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Related Concept Videos

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...

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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents
09:45

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents

Published on: November 12, 2016

Ring-opening polymerization by lithium catalysts: an overview.

Alekha Kumar Sutar1, Tungabidya Maharana, Saikat Dutta

  • 1Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Chemical Society Reviews
|April 23, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review highlights lithium compounds as versatile catalysts for ring-opening polymerization (ROP). These initiators offer controlled polymerization for various monomers, enabling synthesis of advanced polymers.

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Published on: March 20, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Organometallic Chemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Lithium compounds are increasingly utilized in catalysis.
  • Their unique reactivity offers advantages over traditional metal catalysts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in lithium-based catalysts for ring-opening polymerization (ROP).
  • To explore the preparation, application, and mechanistic aspects of lithium initiators in ROP.
  • To cover the synthesis of various polymers, including block and graft copolymers.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of lithium catalysts/initiators for ROP.
  • Analysis of polymerization kinetics and control mechanisms.
  • Examination of mechanistic studies for controlled polymer properties.

Main Results:

  • Lithium compounds, including alkyl lithium, alkoxy lithium, and bimetallic species, are effective for ROP of diverse monomers.
  • These catalysts enable controlled polymerization, yielding polymers with high molecular weight and narrow polydispersity (PDI).
  • Mechanistic insights reveal the unique activation modes of lithium initiators.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium catalysts offer a complementary reactivity profile for ROP compared to other metals.
  • Their application in synthesizing complex polymer architectures, such as block and graft copolymers, is significant.
  • Future opportunities exist in exploring novel lithium compounds and their catalytic applications in polymerization.