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This paper reports a computational study on the specific 1,4‐cis polymerization of butadiene catalyzed by the cationic gadolinium metallocene [(C5Me5)2Gd][B(C6F5)4] combined with excess amount of Al(iBu)3. Because this reaction system has no initial Gd–alkyl bond, a mechanism with conventional coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) is not feasible. Density functional theory (DFT) analyses indicate a novel mechanism in which the cationic Gd plays a crucial role by assisting butadiene insertion into one of the Al−C bond of Al(iBu)3. The proposed butadiene polymerization mechanism can account for the specific 1,4‐cis selectivity of this catalyst system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cationic gadolinium metallocene [(C5Me5)2Gd][B(C6F5)4], when combined with an excess amount of Al(iBu)3, efficiently produces polyethylene at 80 °C under 0.8 MPa pressure of ethylene. After quenching, the resulting polyethylene has ethyl group at one end and isobutyl group at the other terminal. Because no Gd‐alkyl species appears to be involved, a mechanism with conventional coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) is not feasible. Density functional theory (DFT) analyses indicate a novel mechanism in which the cationic Gd plays a crucial role by coordinating ethylene and assists the insertion of the coordinated ethylene into Al−C bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]