Recent development of a new generation of Ziegler-Natta Catalysts using either magnesium dichloride as carrier or methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst has markedly stimulated the research activity in the field of olefin polymerization. These discoveries have not only yielded economical processes for polyolefin production but also opened the way to a new generation of novel polymers. Moreover, the nature of active species is being clarified well by the effort to simplify catalyst systems. The present volume includes 38 papers from the 31 lectures and 18 posters presented at the symposium on `Recent Developments in Olefin Polymerization Catalysts', which covered the following topics: Overview of super-active homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, kinetic profile of olefin polymerization including copolymerization, characterization of catalysts and polymers, methods for the determination of active center concentration, role of Lewis bases on the catalysts isospecificity, polymerization mechanisms, and synthetic pathways for functionalized polyolefins. The contents are well balanced between fundamental research and application as well as between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst systems.

With an enormous velocity, olefin polymerization has expanded to one of the most significant fields in polymers since the first industrial use about 50 years ago. In 2005, 100 million tons of polyolefins were produced - the biggest part was catalyzed by metallorganic compounds. The Hamburg Macromolecular Symposium 2005 with the title "Olefin Polymerization" involved topics such as new catalysts and cocatalysts, kinetics, mechanism and polymer reaction engineering, synthesis of special polymers, and characterization of polyolefins. The conference combined scientists from different disciplines to discuss latest research results of polymers and to offer each other the possibility of cooperation. This is reflected in this volume, which contains invited lectures and selected posters presented at the symposium.

Polyolefin is a major industry that is important for our economy and impacts every aspect of our lives. The discovery of new transition metal-based catalysts is one of the driving forces for the further advancement of this field. Whereas the classical heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts and homogeneous early transition metal metallocene catalysts remain the workhorses of the polyolefin industry, in roughly the last decade, tremendous progress has been made in developing non-metallocene-based olefin polymerization catalysts. Particularly, the discovery of late transition metal-based olefin polymerization catalysts heralds a new era for this field. These late transition metal complexes not only exhibit high activities rivaling their early metal counterparts, but more importantly they offer unique properties for polymer architectural control and copolymerization with polar olefins. In this book, the most recent major breakthroughs in the development of new olefin polymerization catalysts, including early metal metallocene and non-metallocene complexes and late transition metal complexes, are discussed by leading experts. The authors highlight the most important discoveries in catalysts and their applications in designing new polyolefin-based functional materials.

This book is a follow-up to Ivins Olefin Metathesis, (Academic Press, 1983). Bringing the standard text in the field up to date, this Second Edition is a result of rapid growth in the field, sparked by the discovery of numerous well-defined metal carbene complexes that can act as very efficient initiators of all types of olefin metathesis reaction, including ring-closing metathesis of acyclic dienes, enynes, and dienynes; ring-opening metathesis polymerizationof cycloalkenes, acyclic diene metathesis polymerization; and polymerization of alkynes, as well as simple olefin metathesis. Olefin Metathesis and Metathesis Polymerization provides a broad, up-to-date account of the subject from its beginnings in 1957 to the latest applications in organic synthesis. The book follows the same format as the original, making it useful toteachers and to researchers, and will be of particular interest to those working in the fields of organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, materials science and chemical engineering. - Discusses different classes of olefin metathesis and the choice of reaction conditions and catalyst - Considers commercial processes with examples from existing and new technologies - Provides a complete overview of the subject from its beginning to the present day

More than 30 years after the discovery of transition metals and organometal lics as catalysts for olefin polymerization these catalysts did not have lost their fascination. Since 1953 when Karl Ziegler has discovered the catalytic polymerization of ethylene leading to plastically formable polymers which are mechanically stable up to temperatures of about 100°C, synthetic polymers and rubbers have made their way right into private houses. This discovery has been a main impetus for the fast growing production of plastics. The stereoselective poly merization of propylene and other long-chain a-olefins first detected by Giulio Natta leads to an even broadened field of applications. Another enforcing factor were the developments of Standard Oil of Indiana and Phillipps Petroleum Company who engaged in the polymerization of a-olefins supported molybdenum, cobalt and later on chromium catalysts which clearly indicates the wide variety of suitable systems. This kind of research acknowledged merit when in 1963 the Nobel prize of chemistry was awarded to Ziegler and Natta. Although to a great extent there is a technical application for these catalysts, up to now the nature of the active centres and many reaction mechanisms are not completely known.

The First Asian Polyolefin Workshop introduces the recent developments and the research activities on polyolefin technology in Asia, which is becoming one of the important places in technology as well as in economy. Asian Countries have experienced remarkable economic growth in the last decade as represented by China. The Asian Polyolefin Workshop (APO) was planned to provide a venue for Asian scientists and engineers identifying and exploring the areas of common interests. The workshop was held in Nara on December 7th-9th, 2005, with more than 100 participants from China, Israel, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain and Thailand. The following research topics were covered with 34 oral and 37 poster presentations; 1) Heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalysts Traditional Ziegler-Natta, Phillips, heterogenized metallocene and post metallocenes 2) Homogeneous olefin polymerization catalysts Traditional Ziegler-Natta, metallocene and post metallocenes 3) Precise synthesis of new polyolefins 4) Structure and properties of polyolefins 5) Engineering aspects of olefin polymerization* Presents the latest proceedings on polyolefin technology * The first book contributed by almost all the distinguished scientists in Asian countries* Contains papers not only from academia but also from industry