Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization mechanism

The insertion of olefins into metal-alkyl linkages is the cornerstone of the preparation of polyolefins and a-olefins, and the insertions of olefins into metal-aryl bonds is one step of a common class of palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions (the Mizoroki-Heck reaction). The insertions of olefins into early-metal-alkyl bonds is part of the so-called Cos-see mechanism of Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization and of Cramer s mechanism for olefin dimerization. The following sections present examples of these insertion reactions and information on the mechanisms of this type of C-C bond formation. 

Olefins can insert into metal-alkyl bonds as well as into metal-hydride bonds provided that a vacant coordination site is available on the metal center. This reaction can thus be repeated even when the alkyl ligand lengthens, which makes the proposed mechanism a Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization. This type of polymerization is detailed in Chap. 15.1 ... 

Coose P, Ziegler-Natta Catalysis I Mechanism of Polymerization of a-Olefins with Ziegler-Natta Catalyst, J Catal, 3, 80 (1964)... 

P. Cossee, Ziegler-Natta catalysis L Mechanism of polymerization of -olefins with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. J. CataL 3, 80-88 (1964)... 

Carrick, W. L. The Mechanism of Olefin Polymerization by Ziegler-Natta Catalysts. VoL 12, pp. 65-86. 

Despite the difference in composition of various olefin polymerization catalysts the problems of the mechanism of their action have much in common. The difference between one-component and traditional Ziegler-Natta two-component catalysts seems to exist only at the stage of genesis of the propagation centers, while the mechanism of the formation of a polymer chain on the propagation center formed has many common basic features for all the catalytic systems based on transition metal compounds. 

The study of catalytic polymerization of olefins performed up to the present time is certain to hold a particular influence over the progress of the concepts of the coordination mechanism of heterogeneous catalysis. With such an approach the elementary acts of catalytic reaction are considered to proceed in the coordination sphere of one ion of the transition element and, to a first approximation, the collective features of solids are not taken into account. It is not surprising that polymerization by Ziegler-Natta catalysts is often considered together with the processes of homogeneous catalysis. 

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