Carbene Chemistry: Stereoregular Polymers from Diazo Compounds

From carbenes to polymers: The synthesis of polymers that bear a polar group (R) on every main‐chain carbon atom, while controlling their stereochemistry, was an elusive goal until quite recently, when it was reported that rhodium(I)‐catalyzed polymerization of functionalized carbenes (from diazo compounds) provides access to such stereoregular polymers (see scheme).