The 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for work on polyacetylenes. Acetylene can be polymerized using a Ziegler–Natta catalyst. The cis or trans stereochemistry of the products can be controlled by careful selection and preparation of the catalyst. The resulting polyacetylene is an electrical semiconductor with a metallic appearance. cis-Polyacetylene has a copper color, and trans-polyacetylene is silver. Use your structures to show why these polymers conduct electricity.

The 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for work on polyacetylenes. Acetylene can be polymerized using a Ziegler–Natta catalyst. The cis or trans stereochemistry of the products can be controlled by careful selection and preparation of the catalyst. The resulting polyacetylene is an electrical semiconductor with a metallic appearance. cis-Polyacetylene has a copper color, and trans-polyacetylene is silver. Use your structures to show why these polymers conduct electricity.