Mechanism for the stereospecific polymerization of olefins by Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Abstract

A mechanism for the stereospecific polymerization of olefins by Ziegler–Natta catalysts is developed which differs significantly from previous mechanisms in the proposal that it proceeds via a 1,2-hydrogen shift from the α-carbon of the polymer chain and formation of metallocycle and carbene intermediates.