Electrophilic alkylations of phenol/2,6-dimethylphenol were performed with vinylidene-terminated poly(1-hexene)s using BF3-OEt2 catalyst. Vinylidene-terminated poly(1-hexene)s with M. varying from 400 to 10000 were prepared by bulk polymerization of 1-hexene at 50 to -20 degrees C using Cp2ZrCl2/MAO catalysts. The phenol/2,6-dimethylphenol-terminated poly(1-hexene)s was characterized by NMR (H-1, C-13), UV, IR and vapor phase osmometer (VPO). The isomer distribution (ortho, para and ortholpara) was determined by P-13 NMR using a phosphitylating reagent, namely 2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane. The number-average degree of functionality (F-n) > 0.9 with > 95% para selectivity could be achieved using low-molecular-weight oligomers of poly(1-hexene)s. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.

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