Merging Olefins and Acrylates in Polymer Synthesis - Benefits and Challenges

The ACS-GHS was proud to host Dr. Eva Harth as our first seminar speaker of 2021 on May 27th. Dr. Harth is Director of the Welch Center of Excellence in Polymer Chemistry at the University of Houston, and spoke to attendees about the development of a single catalyst platform that can build polyolefin-polyacrylate block copolymers. The catalysts used by her group can move from metal insertion olefin polymerization to radical-mediated acrylate polymerization with the flip of a (light) switch! The resulting copolymers have unique mechanical properties with applications in a range of commercial products. Thanks to Dr. Harth for enthusiastically sharing her work with us, and to all our seminar attendees.