Polymerization methods using the catalysts

Abstract

Provided is a method of preparing a cyclic olefin polymer by addition polymerization of a cyclic olefin monomer, the method including contacting a metal catalyst complex represented by Formula 1 below with a cyclic olefin monomer represented by Formula 2 below:[M(L)(L')(L)][Ani]  <Formula 1> wherein M is a Group X metal; [M(L)(L′)(L)] is a cationic complex; Lis an anionic hydrocarbyl-containing ligand; L′is a neutral ligand; Lis an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand; [Ani] is an anion capable of weakly coordinating with the metal M; x is 1 or 2; y is 0 to 4; z is 1 or 2; 2≦x+y+z≦6; a and b are respectively the number of cations and the number of anions capable of weakly coordinating with the metal M and are each a number of 1-10 which is used to satisfy the net charge balance of the metal catalyst complex, and wherein for each of L, L′, and L, when a plurality of ligands are present in a molecule of the metal catalyst complex, the ligands may be the same or different, and wherein m is an integer of 0 to 4; and R, R′, R″, and R″′are each independently a polar functional group or a nonpolar functional group. According to the method of the present invention, a high molecular weight cyclic olefin addition polymer can be produced in a high yield even when using a polar functional group-containing cyclic olefin monomer. A polymer produced using the method shows good thermal stability.