Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization soluble catalyst systems

Two contributions emphasize computational chemistry. Rappe, Skiff, and Casewit review the general modeling of metal-catalyzed alkene polymerization. Angermund, Fink, Jensen, and Kleinschmidt then treat the specific case of stereospecificity in a-olefin polymerization. A nontraditional mechanism that operates with some soluble Ziegler—Natta systems (as well as other metals), carbocationic alkene polymerization, is covered by Baird. The state-of-the-art with respect to functional monomers is then analyzed by Boffa and Novak, who discuss catalysts from the entire transition metal series. 

Many other catalysts capable of polymerizing olefins have become available since the original Ziegler-Natta catalyst based on crystalline titanium chloride was introduced. More recently, the discovery of soluble metallocene/aluminoxane catalysts opened the doors to a new revolution in the production of polyolefins. These catalyst systems are able to make polyolefins in very high yields and with a degree of microstructural control not possible to achieve using conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts. 

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