Simple Activities to Understanding Enantioface Coordination and Stereochemical Controls of Metallocene-Catalyzed Propene Polymerization

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 15 (2010) pp 32-35

Simple Activities to Understanding Enantioface Coordination and Stereochemical Controls of Metallocene-Catalyzed Propene Polymerization

Nattinee Mophan,^† Laksamee Chaicharoenwimolkul,^‡ Sudarat Jindabot,^‡ Chatyapha Pongchan-O,^‡, Supathana Pracha,^‡ Sanoe Chairam,^† Udomchai Tewasekson,^‡ and Ekasith Somsook*^,‡

^†Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, 999 Buddhamonthon Sai 4 Rd. Salaya, Buddhamonthon, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand. ^‡NANOCAST Laboratory, Center for Catalysis, Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 272 Rama VI Rd. Rachathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand, scess@mahidol.ac.th
Received January 26, 2009. Accepted December 26, 2009.

Published: 16 January 2010

Abstract. Simple activities to aid in the understanding the enantioface coordination and stereochemical controls of metallocene-catalyzed propene polymerization are described. The enantioface coordination of propene coordinating to the metal center can be visualized with the superposition of a hand to coordinated propene. The activities simulating the propene polymerization can be performed by a group of students to understand the stereochemically controlled mechanisms leading to isotactic and syndiotactic polypropenes.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; organic chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: scess@mahidol.ac.th)

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