Effect of side‐chain structure on poly‐α‐olefin properties

Series of α‐olefins were prepared and polymerized with Al(C 2 H 5 ) 3 –VCl 3 catalyst. Melting points, softening points, and degrees of crystallinity of the polymers were measured and the physical nature of the systems was discussed. Olefins studied were those having the general formula CH 2 CH(CH 2 ) x R, where x = 0−3, and R is methyl, isopropyl, tert ‐butyl, phenyl, or cyclohexyl.