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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
End of Frustration: Catalytic Precision Polymerization with Highly Interacting Lewis Pairs
Maximilian G M Knaus1, Marco M Giuman1, Alexander Pöthig2
1Wacker-Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität München , Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching, Germany.
Abstract:
Herein we report on the catalytic polymerization of diverse Michael-type monomers with high precision by using simple but highly active combinations of phosphorus-containing Lewis bases and organoaluminum compounds. The interacting Lewis pair catalysts enable the control of molecular weight and microstructure of the produced polymers. The reactions show a linear Mn vs consumption plot thus proving a living type polymerization. The initiation has been investigated by end-group analysis with ESI mass spectrometric analysis. With these main-group element Lewis acid base pairs, it is not only possible to polymerize sterically demanding, functionalized as well as heteroatom containing monomers but also, for the first time, to catalytically polymerize extended Michael systems, like 4-vinylpyridine.
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