🥼organic chemistry review

Ziegler–Natta catalyst

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A Ziegler–Natta catalyst is a class of catalysts used in the synthesis of polymers of 1-alkenes (alpha-olefins), enabling the production of polymers with high molecular weights and stereoregularity. These catalysts are heterogeneous, comprising transition metal compounds like titanium chlorides and organometallic compounds such as aluminum alkyls.

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