Stereoselectivity in metallocene-catalyzed coordination polymerization of renewable methylene butyrolactones: from stereo-random to stereo-perfect polymers.

Coordination polymerization of renewable α-methylene-γ-(methyl)butyrolactones by chiral C(2)-symmetric zirconocene catalysts produces stereo-random, highly stereo-regular, or perfectly stereo-regular polymers, depending on the monomer and catalyst structures. Computational studies yield a fundamental understanding of the stereocontrol mechanism governing these new polymerization reactions mediated by chiral metallocenium catalysts.