DFT studies on the effect of additives on stereoselectivity in the polymerization of styrene catalyzed by rare-earth metal complexes†
Abstract
The mechanism of stereoselective polymerization of styrene catalyzed by rare-earth metal complexes was studied using computational means. Having achieved agreement with experimental results, we found that the noncovalent interaction between the additive alloxybenzene and the polymer chain/monomer was the main factor governing stereoselectivity.