Transition-Metal Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis and Ethylene Polymerization
This community develops molecular catalysts based on transition metals to build and modify carbon-carbon double bonds, specifically for the large-scale production of polyethylene and the synthesis of complex organic molecules.
The work centers on the design of coordination complexes using nickel, ruthenium, titanium, palladium, and molybdenum. Recurring themes include olefin metathesis, ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and the copolymerization of ethylene with polar monomers. Researchers focus on ligand architecture, such as diimine nickel and heterocyclic carbenes, to control molecular weight and chain transfer. Applications range from creating recyclable polymers and thermoplastic elastomers to total synthesis in pharmaceutical contexts. The field also investigates nitrogen fixation and reactivity of dinitrogen, though the dominant output concerns olefin processing and polymer synthesis.
The largest share of the community's output is found in ruthenium research, representing 5.7% of all ruthenium studies, and 2,784 papers here. It also constitutes 3.3% of tantalum research and 3.0% of molybdenum research.
The community comprises 27,172 papers, publishing most frequently in Organometallics, the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the Journal of Organometallic Chemistry.
Recent work includes nickel-catalyzed olefin copolymerization with polar monomers, ring-opening metathesis polymerization of low ring-strain cycloalkenes, and the upcycling of vulcanized rubber via controlled backbone cleavage.