Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
Quasi-Living Polymerization of Propene with an Isotactic-Specific Zirconocene Catalyst
Kei Nishii1, Miyuki Murase2, Takeshi Shiono3
1Department of Materials Chemistry and Bioengineering, National Institute of Technology, Oyama College, 771 Nakakuki, Oyama, Tochigi 323-0806, Japan. k.nishii@oyama-ct.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Propene polymerization with isotactic (iso)-specific C₂-symmetric rac-Me₂Si(2-Me-Benz(e)-Ind)₂ZrCl₂ (1) and rac-Me₂Si(2-Me-4-Ph-1-Ind)₂ZrCl₂ (2) were conducted under various conditions for achieving iso-specific living polymerization of propene. When Complex 1 was activated with trialkylaluminum-free modified methylaluminoxane (dMMAO) at -40 °C, the number-average molecular weight (Mn) linearly increased against the polymerization time to reach Mn = 704,000 within 15 min of polymerization, although the molecular weight distributions was broad (Mw/Mn < 3). Thus, it was found that quasi-living polymerization of propene proceeded in the 1-dMMAO system. The living nature of iso-polypropene was confirmed by the block copolymerization, where the Mn value increased from 221,000 to 382,000 after the addition of 1-octene to yield the block copolymer with a melting point of 150 °C.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...

