Ethylene and butadiene are copolymerized with neodymocene catalysts. In this paper, a complete 1H and 13C NMR analysis of ethylene/butadiene copolymers is reported for the first time. The results of this study show that the microstructure of copolymers depends on the cyclopentadienyl ligands of the catalyst. The presence of the trans-1,2-cyclohexane structure, formed by intramolecular cyclization, is detected and fully investigated by 2D NMR 1H/13C direct and long-range correlation.

Novel P,O-chelated Ni(II) catalysts for ethylene and R-olefins polymerization have been used for the copolymerization of ethylene with various long-chain R-olefins in emulsion. Nonfunctionalized R-olefins have been copolymerized with ethylene using miniemulsion to disperse the catalyst at the nanometric level. The influence of the comonomer on catalyst performances as well as latex properties has been analyzed. High comonomer incorporation and stable latex of 30% solid content can be achieved by this method. Other comonomers such as R,ω-dienes, R-olefins bearing a polar functionality in the ω-position, and styrene have also been copolymerized in emulsion. Polymers and latexes have been characterized by an array of techniques including 13 C NMR, TEM, DSC, and GPC. It is shown that this emulsion process is specially adapted for copolymerization of ethylene with polar olefins.

The field of the copolymerization of olefins with conjugated dienes has been investigated. While the insertion of butadiene is often limited with most catalyst systems designed for olefin polymerization, lanthanide metallocene catalysts insert butadiene with good efficiency. In the present paper, the preparation of a vast range of products including new polymers is reviewed.

Functionalized poly(ecapro1actone)s have been easily prepared by using a new heterogeneous catalytic system consisting of aluminium alcoholate supported on porous silica and the corresponding alcohol in excess. The polymers have been fully characterized by 'H and I3C NMR spectroscopy. Oligo(capro1actone-co-ethylene oxide)s have been synthesized by the same catalytic system. The diad comonomer distribution as obtained by 'H NMR suggests a blocky structure. In addition, low degrees of crystallization have been determined by means of DSC.