Volume 47, Issue 11 pp. 2006-2025
Review

Versatile Pathways for In Situ Polyolefin Functionalization with Heteroatoms: Catalytic Chain Transfer

Smruti B. Amin

Smruti B. Amin

Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Fax: (+1) 847-491-2990

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Tobin J. Marks Prof.

Tobin J. Marks Prof.

Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Fax: (+1) 847-491-2990

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First published: 22 February 2008
Citations: 206

Graphical Abstract

Agents of change: Chain-transfer processes are efficient and selective chemical means to achieve in situ functionalization of polyolefins in polymerization reactions catalyzed by d- and f-block metals (see picture, X=heteroatom). A variety of electron-poor and electron-rich chain-transfer agents, including silanes, boranes, alanes, phosphines, and amines, effect selective chain termination with concomitant carbon–heteroelement bond formation during single-site olefin-polymerization processes.

Abstract

Chain-transfer processes represent highly effective chemical means to achieve selective, in situ d- and f-block-metal catalyzed functionalization of polyolefins. A diverse variety of electron-poor and electron-rich chain-transfer agents, including silanes, boranes, alanes, phosphines, and amines, effect efficient chain termination with concomitant carbon–heteroelement bond formation during single-site olefin-polymerization processes. High polymerization activities, control of polyolefin molecular weight and microstructure, and selective chain functionalization are all possible, with distinctly different mechanisms operative for the electron-poor and electron-rich reagents. A variety of metal centers (early transition metals, lanthanides, late transition metals) and single-site ancillary ligand arrays (metallocene, half-metallocene, non-metallocene) are able to mediate these selective chain-termination/functionalization processes.

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