Alder Ene functionalization of polypropylene through reactive extrusion

A commercial isotactic polypropylene was degraded to increase its terminal vinylidene group concentration, and it was subsequently functionalized with maleic anhydride through the Alder Ene reaction at temperatures above 200°C in a co‐rotating twin screw extruder. Characterization of the maleated product by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and gel permeation chromatography showed the anhydride group to be terminally attached, and the degree of functionalization was determined by infrared analysis. Increased temperature and maleic anhydride concentration, as well as improved mixing in the extruder, were found to improve the extent of the reaction. The catalytic contribution of Lewis acid species was evaluated, and ruthenium chloride was found to increase the extent of the reaction by 16% in comparison with stannous chloride as a catalyst in the Alder Ene reaction. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 503–516, 1999