Q6(b)(i). Polypropylene by Ziegler–Natta catalysis
How will you synthesize polypropylene (PP) by using Ziegler–Natta catalysis? Discuss the mechanism and its advantages over conventional polymerization.
Answer in brief
Propene is passed into dry heptane containing TiCl₄ + Al(C₂H₅)₃ at 50 to 70 °C and 1 to 10 atm; coordination–insertion polymerisation at titanium gives isotactic polypropylene.
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CoversZiegler–Natta catalystpolypropyleneCossee–Arlman mechanismisotactic polymercoordination polymerisation
All parts of Question 6
- 6(a)(i) Photolysis of a mixture of valerophenone and 5,5-dideuteriohexan-2-one5 marks
- 6(a)(ii) Photolysis of 4,5-dimethylheptan-2-one10 marks
- 6(b)(i) Polypropylene by Ziegler–Natta catalysis10 marks
- 6(b)(ii) Perlon (nylon-6) from ε-caprolactam5 marks
- 6(c)(i) OsO₄, then HIO₄, on an alkenyl cyclopropane lactone10 marks
- 6(c)(ii) (S)-3-Phenylbutan-2-one with m-CPBA10 marks