Question

which monomer would polymerise in isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic forms?
(This question has multiple correct options)
(A) $C{ H }_{ 2 }=C{ Cl }_{ 2}$
(B) ${ CH }_{ 3 }-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$
(C) $Ph-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$
(D) All of the above

Answer 1

Tacticity refers to the steric order of the polymer backbone. For a polymer to display tacticity it should be asymmetric. To determine whether a polymer chain is asymmetric or not, look for the presence of chiral centers in the polymer chain.

Complete step by step solution: Let us first understand tacticity in a polymer. Polymers are composed of monomers and these monomers can produce chiral centers in a polymer chain when they undergo polymerisation. If we have a linear asymmetric polymer chain, then the side groups (also called the pendant groups) can be arranged on either side of the chain such that it gives rise to three different types of arrangement. Let us understand it with a simple example. Suppose we have a monomer $R-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$. If we consider the ${ CH }_{ 2 }$ end of the monomer as the head and the $R-CH$ end as tail, then a head to tail polymerization will lead to the following polymer chain:

Where C’ are the asymmetric carbon atoms. The side group R present on these asymmetric carbon atoms can have different spatial arrangement around their carbon centers as a result of which three different arrangements will arise:
Isotactic: All the chiral centers have the same spatial configuration.

Syndiotactic: Every other chiral center has the same spatial configuration.

Atactic: The chiral centers will have random spatial configurations.

If $C{ H }_{ 2 }=C{ Cl }_{ 2}$ polymerises in a head to tail fashion, it will have the following structure:

The above structure is not asymmetric since it does not have any chiral center. Therefore $C{ H }_{ 2 }=C{ Cl }_{ 2}$ will not polymerise in isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic forms.
If ${ CH }_{ 3 }-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$ polymerises in a head to tail fashion, it will have the following structure:

Here the carbon atoms labelled in red colour are asymmetric and therefore this polymer chain is asymmetric. So, ${ CH }_{ 3 }-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$ will polymerise in isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic forms.
If $Ph-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$ polymerises in a head to tail fashion, it will have the following structure:

Here the carbon atoms labelled in red colour are asymmetric and therefore this polymer chain is asymmetric. So, $Ph-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$ will polymerise in isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic forms.

Therefore the correct answers are (B) ${ CH }_{ 3 }-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$ and (C) $Ph-CH={ CH }_{ 2 }$.

Note: The monomers of the polymer chain can not only polymerise in a head to tail fashion but also in head to head; tail to tail fashion and random orientation of monomer units along the polymer chain. Also 1,2-disubstituted monomers can also polymerise in isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic forms; such as a disubstituted olefin having two different side groups.