The monograph is intended to systematize data on active sites and their kinetic and stereospecific heterogeneity (polysite phenomenon) in olefin and diene monomer ion, ion-coordination and complex radical polymerization processes. Questions of molecular-mass distribution of polymers obtained by ion and ion-coordination polymerization methods are discussed together with composition and stereo regularity distribution of olefin copolymers. Data on the influence of transition and non-transition metal origin and their ligand ambience, conditions of catalytic system preparation and polymerization are shown. Various assessment methods of polymerization active site distribution by kinetic activity and stereospecific action are considered. In particular, an assessment method for kinetic activity distribution at ion-coordination diene polymerization is described, mathematical simulation parameters for polymerization processes are shown, taking into account the polysite structure of catalytic systems. Of special attention are geometrical and electron structure of active sites in the ion-coordination polymerization by the quantum chemistry method, interrelation between reactivity of some types of active sites and stereospecificity of their action in diene polymerization. The importance of ratio between specific time elementary act duration at the diene injection, coordinated on an active site, and time of propagating macrochain end unit existence in the s-state at polydiene microstructure formation is indicated. Questions of the polysite mechanism occurrence in complex radical polymerization processes are discussed. A possibility for polymerization to proceed in both free-radical and complex related chain propagation sites is shown.

This review describes the production of styrene polymers in detail, including the synthesis of raw materials, polymerisation routes to polystyrene, production of high impact polystyrene and anionic block copolymers. The review also describes the mechanical properties of styrenic polymers, their electrical properties, and their behaviour in fire. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

During the past 30 years, the field of alkene polymerization over transition metal catalysts underwent several major changes:1. The list of commercial heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts for the synthesis of polyethylene and stereoregular polyolefins was completely renewed affording an unprecedented degree of control over the polymer structure.2. Research devoted to metallocene and other soluble transition-metal catalysis has vastly expanded and has shifted toward complexes of transition metals with multidentate ligands.3. Recent developments in gel permeation chromatography, temperature-rising fractionation, and crystallization fractionation provided the first reliable information about differences between various active centers in transition-metal catalysts.4. A rapid development of high-resolution 13C NMR spectroscopy resulted in greatly expanded understanding of the chemical and steric features of polyolefins and alkene copolymers. These developments require a new review of all aspects of alkene polymerization reactions with transition-metal catalysts. The first chapter in the book is an introductory text for researchers who are entering the field. It describes the basic principles of polymerization reactions with transition-metal catalysts, the types of catalysts, and commercially manufactured polyolefins. The next chapter addresses the principal issue of alkene polymerization catalysis: the existence of catalyst systems with single and multiple types of active centers. The subsequent chapters are devoted to chemistry and stereochemistry of elemental reaction steps, structures of catalyst precursors and reactions leading to the formation of active centers, kinetics of polymerization reactions, and their mechanisms.The book describes the latest commercial polymerization catalysts for the synthesis of polyethylenes and polypropylene The book provides a detailed description of the multi-center nature of commercial Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The book devotes specialized chapters to the most important aspects of transition metal polymerization catalysts: the reactions leading to the formation of active centers, the chemistry and stereochemistry of elemental polymerization steps, reaction kinetics, and the polymerization mechanism. The book contains an introductory chapter for researchers who are entering the field of polymerization catalysis. It describes the basic principles of polymerization reactions with transition-metal catalysts and the types of commercially manufactured polyolefins and copolymersThe book contains over 2000 references, the most recent up to end of 2006.

The general features of ring-opening polymerisation, for example the dependence of polymerisability upon ring-strain, the significance of ring-chain equilibria, and the potential for formation of cyclic oligomers are outlined. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database provides useful references for further reading.

This review discusses the preparation of highly ordered polyacetylene blends and compares forms of polyacetylene obtained by different methodsand includes an analysis of the formation of defects in polyacetylene during growth of the polyene chain and cis-trans isomerisation. The mechanism of acetylene polymerisation with rhenium catalysts, and the reactivity of highly ordered polyacetylene blends to oxidation and doping are also discussed. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

The English version will include two issues, chemistry and the physics of polymers.