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Precise control of coordination polymerization via the modification of methylaluminoxane (MAO)

Polymer Journal volume 52, pages 661–670 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Methylaluminoxane (MAO) is known as a versatile activator of transition metal catalysts for coordination polymerization reactions, even though its precise structure and the origin of its activation properties have not been fully investigated. Considering that MAO exists as a counter anion that can interact with cationic metal species in a polymerization medium, the ability to impart structural modifications to MAO would provide a new direction for controlling the polymerization behavior. Here, the modification, the composition control, and a new preparation method of MAO will be summarized, as well as the application of modified MAO for the synthesis of stereoblock polydienes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (No. 26810070) and the Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (18K14276) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan. The generous donation of MMAO and MAO from Tosoh-Finechem Co. (Japan) is greatly appreciated. The authors wish to thank Prof. Takeshi Shiono for the kind support as well as Takaaki Hirose, Kaede Yuuya, Yuto Shinto, Naoki Tonoko, Ryusei Matsuzaki, and Yuuya Okajima for their contributions.

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  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan

    Ryo Tanaka

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Correspondence to Ryo Tanaka.

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Tanaka, R. Precise control of coordination polymerization via the modification of methylaluminoxane (MAO). Polym J 52, 661–670 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-020-0325-x

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