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Ziegler–Natta catalyst
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<p>A Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after <a href="/facts/Karl_Ziegler/EDTVvjUN">Karl Ziegler</a> and <a href="/facts/Giulio_Natta/6FDwycRB">Giulio Natta</a>, is a <a href="/facts/Catalyst/LPBS7TQC">catalyst</a> used in the synthesis of <a href="/facts/Polymers/eF32E50K">polymers</a> of 1-alkenes (<a href="/facts/Alpha-olefin/lzbLgU7Q">alpha-olefins</a>). Two broad classes of Ziegler–Natta catalysts are employed, distinguished by their solubility: </p> <ul><li>Heterogeneous <a href="/facts/Catalyst_support/zLpv8hJB">supported catalysts</a> based on titanium compounds are used in polymerization reactions in combination with cocatalysts, <a href="/facts/Organoaluminum/GM0K5eKE">organoaluminum</a> compounds such as <a href="/facts/Triethylaluminium/CTLVqBbP">triethylaluminium</a>, Al(C2H5)3. This class of catalyst dominates the industry.</li> <li>Homogeneous catalysts usually based on complexes of the <a href="/facts/Group_4_elements/QGKs7lMz">group 4 metals</a> <a href="/facts/Titanium/53ArnDoy">titanium</a>, <a href="/facts/Zirconium/y7gsoQFz">zirconium</a> or <a href="/facts/Hafnium/rBNnlxDS">hafnium</a>. They are usually used in combination with a different organoaluminum cocatalyst, <a href="/facts/Methylaluminoxane/XN1e2Ilb">methylaluminoxane</a> (or methylalumoxane, MAO). These catalysts traditionally contain <a href="/facts/Metallocene/AecA5Qrk">metallocenes</a> but also feature <a href="/facts/Multidentate/hJF1lAJz">multidentate</a> oxygen- and nitrogen-based <a href="/facts/Ligands/6etB3qeW">ligands</a>.</li></ul> <p>Ziegler–Natta catalysts are used to polymerize terminal <a href="/facts/Alkene/RtYcS6kU">alkenes</a> (ethylene and alkenes with the <a href="/facts/Vinyl_group/SyXSgVnw">vinyl</a> double bond): </p> <i>n</i> CH2=CHR → −[CH2−CHR]<i>n</i>−;