Outreach:

1. Crystallization of iPP with Defects Generated via (3,1) Enchainments Rufina Alamo, Florida State University, DMR 0706205 Living chiral -diimine Ni(II) catalysts activated with MAO produce iPPs with controlled regio inversions followed by isomerization or enchainment via (3,1) linkages. The content of defects is a direct function of reaction temperature. The properties of these iPPs are of interest because the addition of ethylene runs is similar to the addition of ethylene units via copolymerization. Based on defects per total monomers, XB, these novel iPPs have lower melting temperatures, thinner crystallites and loose crystallinity at much faster rate than any random iPP / 1-alkene copolymer with matched defect content, as shown in the figure. They also develop much higher contents of the gamma polymorph, all indicative of shorter crystallizable sequences due to the blocky nature of the defect.

2. Crystallization of iPP with Defects Generated via (3,1) Enchainments Rufina Alamo, Florida State University, DMR 0706205 Education: Students working on the general subject of our research “Crystallization of NovelPolyolefins”: 2 PhD students: A. Abdullah (long-chain branched (LCB) poly(propylenes) and P. Kaner (Precision halogenated polyethylenes). 1 Postdoctoral, C. Ruiz-Orta, is collaborating with Prof. G.W. Coates and his PhD student, A. Anderson in the studies of polyolefins generated via “chain walking”. 1 visiting graduate student, Laura Santonja from Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. 2 undergraduate students, Zachary Golt and Benjamin Read work on precision and random polyolefins. Outreach: We continue outreach activities with freshman FSU Honors Chemistry students. One student joins the research activities of a graduate student for one semester as part of their chemistry laboratory requirements. Introductory polymer lectures are given in the Fall semester to freshman and junior FSU female students who participate in WINSE (Women in Science and Engineering), a university program which focuses on the retention of women in science and engineering. Coates and student Alamo and students