Polar‐Substituted Polyethylene Elastomers from Insertion Polymerization

Saturated, polar‐substituted elastomers consisting of a linear polyethylene backbone are prepared directly by insertion copolymerization of ethylene with polar‐functionalized vinyl monomers employing functional‐group tolerant catalysis. This unprecedented approach to elastomers is compatible with a wide range of different crosslinking chemistries. Crosslinking of the materials occurs efficiently, as concluded from gel contents and spectroscopic observations. Mechanical and thermal properties are revealed by dynamic mechanical analysis.