Mono-Cyclopentadienyl Titanium and Rare-Earth Metal Catalysts for Syndiospecific Polymerization of Styrene and Its Derivatives

Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) is an important class of engineering plastics, primarily produced through metal-catalyzed highly stereoselective polymerization of styrene monomer. This paper summarizes the advances in metal catalysts for syndiospecific polymerization of styrene and its derivatives including mono-cyclopentadienyl titanium and rare-earth metal catalysts. The effects of the cyclopentadienyl, the metal center, and the ancillary ligand on styrene polymerization are emphasized. It provides a practical reference for polymer and organometallic chemists who are interested in developing and designing highly efficient mono-cyclopentadienyl metal catalysts for the synthesis of sPS and functionalized sPS.