Post-polymerization functionalization of polyolefins.

Polyolefins are macromolecular alkanes and include the most familiar and most commercially produced plastic, polyethylene. The low cost of these materials combined with their diverse and desirable property profiles drive such large-scale production. One property that renders polyolefins so attractive is their resistance to harsh chemical environments.

Rhodium-catalyzed, regiospecific functionalization of polyolefins in the melt.

The rhodium-catalyzed, terminal-selective borylation of alkanes has been used to modify polyolefins. The functionalization of two materials, polyethylethylene (PEE) of molecular weights 1200 and 37 000, was conducted by combining bis-pinacoldiboron and 2.5 mol % [Cp*RhCl2]2 in neat polymer and heating at 150 degrees C.