Recent Advances in Chromium Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization

Research interest in non-metallocene olefin polymerization catalysts has led to advances in the synthesis of well-defined paramagnetic organometallic complexes of first-row transition metals, including chromium. Single component polymerization catalysts have been prepared using cationic Cr(III) alkyl complexes with substituted cylopentadienyl or β-diketiminato ancillary ligands. High throughput screening strategies have been developed to assist in the rapid evaluation of structure-activity relationships. Density functional theoretical studies have also proved useful both for rationalizing the observed reactivity of known catalysts and for suggesting new potential catalytic systems.