A theoretical study on the mechanism of Ziegler‐type polymerizations

Abstract

Abstract The polymerization of olefins with Ziegler catalysts is an intercomplex ion polymerization taking place on two metal atoms. A cationic initiation occurs on a cation of a transition element. In the case of a stereospecific polymerization the activated monomer orients toward and inside a negative complex ion (for instance of aluminum) into which it migrates by adding a propagation starter (R − , H − ). In this complex anion all further cationically activated monomers propagate anionically until termination occurs by H − abstraction.