Oxidized polyethylene compounds and methods of making the same

A method of making an oxidized polyethylene, comprising mixing a polyethylene, a metal catalyst, and an oxidizing agent;

• wherein:
• the oxidized polyethylene comprises a first oxidized subunit, a second oxidized subunit, and a non-oxidized subunit;
• the polyethylene comprises a non-oxidized subunit;
• the first oxidized subunit has the formula:
• the second oxidized subunit has the formula:
• the non-oxidized subunit has the formula:
• the ratio of the first and second oxidized subunits to the non-oxidized subunit in the oxidized polyethylene is from 1:10,000 to 1:5;
• the oxidized polyethylene has a number average molecular weight from 600 Da to 20,000,000 Da;
• wherein the metal catalyst is a ruthenium catalyst or an iron catalyst;
• and
• wherein a sum of a chloride subunit of formula
• and an ester subunit of formula
• of the oxidized polyethylene is less than 6% of a sum of the first oxidized subunit and the second oxidized subunit of the oxidized polyethylene.