Polymer Synthesis Polymer Catalysis

In recent years polymerisation using organocatalysts has become an appealing alternative to more traditional metal-based catalysts. Conferring numerous advantages including low cost and ease of use, as well as the ability to precisely control the synthesis of advanced polymer structures, organocatalysts are increasingly used in polymer synthesis. Organic Catalysis for Polymerisation provides a holistic overview of the field, covering all process in the polymer synthesis pathway that are catalysed by organic catalysts. Sub-divided into two key sections for ease of use, the first focuses on recent developments in catalysis and the applications of catalysts to the full range of polymerisations that they have been utilised in; the second concerning monomers, arranges the field by monomer type and polymerisation mechanism. The book will therefore, provide a complimentary view of the field, providing both an overview of state-of-the-art catalyst development and also the best methodologies available to create specific polymer types. Edited by leading figures in the field and featuring contributions from researchers across the globe, this title will serve as an excellent reference for postgraduate students and researchers in both academia and industry interested in polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, catalysis and materials science.

This book reviews chiral polymer synthesis and its application to asymmetric catalysis. It features the design and use of polymer-immobilized catalysts and methods for their design and synthesis. Chapters cover peptide-catalyzed and enantioselective synthesis, optically-active polymers, and continuous flow processes. It collects recent advances in an important field of polymer and organic chemistry, with leading researchers explaining applications in academic and industry R & D.

This book comprehensively covers researches on enzymatic polymerization and related enzymatic approaches to produce well-defined polymers, which is valuable and promising for conducting green polymer chemistry. It consists of twelve chapters, including the following topics: The three classes of enzymes, oxidoreductases, transferases and hydrolases, have been employed as catalysts for enzymatic polymerization and modification; Well-defined polysaccharides are produced by enzymatic polymerization catalyzed by hydrolases and transferases; Hydrolase-catalyzed polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization are disclosed to produce a variety of polyesters; Polyesters are synthesized by in-vivo acyltransferase catalysis produced by microorganisms; Enzymatic polymerization catalyzed by appropriate enzymes also produces polypeptides and other polymers; Poly(aromatic)s are obtained by enzymatic polymerization catalyzed by oxidoreductases and their model complexes; Such enzymes also induce oxidative polymerization of vinyl monomers; Enzymatic modification of polymers is achieved to produce functionalized polymeric materials; The enzymatic polymerization is a green process with non-toxic catalysts, high catalyst efficiency, green solvents and renewable starting materials, and minimal by-products; Moreover, renewable resources like biomass are potentially employed as a starting substrate, producing useful polymeric materials. This book is not only educative to young polymer chemists like graduate students but also suggestive to industrial researchers, showing the importance of the future direction of polymer synthesis for maintaining a sustainable society.

This book provides a comprehensive survey of the entire field of catalysis in polymer synthesis covering the majority of essential aspects from basic organic, organometallic and bio-chemistry to industrial production. Particular emphasis is placed on "precision polymerization," where the catalyst plays a key role in the fabrication of innovative polymers. Precision polymerization enables the production of polymers with precisely controlled structures, molecular weight, distribution and stereochemistry, free from defects.

Phase transfer catalysis or interfacial catalysis is a syn thetic technique involving transport of an organic or inorganic salt from a solid or aqueous phase into an organic liquid where reaction with an organic-soluble substrate takes place. Over the past 15 years there has been an enormous amount of effort invested in the development of this technique in organic synthe sis. Several books and numerous review articles have appeared summarizing applications in which low molecular weight catalysts are employed. These generally include either crown ethers or onium salts of various kinds. While the term phase transfer catalysis is relatively new, the concept of using a phasetrans fer agent (PTA) is much older~ Both Schnell and Morgan employed such catalysts in synthesis of polymeric species in the early 1950's. Present developments are really extensions of these early applications. It has only been within the last several years that the use of phase transfer processes have been employed in polymer synthesis and modification. Similarly, the use of polymer-bound phase transfer agents is also a recent development. These and related areas have nonetheless enjoyed explosive growth as mea sured by the number of publications and the variety of applica tions which have appeared. Several reviews dealing with these l 6 polymer-related investigations have been published.