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Forty years after Ziegler´s discovery of the "Aufbaureaktion" and low-pressure ethene polymerization, transition metal catalyzed olefin and diolefin polymerization continues to represent one of the most active and exciting areas. Since the 1980s, outstanding scientific innovations and process improvements have revolutionized polyolefin technology and greatly simplified polymerization processes. Well-defined catalyst systems are now at hand and facilitate the understanding of basic reaction mechanisms and correlations between catalyst structures, polymer microstructures, and polymer properties. This book reviews some of the modern approaches in organometallic chemistry, Ziegler-Natta catalysis, polymerization processes, design of novel materials, and the modelling in catalyst and process development.

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1. Karl Ziegler-The Last Alchemist.- 2. Patent Right Aspects in Connection with Four Decades of Ziegler Catalysts.- 3. Novel Polyolefin Materials and Processes: Overview and Prospects.- 4. The Role of MAO-Activators.- 5. New Isotactic Polypropylenes via Metallocene Catalysts.- 6. Isospecific Pseudo-Helical Zirconocenium Catalysts.- 7. Manipulation of the Ligand Structure as an Effective and Versatile Tool for Modification of Active Site Properties in Homogeneous Ziegler-Natta Catalyst Systems.- 8. Polymerization of Phenyl Substituted Cyclic Olefins with Metallocene/Aluminoxane Catalysts.- 9. The Relationship Between Kinetics and Mechanisms.- 10. Binuclear Titanocene and Zirconocene Cations with µ-Cl and µ-Ch3-Bridges in Metallocene-Based Ziegler-Natta Catalyst Systems-Solution-NMR Studies.- 11. Advances in Ziegler Catalysts.- 12. Stereochemistry of Polymerization of Some ?-Olefins in the Presence of Ziegler-Type Catalysts.- 13. Models for the Explanation of the Stereospecific Behavior of Ziegler-Natta Catalysts.- 14. Forcefield Calculations on Zirconocene Compounds.- 15. Theoretical Studies on Olefin Polymerization Using Group 4 Metallocene Catalysts.- 16. A Combined Density Functional and Molecular Mechanics Study on Olefin Polymerization by Metallocene Catalysts.- 17. Olefin Polymerization with Single Component Organoscandium and Organoyttrium Catalysts.- 18. Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts.- 19. Kinetic Studies on Propene Polymerization Using Magnesium Dichloride Supported Ziegler-Natta Catalysts.- 20. Gas Phase Polymerization of Olefins with Ziegler-Natta and Metallocene/Aluminoxane Catalysts: a Comparison.- 21. The Microreactor Model-Guideline for PE-HD Process and Product Development.- 22. The Activation of Supported Vanadium Catalysts in Ethylene Polymerization.- 23. Advances in Propylene Polymerization with MgCl2 Supported Catalysts.- 24. Effects of Electron Donors in Super High Activity Catalysts for Polypropylene.- 25. Stereo- and Enantioselective Polymerization of Olefins with Homogeneous Ziegler-Natta Catalysts.- 26. Enantiomorphic Sites and Stereospecific Polymerizations of Chiral 1-Olefins.- 27. Recent Developments in the Synthesis of Functionalized Polymers via Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization.- 28. Palladium Catalyzed Copolymerization of Carbon Monoxide with Olefins to Alternating Polyketons and Polyspiroketals.- 29. Breakthrough in Acetylene Polymerization.

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Forty years ago Karl Ziegler discovered the catalysts for low-pressure ethene polymerization. In 1963 he received the Nobel price for chemistry. This book reviews the outstanding scientific innovations in organometallic chemistry, Ziegler-Natta catalysis, polymerization processes, and design of novel polymeric materials which were achieved during the last 10 years. It will thus be of great value for all polymer and organo-metallic chemists as well as polymer and process engineers.

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