Metallocene & Metal-Carbene Catalysts: Advanced Polyolefin Catalysis Course | IIT Kharagpur
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 63 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Chemistry |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Metallocene and Metal-Carbene Catalysts: The Engine of Modern Polyolefin Production
The world of plastics and polymers is built on a foundation of precise chemical control. At the heart of manufacturing advanced materials like polyethylene and polypropylene are specialized catalysts that dictate the polymer's structure, properties, and performance. Among these, metallocene and metal-carbene based organometallic catalysts represent a revolutionary leap forward, enabling the synthesis of tailor-made polyolefins with unprecedented precision.
This detailed 8-week course, instructed by Prof. Sanjib K. Patra of IIT Kharagpur, delves into the science, design, and industrial application of these powerful catalytic systems. Designed for undergraduate, postgraduate students, and industry professionals, the course bridges fundamental organometallic chemistry with cutting-edge industrial processes.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Sanjib K. Patra
Prof. Sanjib K. Patra brings a wealth of expertise to this subject. He completed his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from IIT Kanpur in 2007, followed by postdoctoral research as a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Bristol, UK, in the group of Prof. Ian Manners. He joined IIT Kharagpur as an Assistant Professor in 2011 and is currently an Associate Professor. His interdisciplinary research spans synthetic inorganic, organometallic, polymer, and materials chemistry, with a focus on multifunctional materials. He regularly teaches Inorganic, Organometallic, Polymer Chemistry, and Catalysis to students at all levels.
Course Overview: Why These Catalysts Matter
This course focuses on two landmark classes of catalysts that have transformed polymer industries over the last two decades.
Metallocene Catalysts: These are sandwich complexes, typically of Group 4 metals (Ti, Zr, Hf) between two cyclopentadienyl rings. Their unique, tunable structures allow for exceptional activity and, crucially, fine control over the stereoregularity and microstructure of the resulting polyolefins. This control directly translates to materials with specific mechanical, thermal, and optical properties for targeted applications, outperforming traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts.
Metal-Carbene Catalysts: Featuring a metal-carbon double bond (M=C), these complexes, such as the Nobel Prize-winning Grubbs and Schrock catalysts, are masters of alkene metathesis. They facilitate reactions like Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP), enabling the synthesis of novel polymers from cyclic olefins, including functionalized and specialty polymers that are difficult to make by other means.
The course will equip participants with the knowledge to understand catalyst design principles, reaction mechanisms, and development pathways, empowering them to contribute to the creation of next-generation tailored polymers and value-added compounds.
Detailed 8-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Overview of transition metal catalysts in industry. Introduction to metallocene and metal-carbene catalysts, their structural variations. |
| Week 2 | Metallocene compounds: Synthesis, structure, bonding, properties, and evaluation in olefin polymerization. |
| Week 3 | Polymerization mechanism. Role of co-catalysts. Developing catalysts for LDPE, LLDPE, copolymers. Comparison with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. |
| Week 4 | Controlling polyolefin stereoregularity with Zr(IV)-metallocenes. Ligand design, catalyst symmetry, and mechanism. Structure-property relationships. |
| Week 5 | Supported metallocene catalysts for industry. Ti(IV) constrained geometry catalysts. Dual role in depolymerization. |
| Week 6 | Metal-carbene/alkylidene complexes: Synthesis, structure, bonding, and reactivity. |
| Week 7 | Metathesis reactions and Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) using Schrock’s and Grubbs’ catalysts. Polymerization concept and mechanism. |
| Week 8 | Living ROMP with Grubbs catalysts. Ligand effects, functional group tolerance, and synthesis of well-defined copolymers. Industrial importance. |
Who Should Enroll?
- Intended Audience: UG, PG, and PhD students in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Polymer Science. Professionals from polymer manufacturing and R&D industries.
- Prerequisites: A basic understanding of organometallic chemistry is recommended.
- Industry Support: Highly relevant for polymer manufacturing industries involved in polyolefin production and advanced material synthesis.
Recommended Textbooks & Resources
- Organotransition Metal Chemistry: From Bonding to Catalysis by John F. Hartwig (University Science Books).
- The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals by Robert H. Crabtree (Wiley).
- Metallocene-based Polyolefins (Vols 1 & 2) edited by J. Scheirs and W. Kaminsky (Wiley).
- Principles of Polymerization by George Odian (Wiley).
This course offers a comprehensive journey from molecular-level catalyst design to large-scale industrial application. By mastering the principles of metallocene and metal-carbene catalysis, participants will gain critical insights into one of the most dynamic areas of modern materials science, preparing them for advanced research or innovation-driven roles in the chemical industry.
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