Catalyst-controlled stereoselective cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers
Abstract
Well-optimized catalysts produce vast quantities of isotactic polypropylene, in which the side chains all face the same way. Add an oxygen into the monomer, though, and that degree of uniformity becomes harder to enforce. Teator and Leibfarth report a general protocol to polymerize a variety of such vinyl ethers isotactically (see the Perspective by Foster and O'Reilly). They rely on a chiral phosphoric acid in combination with a titanium Lewis acid to bias the monomer orientation during cationic polymerization. The resulting polymers show promising adhesive properties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 29, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.aaw1703
Entities
People
- Aaron J Teator
- Frank Leibfarth
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- University of North Carolina