Main group metal polymerisation catalysts

Eszter Fazekas, Phoebe A. Lowy, Maisarah Abdul Rahman, Anna Lykkeberg, Yali Zhou, Raju Raju, Jennifer A. Garden

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

With sustainability at the forefront of current polymerisation research, the typically earth-abundant, inexpensive and low-toxicity main group metals are attractive candidates for catalysis. Main group metals have been exploited in a broad range of polymerisations, ranging from classical alkene polymerisation to the synthesis of new bio-derived and degradable polyesters and polycarbonates via ring-opening polymerisation and ring-opening copolymerisation. This tutorial review highlights efficient polymerisation catalysts based on Group 1, Group 2, Zn and Group 13 metals. Key mechanistic pathways and catalyst developments are discussed, including tailored ligand design, heterometallic cooperativity, bicomponent systems and careful selection of the polymerisation conditions, all of which can be used to fine-tune the metal Lewis acidity and the metal–alkyl bond polarity.
Original languageEnglish
JournalChemical Society Reviews
Early online date10 Oct 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 10 Oct 2022

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