For many years, copolymerization has been studied using mathematical and statistical models. Here, we present new Markov chain models for copolymerization kinetics: the Bernoulli and Geometric models. They model copolymer synthesis as a random process and are based on a basic reaction scheme. In contrast to previous Markov chain approaches to copolymerization, both models take variable chain le...

It is shown that model oxides grown on metallic substrates catalyze propylene metathesis to form ethylene and butene with an activity that mimics that of supported catalysts for reaction below ∼650 K. Another reaction regime is found for olefin metathesis above ∼650 K, where the reaction proceeds with a much higher activation energy of ∼60 kcal/mol. Unfortunately, alkenes do not react to any de...

Supported olefin polymerization catalysts can prevent reactor-fouling problems and produce uniform polymer particles. Constrained geometry complexes (CGCs) have less sterically hindered active sites than bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts. In the literature, micrometer-sized silica particles were used for supporting CGC catalysts, which might have strong mass transfer limitations. This ...

This review deals with olefin carbonylation catalysed by Pd(II)-phosphine complexes in protic solvents. In particular, the results obtained in the carbonylation with ethene are reviewed. After a short description of the basic concepts relevant to this catalysis, the review treats in greater details the influence of the bite angle, skeletal rigidity, electronic and steric bulk properties of the ...

Controlled hybridization of olefin-containing polymers prepared by two different polymerization methods, step-growth polymerization and chain-growth polymerization, was accomplished by macromolecular olefin cross-metathesis.

Chiral ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts can perform asymmetric ring-closing reactions in > or = 90% ee with low catalyst loadings. To illustrate the practicality of these reactions and the products they form, an enantioselective total synthesis of 5-epi-citreoviral was completed by using an asymmetric ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction as a key step early in the synthesis. All of the ...

We describe a Rh-catalyzed desymmetrization of all-carbon quaternary centers from α,α-bis(allyl)aldehydes by a cascade featuring isomerization and hydroacylation. This desymmetrization competes with two other novel olefin functionalizations that are triggered by C-H bond activation, including carboacylation and bisacylation. A BIPHEP ligand promotes enantioselective formation of α-vinylcyclopen...

The development of a model system to study ruthenium-olefin complexes relevant to the mechanism of olefin metathesis has been reported recently. Upon addition of the ligand precursor 1,2-divinylbenzene to [RuCl(2)(Py)(2)(H(2)IMes)(==CHPh)] (H(2)IMes=1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), two ruthenium-olefin adducts are formed. Based on (1)H NMR spectroscopy experiments and X-ray crystal...

E- and Z-9-Methyldeca-3,8-dien-1-ols undergo smooth cyclization with aldehydes in the presence of 20 mol% AgSbF6 under extremely mild conditions to generate the corresponding oxa-bicycles in good yields with excellent selectivity. In fact, E-olefin affords the trans-product exclusively, whereas the Z-olefin gives the cis-product predominantly. In the case of E- or Z-8-methylnona-3,8-dien-1-ol, ...

We describe a Rh-catalyzed desymmetrization of all-carbon quaternary centers from a,a-bis(allyl) aldehydes by a cascade featuring isomerization and hydroacylation. This desymmetrization competes with two other novel olefin functionalizations that are triggered by C–H bond activation, including carboacylation and bisacylation. A BIPHEP ligand promotes enantioselective formation of avinylcyclopen...