Highly Isotactic and High-Molecular-Weight Poly(2-vinylpyridine) by Coordination Polymerization with Yttrium Bis(phenolate) Ether Catalysts

Poly­(2-vinylpyridine) with highly isotactic (Pm = 0.97) and high-molecular-weight (∼105 g/mol) characteristics was obtained for the first time using novel yttrium bis­(phenolate) ether catalysts. These catalysts also showed high activity and tolerance to low loadings. Computational studies and kinetic experiments provided a fundamental understanding of the initiation, propagation, and stereocontrol mechanism governing the polymerization reactions mediated by yttrium catalysts.