A novel palladium catalyst for the polymerization of propargyl alcohol

Homogeneous polymerization of propargyl alcohol (OHP) with Pd (C?CCH₂OH)₂(PPh₃)₂ [Pd?C] catalyst in CHCl₃-CH₃OH mixed solvent system has been investigated. [Pd?C] was found to be a novel effective catalyst for the OHP polymerization. Some features, kinetic behavior, and effect of solvent for the OHP polymerization are described and discussed. The overall polymerization activation energy was found to be 75.6kJ/mol and the rate equation can be expressed as R_p = k_p[OHP] [Pd?C]^0.7, where k_p = 3.14 × 10^-4 L^0.7/ mol^0.7 S (60°C). Polypropargyl alcohol (POHP) obtained is a brown powder with a number-average molecular weight (M?_n) of 10³-2 × 10³, and soluble in MeOH, DMF, and DMSO. Conducting properties of the resulting POHP were investigated. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.