Advances on Controlled Chain Walking and Suppression of Chain Transfer in Catalytic Olefin Polymerization

Abstract

Precise synthesis of the complex polymer structure has been long-sought. In the late transition-metal catalyzed olefin polymerization, chain walking and chain transfer are two important processes that affect polymer architectures, and polymer molecular weights and distributions, respectively. However, both the uncontrolled chain walking and the presence of chain transfer make it difficult to precisely synthesize desired polyolefin materials. How to address these two key events is a long-standing challenge. This Perspective highlights key advances on controlled chain walking and suppression of chain transfer reactions in late-transition-metal-mediated olefin polymerization to prepare well-defined polyolefins. Fruitful catalyst strategies and versatile polymerization techniques are powerful tools to accomplish the elusive control over polymer architectures.