Rhodium and platinum complexes as catalysts for the polymerization of phenylacetylene

In polymerization reactions of phenylacetylene three different types of polyphenylacetylene (PPA) were prepared by using Rh and Pt complexes as catalysts in different reaction conditions. Type I PPA is obtained with Rh (COD) Chel] PF₆ complexes (COD = cis,cis-cycloocta 1,5-diene; chel = 2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in bulk, benzene methanol, while type II PPA is obtained with the same catalysts in p-dioxane and type III PPA in the presence of Pt (? C?CPh)₂(PPh₃)₂] in bulk. Type I, II, and III PPA exhibit different IR and ¹H-NMR spectra, which have been compared with literature data. Correlations proposed by different Authors between spectral properties of PPA and chain structures are also discussed.