Abstract: | Copolymerizations of ethylene with endo‐dicyclopentadiene (DCP) were performed by using Cp2ZrCl2 (Cp = Cyclopentadienyl), Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 (Ind = Indenyl), and Ph2C(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl2 (Flu = Fluorenyl) combined with MAO as cocatalyst. Among these three metallocenes, Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 showed the highest catalyst performance for the copolymerization. From 1H‐NMR analysis, it was found that DCP was copolymerized through enchainment of norbornene rings. The copolymer was then epoxidated by reacting with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid. 13C‐NMR spectrum of the resulting copolymer indicated the quantitative conversion of olefinic to epoxy groups. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 103–108, 1999 |