Polymerization catalysis at the millennium: frontiers in stereoselective, metal-catalyzed polymerization

Abstract

Select recent advances in the area of stereoselective polymerization catalysis are surveyed. Although heterogeneous catalysts are the pillars of the chemical industry, homogeneous polymerization catalysts offer unmatched opportunities for the precision synthesis of new polymer architectures. In addition, these discrete ‘single-site’ catalysts offer extraordinary potential to examine reaction pathways at the molecular level via mechanistic studies. This article will examine discrete catalysts for stereoselective polymerization, with an emphasis on technologically important processes.