Polymerization of phenylacetylene by iridium catalysts

Polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) with [(cod)IrCl]₂‐based catalysts (cod: 1,5‐cyclooctadiene) was examined. The [(cod)IrCl]₂/n‐BuLi and [(cod)IrCl]₂/Ph₂C?C(Ph)Li systems induced the polymerization of PA to produce polymers with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of around several thousand in rather low yields. On the other hand, the catalyst composed of [(cod)IrCl]₂, norbornadiene (nbd), Ph₃P, and Ph₂C?C(Ph)Li (molar ratio of 1:1:1.1:2) produced polymer in a high yield (ca. 80%) in toluene at 0 °C. The resulting polymer showed a bimodal gel permeation chromatographic profile (M_n = 209,000 and 4300; ratio: 81/19). On the basis of these findings, the presence of two active species, that is, Ir complexes with nbd and cod, are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1075–1080, 2002     

Polymerization of propene by post-metallocene catalysts

In the last few years several non-metallocene catalysts have been disclosed as efficient catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of propene. In this paper we summarize some recent literature data and some new results concerning the stereochemical mechanism of propene polymerization promoted by late transition metal systems and group 4 metal bis(phenoxyimine) systems. NMR analysis of the fine structure of the polymers obtained, in some cases using isotopically enriched reagents, provides valuable information on the regiochemistry and stereochemistry of the polymerization.     

Polymerization of alkoxyallenes by transition-metal catalysts

The structure of polymers obtained by polymerization of methoxyallene and ethoxyallene with transition-metal catalysts depends on the catalyst employed. Rapid polymerization at 0°C through the unsubstituted double bond occurred with π-allylnickel halides, NiCl₂/AlEt₃ and CoCl₂/AlEt₃, yielding polymers with the structure Typical Ziegler–Natta catalysts (TiCl₄, VOCl₃ or FeCl₃ with AIEt₃) gave polymers mainly with the structure although some of the structural units were probably present as well. Polymers having conjugated double bonds were prepared with PdCl₂, [(π-allyl)PdCl]₂, and PdCl₂(C₆H₅CN)₂ as catalysts. Palladium iodide produced polymers with all three of the above structural units present. Polymerization occurred more slowly with these palladium catalysts. A preliminary examination of the effect of variation of solvent, ligand, co-catalyst, and temperature on the rate and structure of the polymers obtained with the palladium catalysts is reported.     

Polymerization of cis- and trans-cinnamonitriles by anionic catalysts

cis- and trans-cinnamonitriles were polymerized in the presence of various anionic catalysts such as Grignard reagent, alkali metal naphthalenes, and calcium zinc tetraethyl. It was found that both monomers undergo concurrent geometrical isomerization as well as polymerization. Investigation on the calcium zinc tetraethyl catalyst showed that the trans-nitrile had polymerizability noticeably greater than that of the cis isomer. Polymers resulting from these isomeric monomers had different microstructures. These results seem to be interpretable in terms of the four-centered coordination model of the transition state.     

Polymerization of silylacetylenes by W and Mo catalysts

Polymerization of HC?CSiMe₃ homologues (HC?CSiMe₂R; R = n-C₆H₁₃, CH₂CH₂Ph, CH₂Ph, Ph, and t-Bu) was studied by use of W and Mo catalysts. W catalysts provided polymers in good yields from all these monomers. Mo catalysts gave mainly a polymer from HC?CSiMe₂–t-Bu, but virturally only cyclotrimers from sterically less croweded monomers (R = n-C₆H₁₃, CH₂CH₂Ph, CH₂Ph, and Ph). Polymers with flexible R groups (n-C₆H₁₃, CH₂CH₂Ph, and CH₂Ph) were totally soluble, their number-average molecular weights being 7000–18,000. Polymers with inflexible R groups (Ph and t-Bu) were partly insoluble. Every polymer was a yellow rubber or powder, and had the structure, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \rlap{--} [{\rm CH} = {\rm C}\left( {{\rm SiMe}_{\rm 2} {\rm R}} \right)\rlap{--} ]_n $\end{document}. The results were compared with the polymerization and polymer of HC?CSiMe₃.     

Polymerization of acenaphthylene by transition metal catalysts

The polymerization of acenaphthylene (ACN) was examined in the presence of the group V and VI transition metal salts such as WCl₆, MoCl₅, TaCl₅, and NbCl₅, as catalysts under various reaction conditions. These transition metal salts were found to be effective catalysts for the polymerization of ACN. The polymerization of ACN by WCl₆ in chlorobenzene proceeded at a high initial rate when the monomer to catalyst mole ratio was 200. In addition, it was observed that aromatic solvents generally were found to be superior to aliphatic solvents for both conversion and molecular weight. The structure of the resulting polymers was characterized by means of NMR, IR, UV, and x-ray diffraction. Emission properties were also investigated. Fluorescence emission spectra of the polymers obtained by WCl₆ as a catalyst varied strongly depending on the polymerization solvent. Thus, it appears that the polyacenaphthylene produced by WCl₆ was a different configuration dependent on the polymerization solvents used.     

Polymerization of N-carboxy anhydrides by organotin catalysts

Organotin compounds were found to lead to polymerization of N-carboxy anhydrides. The polymerization was studied in detail using γ-benzyl N-carboxyl-t-glutamate anhydride (BGA). Compounds such as tributyltin methoxide, bis(tributyltin)oxide, and N-tributyltin imidazole polymerized BGA while others like dibutyltin dichloride, which are Lewis acids, failed. Polymerization of BGA in dioxane at various monomer to dibutyltin dimethoxide ratios showed a first order reaction to monomer. The plot of In M₀/M₁ vs time showed two stage kinetics, the second one being faster. The pseudo first order rate constants were smaller than those for primary amine initiated polymerizations and much smaller than that for polymerization initiated by sodium methoxide. The molecular weights were independent of the monomer to initiator ratio both in dioxane and in DMF. In the reaction of an equimolar amount of tributyltin methoxide with NCA, the methyl ester of the amino acid was formed.The mechanism suggested is that of addition of the organotin compound to the NCA forming an organotin carbamate which decarboxylates, leaving an active -N-Sn-group which adds to another NCA molecule. This process is repeated in every step of the propagation.     

Polymerization of 1-ethynylcyclohexene by tungsten and molybdenum-based catalysts

1-Ethynylcyclohexene, an acetylene derivative having cyclohexenyl substituent, was polymerized by various W- and Mo-based catalysts. WCl₆-EtAlCl₂ catalyst system was found to be very effective for this polymerization. The effects of the monomer-to-catalyst mol ratio, the initial monomer concentration, the temperature, and the cocatalysts for the polymerization of 1-ethynylcyclohexene by WCl₆ were investigated. The catalytic activity of Mo-based catalysts was found to be similar to that of W-based catalysts. The polymer structure was identified to have a conjugated polymer backbone carrying a cyclohexenyl substituent. The resulting polymers were light-brown powder and completely soluble in aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbon solvents such as chlorobenzene, benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc. Studies of the thermal properties and morphology of poly(1-ethynylcyclohexene) were also carried out. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of trimethylsilylacetylene by WCl6-based catalysts

The polymerization of trimethylsilylacetylene was investigated by using W and Mo catalysts. Mixtures of WCl₆ with appropriate organometallic cocatalysts such as n-Bu₄Sn and Et₃SiH at 1:1 molar ratio provided poly(trimethylsilylacetylene) in high yields. On the other hand, MoCI₅ gave mainly methanol-soluble oligomers even in the presence of these cocatalysts. The polymer formed was a partly insoluble yellow powder, and the molecular weight of the soluble fraction was about 7000. The IR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectra supported the polymer structure, (CH = CSiMe₃)_n. Protodesilylation of poly(trimethylsilylacetylene) afforded a new polymer containing both acetylene and trimethylsilylacetylene units.     

Polymerization of propargylamine and 1,1-diethylpropargylamine by transition metal catalysts

Some polyacetylene derivatives containing an amine functional group were prepared by the polymerization of propargylamine (PA) and 1,1-diethylpropargylamine (DEPA) with various transition metal catalysts. In the polymerization of PA, Mo-based catalysts were more effective than that of W-based catalysts, and organoaluminum compounds, especially EtAlCl₂, were found to be very effective cocatalysts. In the polymerization of DEPA, Mo-and W-based catalyst systems showed a similar catalytic activity. The polymerization easily proceeded in polar solvents such as nitrobenzene and DMF as well as nonpolar aromatic solvents such as chlorobenzene, toluene, etc. The resulting poly(PA) and poly(DEPA) were insoluble in organic solvents regardless of polymerization catalysts but the polymers were found to be stable to air oxidation. Thermogravimetric analyses and thermal transitions of poly(PA) and poly(DEPA) were also studied. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of butadiene by neodymium catalysts on oxide supports

The suspension polymerization of butadiene in hexane and toluene in the presence of catalysts composed of organoaluminum compounds and neodymium versatate applied on oxides (Al₂O₃, aluminum silicate A-14, Aerosil A-300, and white soot BS-200) has been studied. Triisobutylaluminum and its combination with ethylaluminum sesquichloride are used as organoaluminum compounds. The activity and stereospecificity of the catalysts has been found to depend strongly on the nature of supports. Catalysts based on Aerosil and white soot appear to be the most active. With the use of these catalysts, polybutadiene containing up to 97.5% 1,4-cis-units has been synthesized.     

Polymerization of propylene by zirconocenium catalysts with different counter-ions

Propylene was polymerized by binary zirconocenium catalysts derived from rac-ethylenebis(1-η⁵-indenyl)dimethylzirconium and cation forming agents (C₆H₅)₃C+(C₆F₅)₄B^? and (C₆F₅)₃B. Polymerizations were also performed with the ternary systems of Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂, Et₃Al, and the cation forming agents. The catalyst systems, with the inert noncoordinating counter-ion, (C₆F₅)₄B^?, have much higher activity and stereoselectivity than the ones with the CH₃B^?(C₆F₅)₃ counter-ion. Much less active still are catalysts having BF₄^? or (C₆H₅)₄B^? counter-ions. Similar but smaller effects of counter-ion structure on ethylene polymerization were observed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of N-carbazolylacetylene by various transition metal catalysts and polymer properties

N-Carbazolylacetylene (CzA) was polymerized in the presence of various transition metal catalysts including WCl₆, MoCl₅, [Rh(NBD)Cl]₂, and Fe(acac)₃ to give polymers in good yields. The polymers produced with W catalysts were dark purple solids and soluble in organic solvents such as toluene, chloroform, etc. The highest weight-average molecular weight of poly(CzA) reached about 4 × 10⁴. In the UV–visible spectrum in CHCl₃, poly(CzA) exhibited an absorption maximum around 550 nm (ε_max = 4.0 × 10³ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and the cutoff wavelength was 740 nm, showing a large red shift compared with that of poly(phenylacetylene) [poly(PA)]. Poly(CzA) began to lose weight in TGA under air at 310°C, being thermally more stable than poly(PA) and poly[3-(N-carbazolyl)-1-propyne]. Poly(CzA) showed a third-order susceptibility of 18 × 10⁻¹² esu, which was 2 orders larger than that of poly(PA). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2489–2492, 1998     

Polymerization of 3-methyl-1-butene promoted by metallocene catalysts

3-Methyl-1-butene was polymerized in the presence of a number of homogeneous metallocene catalysts (co-catalyst methylalumoxane). Contrary to literature reports, it was found that even the simplest C₂-symmetric metallocenes promote the isotactic polymerization of this monomer with reasonable productivities. Quite surprisingly, a prevailingly isotactic polymer was also obtained in the presence of C_s-symmetric metallocenes, which are instead syndiotactic-specific in propene polymerization.     

Polymerization of 1-methoxy-1-ethynylcyclohexane by transition metal catalysts

The polymerization of 1-methoxy-1-ethynylcyclohexane (MEC) was carried out by various transition metal catalysts. The catalysts MoCl₅, MoCl₄, and WCl₆ gave a relatively low yield of polymer (≤ 16%). The catalytic activity of Mo-based chloride catalyst was greater than that of W-based chloride catalyst. However, catalyst tungsten carbene complex (I) gave a larger molar mass and higher yield in the presence of a Lewis acid such as AlCl₃ than in the absence of a Lewis acid. The activity of the tungsten carbene complex was obviously affected by Lewis acidity. The catalyst PdCl₂ was a very effective catalyst for the present polymerization and gave polymers in a high yield. The structure of the resulting poly(MEC) was identified by various instrumental methods as a conjugated polyene structure having an α-methoxycyclohexyl substituent. The poly(MEC)s were mostly light-brown powders and completely soluble in various organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform (CHCl₃), ethylacetate, n-butylacetate, dimethylformamide, benzene, xylene, dimethylacetamide, 1,4-dioxane, pyridine, and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the polymer started to lose mass at 125°C and that maximum decomposition occurred at 418°C. The x-ray diffraction diagram shows that poly(MEC) has an amorphous structure. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.