Microstructure of polypropylene

For over thirty years after the discovery of stereoselective olefin polymerization in 1954, the word ‘polypropylene’ has meant, both scientifically and commercially, little else than the predominantly isotactic polymer achievable with the classical heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts. The picture, however, has changed dramatically in the last 15 years, due to the development of a variety of new transition metal catalysts with tunable structures and selectivities. Nowadays, ‘polypropylene’ means a whole world of innovative polymers with novel and well-controlled microstructures, and — as a result — tailored properties and applications. With the powerful aid of high-field 13 C NMR data, this review aims at introducing the reader to this fascinating and challenging frontier of macromolecular stereochemistry.