Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Pentafluorosulfanyl Substituents in Polymerization Catalysis
Philip Kenyon1, Stefan Mecking1
1Chemical Materials Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz , Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
Abstract:
Highly electron-withdrawing pentafluorosulfanyl groups were probed as substituents in an organometallic catalyst. In Ni(II) salicylaldiminato complexes as an example case, these highly electron-withdrawing substituents allow for polymerization of ethylene to higher molecular weights with reduced branching due to significant reductions in β-hydrogen elimination. Combined with the excellent functional group tolerance of neutral Ni(II) complexes, this suppression of β-hydrogen elimination allows for the direct polymerization of ethylene in water to nanocrystal dispersions of disentangled, ultrahigh-molecular-weight linear polyethylene.
Related Concept Videos
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Fluorination and Iodination of Benzene
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

