Copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐octene with Cp*TiCl3 as catalyst supported on 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane treated SiO2

Two kinds of SiO2‐supported Cp*TiCl3 (Cp* = η5‐1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) catalysts were prepared, using SiO2 modified with 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (NSiO2) and the ordinary SiO2 as the carrier. The copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐octene was conducted over them combined with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. From a detailed analysis of the produced copolymers, it was found that the NSiO2 supported Cp*TiCl3 catalyst gives poly(ethylene‐co‐1‐octene) with a higher content of 1‐octene and a narrower molar mass distribution as well as a narrower chemical composition.