Single reactor chain shuttling reactions for ethylene/vinylarene multiblock interpolymers

Abstract

A process to form a composition comprising an ethylene/vinylarene multiblock interpolymer, said process comprising polymerizing, in a single reactor, a mixture comprising ethylene, a vinylarene, and optionally an alpha-olefin, in the presence of at least the following a)-c): a) a first metal complex selected from the following Formula (A), as described herein: b) a second metal complex selected from the following Formula (B), as described herein, and c) a chain shuttling agent selected from the following: a dialkyl zinc, a trialkyl aluminum, or a combination thereof. A composition comprising an ethylene/vinylarene multiblock interpolymer comprising at least one polymer structure selected from: -(AR)-(AP)-(AR)-(AP)- (Structure 1), or (AR)-(AP)-(AR)-(AP) (Structure 2); where each (AR) segment independently comprises, in polymerized form, ethylene, >10 mol % of the vinylarene and optionally an alpha-olefin, and wherein each (AP) segment independently comprises, ethylene, optionally ≤10 mol % vinylarene and optionally the alpha-olefin.