Copolymerization of ethene and dimethanooctahydronaphthalene with aluminoxane containing catalysts

With homogeneous catalysts on the basis of chiral metallocenes and methylaluminoxane it has become possible to polymerize cyclic olefins like cyclobutene, cyclopentene, norbornene, or dimethanonaphthalene (DMON). No ring opening reaction occurs. The crystalline polycycloalkenes show extremely high melting points between 400 and 600°C. Copolymers of DMON with ethene are amorphous. They have molecular weights between 50000 and 150000 and high glass transition points up to 160°C. These copolymers could be used as materials for optical discs and fibers.