Calcium in Polymerization Chemistry and Catalysis


Polymerization of styrene proceeds with high stereoselectivity (95% syndiotactic) and is living.

Feil, Knoll, Harder Angew. Chem. 2001

Three good reasons to do catalysis with calcium:

  1. It is cheap (€ 6 / mol!)
  2. It ís biocompatible
  3. It is world-wide available

Representative publications

Alkene hydrosilylation: Harder et al. Angew. Chem. 2006
Alkene hydrogenation: Harder et al. Angew. Chem.2008

Review: Harder Chem. Rev. 2010