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Synthesis of Semicrystalline Polyolefin Materials: Precision Methyl Branching via Stereoretentive Chain Walking
David N Vaccarello1, Kyle S O'Connor1, Pasquale Iacono1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory , Cornell University , Ithaca , New York 14853-1301 , United States.
Abstract:
We report the discovery of C2-symmetric nickel catalysts capable of the regio- and isoselective polymerization of 1-butene to produce isotactic 4,2-poly(1-butene), a new semi-crystalline polyolefin. The catalyst exhibits enantioface selectivities as high as 84% and the resulting polymers display melting temperatures up to 86 °C. This system marks a rare example of preserving stereochemistry through a chain walking polymerization process.
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