16.6: Stereoregularity
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
Also known as tacticity, this property describes the regularity of the side group orientations on the backbone. The tacticity of a polymer has important implications for its degree of long-range order.
The side groups of isotactic polymers all have the same orientation:
Syndiotactic polymers have alternating arrangements of side-groups:
In atactic polymers the side-group orientations are random along the chain.