Diastereospecific Ion-Pairing, "Amphicatalytic" Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers

科罗拉多州立大学化学系Eugene Chen教授获得了无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学项目的支持，他的工作对功能化乙烯基单体的非对映特定离子对催化聚合的机理有了深入的了解。非对映异构体离子对催化不同于传统的聚合催化，它利用阳离子和阴离子在独立的、非对映异构体的高分子链的生长以及增长的高分子链的交换中进行。这一新概念的一个重要含义是生产具有独特立体多嵌段微结构的功能化聚合物。这项用于功能化乙烯基单体聚合的新型催化剂的研究将为聚合物化学家提供一种制造新型立体嵌段微结构的工具。这项研究将通过形成自组织的、形态独特的立体复合体，在聚合物材料中产生基础知识和新颖的立体嵌段微结构，用于新的应用。通过该计划产生的新材料的潜在用途包括薄膜、催化剂和酶固定化、分子识别和智能微凝胶。学生将在前沿的合成无机化学项目中获得出色的培训和研究经验，该项目专注于制备新型聚合物材料的催化剂。

Prof. Eugene Chen, Colorado State University Chemistry Department, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program for his work devoloping a mechanistic understanding of the diastereospecific ion pair-catalyzed polymerization of functionalized vinyl monomers. Diastereospecific ion-pairing catalysis departs from conventional polymerization catalysis by utilizing both the cation and the anion in the independent, diastereomeric polymer chain growth as well as in the exchange of the growing polymer chains. An important implication of this new concept is the production of functionalized polymers with unique stereomultiblock microstructures. This research on new catalysts for the polymerization of functionalized vinyl monomers will provide polymer chemists with a tool for producing novel stereoblock microstructures. This research will produce both fundamental knowledge and novel stereoblock microstructures in polymeric materials for new applications through the formation of self-organized, morphologically unique stereocomplexes. Potential uses of the new materials generated through this program include thin films, catalyst and enzyme immobilization, molecular recognition, and smart microgels. Students will receive excellent training and research experiences in a forefront synthetic inorganic chemistry program focused on catalysts for the preparation of novel polymer materials.