Polymerization and copolymerization of 2-phthalimidomethyl 1,3-butadiene. I. Preliminary studies of free radical polymerization and polymerizations initiated by various transition metal allyl complexes

2-Phthalimidomethyl 1,3-butadiene was homopolymerized and copolymerized with butadiene by free radical initiators; r₁ and r₂ were close to 1. All the attempts to polymerize 2PMB anionically have been unsuccessful. Preliminary studies of various η³-allylic catalysts showed that η³-allyl M₀(CO)₃OOCCF₃ initiates the polymerization of butadiene and is not sensitive to N-methyl phthalimide (NMP); neither does it initiate the copolymerization of butadiene and 2PMB. On the other hand, a catalyst that results from the reaction of allyl trifluoroacetate with nickel tetracarbonyl is efficient for the copolymerization of butadiene and 2PMB. η³-Allyl nickel trifluoroacetate was prepared in heptane or benzene and used in benzene or methylene chloride. In all cases it initiated the copolymerization of butadiene with 2PMB