Ring-opening polymerization of ethylene organophosphorothioates: Stereoregular polymerization involving asymmetry at phosphorus

Stereoregular polymerization involving asymmetry at phosphorus has been obtained from ethylene methyl or phenyl phosphorothioate with R₂Mg? NH₃ catalysts, or, in some cases, with R₂Mg alone. The methyl ester gave two types of polymer: an amorphous rubber and a low-melting (75°C) crystalline polymer. The phenyl ester gave mainly a low-melting (68°C) crystalline polymer of 2.2 inherent viscosity. Proton and ³¹P NMR and infrared spectra of these polymers are in accord with the expected chain unit, ? CH₂CH₂? O? P(S)(OR)? O? . The polymerization mechanism probably involves an anionic ring-opening step with P? O cleavage. Ring opening with C? O cleavage appears to be largely excluded. This conclusion is based on the expectation that anionic ring opening with C? O cleavage should lead to a rearranged chain unit, ? CH₂CH₂? O? P(O)? (OR)? S? , because of the high nucleophilicity of sulfur as compared with oxygen. Proton and ³¹P NMR spectra give no evidence for the rearranged unit within the limit of detection (ca. 3%). However, on aging, the methyl ester polymer changes drastically to form up to 40% CH₂SP groups. Presumably, the polymer undergoes the well-known thiono-thiolo rearrangement characteristic of simple phosphorothioate esters to form ? CH₂CH₂? O? P(O)(SCH₃)? O? chain units. The phenyl ester polymer is stable under the same aging conditions.