Prof. Li JIA shares the latest research of transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative polymerizations

Millions of tons of plastics are produced globally each year and disposed after use. The persistence of the plastic items in the environment has created a plastic crisis. To make plastics more degradable in the environment, functional groups have to be present in the polymer backbone. Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative polymerization (COP) is a powerful method for synthesis of a wide range of polymers with carbonyl groups in the backbone.

JIA group has explored zwitterionic nickel complexes isoelectronic to the cobalt catalyst in the last few years. He discusses the evolution of 4 generations of such nickel catalysts. The newest generation catalyzes both COP of cyclic ethers and COP of ethylene. In addition, it acts as a novel, unique dual-site catalyst for COP of ethylene together with cyclic ethers. Both segmented copolymer and randomly distributed copolymer can be synthesized. The former is a thermoplastic elastomer, and the latter is a thermoplastic. The zwitterionic design principle of Ni(II) catalysts has been validated. 


Source from South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology

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