Polymerization of substituted phenylacetylenes with a novel,water‐soluble Rh–vinyl complex in water

A novel, water‐soluble Rh complex, (nbd)Rh[PPh₂(m‐NaOSO₂C₆H₄)] [C(Ph)?CPh₂] ( 1 ) was synthesized by the reaction of [(nbd)RhCl]₂, Ph₂P(m‐NaOSO₂C₆H₄) and Ph₂C?C(Ph)Li, whose structure was determined by NMR and IR spectroscopies. The Rh catalyst 1 induced the polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) in water to give two kinds of polymers; one was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CHCl₃, and the other was insoluble in common organic solvents. The polymerization of sodium p‐ethynylbenzoate (p‐NaOCO‐PA) homogeneously proceeded with 1 in water at 60 °C to give the polymer in high yield. Poly(p‐NaOCO‐PA) was treated with 1 N HCl and then reacted with (CH₃)₃SiCHN₂ to obtain poly(p‐MeOCO‐PA). The methyl‐esterified polymer was insoluble in THF and CHCl₃, which suggests that the formed poly(p‐MeOCO‐PA) has cis–cisoidal structure. The polymer obtained from the polymerization of [p‐CH₃(OCH₂CH₂)₂O₂CC₆H₄]C?CH with 1 in water was soluble in methanol, ethanol, and THF, and partly soluble in water. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2100–2105, 2004     

Synthesis and polymerization of phenylacetylene having two carbazole units and properties of the formed polymer

Novel carbazole‐containing acetylene monomer, 1‐(3‐ethynyl‐9‐carbazoyl)?4‐(9‐carbazoyl)benzene 1 was synthesized, polymerized, and copolymerized with phenylacetylene ( PA ) using [(nbd)RhCl]₂‐Et₃N, Rh⁺(nbd)[η⁶‐C₆H₅B^–(C₆H₅)₃], and WCl₆‐Ph₄Sn as catalysts. Polymers with number‐average molecular weights ranging from 7800 to 33,200 were obtained in 60%–quantitative yields. The absorption band edge of poly( 1 ‐co‐ PA ) ( 1 :PA = 8:2) was positioned at a wavelength longer than those of 1 and polyvinylcarbazole. Poly( 1 ‐co‐ PA ) ( 1:PA = 8:2) emitted fluorescence with 60% quantum yield. Poly( 1 ‐co‐ PA ) ( 1:PA = 8:2) worked as a hole transport material of an OLED with tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3) as an emission material. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 2015 , 53, 1245–1251     

Polymerization of 3‐ethynylthiophene with homogeneous and heterogeneous Rh catalysts

3‐Ethynylthiophene (3ETh) was polymerized with Rh(I) complexes: [Rh(cod)acac], [Rh(nbd)acac], [Rh(cod)Cl]₂, and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ (cod is η²:η²‐cycloocta‐1,5‐diene and nbd η²:η²‐norborna‐2,5‐diene), used as homogeneous catalysts and with the last two complexes anchored on mesoporous polybenzimidazole (PBI) beads: [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/PBI and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂/PBI used as heterogeneous catalysts. All tested catalyst systems give high‐cis poly(3ETh). In situ NMR study of homogeneous polymerizations induced with [Rh(cod)acac] and [Rh(nbd)acac] complexes has revealed: (i) a transformation of acac ligands into free acetylacetone (Hacac) occurring since the early stage of polymerization, which suggests that this reaction is part of the initiation, (ii) that the initiation is rather slow in both of these polymerization systems, and (iii) a release of cod ligand from [Rh(cod)acac] complex but no release of nbd ligand from [Rh(nbd)acac] complex during the polymerization. The stability of diene ligand binding to Rh‐atom in [Rh(diene)acac] catalysts remarkably affects only the molecular weight but not the yield of poly(3ETh). The heterogeneous catalyst systems also provide high‐cis poly(3ETh), which is of very low contamination with catalyst residues since a leaching of anchored Rh complexes is negligible. The course of heterogeneous polymerizations is somewhat affected by limitations arising from the diffusion of monomer inside catalyst beads. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2776–2787, 2008     

Some diolefin complexes of iridium(I) and a trans-influence series for the complexes [IrCl(cod)L]

A high-yield synthesis of [IrCl(cod)]₂ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) is described. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of a number of complexes [IrCl(cod)L] are interpreted in terms of a trans-effect series Cl^? < sym-collidine < 2-picoline < PCy₃ < P-i-Pr₃ < Pet₃ ～ AsPh₃ < PMe₂Ph < PMePh₂ < PPh₂ <P(MeO)Ph₂ < PClPh₂ < P(OPh)₃ < PCl₂Ph. Some ligand exchange reactions of [IrCl(cod)L] are discussed. A number of complexes of the type [Ir(cod)L_n]PF₆ (L = a variety of amines (n = 2) and phosphines (n = 2 or 3)) are described. Exchange reactions of the sort: [Ir(cod)(PR₃)₂]PF₆ + [Ir(cod)(py)₂]PF₆ ? [Ir(cod)(PR₃)Py]PF₆ are reported in which, surprisingly, the isolable mixed ligand complexes are the only detectable species at equilibrium (py = pyridine).     

Synthesis and crosslinking reaction of polyacetylenes substituted with benzoxazine rings: Thermally highly stable benzoxazine resins

Novel polyacetylenes, poly( 1 ) and poly( 2 ) substituted with benzoxazine rings were synthesized by the polymerization of the corresponding acetylene monomers 1 and 2 using Rh catalysts, [(nbd)RhCl]₂, and (nbd)Rh⁺B^–Ph₄ (nbd = 2,5‐norbornadiene). The polymers were heated at 250 °C under N₂ to obtain the corresponding polybenzoxazine resins, poly( 1 )′ and poly( 2 )′ possessing polyacetylene main chains via the ring‐opening polymerization of the benzoxazine moieties. The polyacetylene backbones were maintained after crosslinking reaction at 250 °C, which were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The benzoxazine resins were thermally highly stable as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The surface of poly( 1 )′ film became hydrophilic compared to that of poly( 1 ), while the surfaces of poly( 2 ) and poly( 2 )′ films showed almost the same hydrophilicity judging from the water contact angle measurement. Poly( 1 )′ and poly( 2 )′ exhibited refractive indices smaller than those of poly( 1 ) and poly( 2 ). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1884–1893     

Stilbene‐containing polyactylenes: Molecular design,synthesis, and relationship between molecular structure and NLO properties

Polyacetylenes ( P1–P4 ) containing different stilbene groups, ? [(CH?C) ? Ph? CH?CH? Ph? R]_n? (R?OC_mH_2m+1 (m = 4 ( P1 ), 10 ( P2 ), 16 ( P3 )), or NO₂ ( P4 )) were designed and synthesized, respectively, using [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ as a catalyst. Their structures and properties were characterized and evaluated by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, GPC, and UV, PL, respectively. The optical limiting and nonlinear optical properties were investigated by using a frequency doubled, Q‐switched, mode‐locked Continuum ns/ps Nd:YAG laser system and their optical limiting mechanism was discussed. It is surprising to see that the stilbene pendants endow the polyacetylenes with a high thermal stability (T_d ≥ 270 °C), novel optical limiting properties and large third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities (up to 4.61 × 10^?10 esu). The optical limiting mechanism is mainly originated from reverse saturable absorption of molecules. In addition, it is found that the polymer with electron accepted NO₂ moiety exhibits better optical properties than that with electron donated alkoxy group because of larger π electron delocalization and dipolar effect. The strong interaction between stilbene pendants and the polyene main chain significantly results in red‐shift of fluorescence emitting peak. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4529–4541, 2008     

Novel isolated,L‐amino acid‐ligated rhodium catalysts that induce highly helix‐sense‐selective polymerization of an achiral 3,4,5‐trisubstituted phenylacetylene

Two novel chiral well‐defined rhodium complexes, Rh(cod)(L‐Phe) (cod = 1,5‐cyclooctadiene, Phe = phenylalanine) and Rh(cod)(L‐Val) (Val = valine) were synthesized, isolated by recrystallization, and characterized. The helix‐sense‐selective polymerization (HSSP) of an achiral 3,4,5‐trisubstituted phenylacetylene, p‐dodecyloxy‐m,m‐dihydroxyphenylacetylene (DoDHPA) was examined by using the two Rh complexes as catalysts. These catalysts provided high molecular weight polymers (M_w 28 × 10⁴?45 × 10⁴) in about 40%–85% yields. The resulting polymers exhibited a bisignated CD signal at about 300 nm and a broad signal around 470 nm, indicating that they have preferential one‐handed helical structure. The present catalysts achieved larger molar ellipticity up to [θ]₃₁₀ = 13.0 × 10⁴ deg cm²/dmol than those with binary chiral catalytic systems, [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/(L‐phenylalaninol), [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/(L‐valinol), and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂/(R)‐PEA. All these results manifest that the present, well‐defined Rh complexes serve as excellent catalysts for the HSSP of DoDHPA. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2346–2351     

Synthese,Struktur und Eigenschaften der Komplexe [(H2O)Cl4Os≡N‐IrCl(C5Me5)(AsPh3)], [(Ph3Sb)Cl4Os≡N‐IrCl(C5Me5)(SbPh3)], [(Ph3Sb)2Cl3Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] und [{(Me2PhP)2(CO)Cl2Re≡N}2ReNCl2(PMe2Ph)]

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Properties of the Complexes [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)], [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)], [(Ph₃Sb)₂Cl₃Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] and [{(Me₂PhP)₂(CO)Cl₂Re≡N}₂ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] The dinuclear complexes [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)]·H₂O ( 1 ·H₂O), [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)] ( 2 ), and [(Ph₃Sb)₂Cl₃Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] ( 3 ) result from the reaction of the nitrido complexes [(Ph₃As)₂OsNCl₃] and [(Ph₃Sb)₂OsNCl₃] with the iridium compounds [IrCl₂(C₅Me₅)]₂ and [IrCl(COD)]₂ in dichloromethane. 1 crystallizes as 1 ·H₂O in form of green platelets in the monoclinic space group Cm and a = 1105.53(6); b = 1486.76(9); c = 2024.88(10) pm, β = 97.191(4)°, Z = 4. The formation of 1 in air involves a ligand exchange, and the coordination of a water molecule in trans position to the Os‐N triple bond. The resulting complex fragments [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N] and [IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)] are connected by an asymmetric nitrido bridge Os≡N‐Ir. The nitrido bridge is characterised by an Os‐N‐Ir bond angle of 173.7(7)°, and distances Os‐N = 168(1) pm and Ir‐N = 191(1) pm. 2 crystallizes in clumped together brown platelets with the space group and a = 1023.3(3), b = 1476.2(3), c = 1872.5(6) pm, α = 74.60(2), β = 73.84(2), γ = 76.19(2)°, Z = 2. In 2 the asymmetric nitrido bridge Os≡N‐Ir joins the two complex fragments [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N] and [IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)], which are formed by a ligand exchange reaction. 3 forms dark green crystals with the triclinic space group and a = 1079.4(1), b = 1172.3(1), c = 1696.7(2) pm, α = 101.192(9),β = 92.70(1), γ = 92.61(1)°, Z = 2. The distances in the almost linear nitrido bridge (Os≡N‐Ir = 175.3(7)°) are Os‐N = 171(1) pm and Ir‐N = 183(1) pm. The reaction of [ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₃] with [Mo(CO)₃(NCMe)₃] unexpectedly affords the trinuclear complex [{(Me₂PhP)₂(OC)Cl₂Re≡N}₂ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] ( 4 ) as the main product. It forms triclinic brown crystals with the composition 4 ·2THF and the space group (a = 1382.70(7), b = 1498.58(7), c = 1760.4(1) pm, α = 99.780(7), β = 99.920(7), γ = 114.064(6)°, Z = 2). In the trinuclear complex, the central fragment, [ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] is joined in trans position to two nitrido complexes [(Me₂PhP)₂(CO)Cl₂Re≡N], giving an almost linear Re≡N‐Re‐N≡Re arrangement. The bond angles and distances in the nitrido bridges are Re‐N‐Re = 167.8(3)°, Re‐N = 171.1(8) pm and 204.2(8) pm; and Re‐N‐Re = 168.1(4)°, Re‐N = 170.9(9) and 203.5(9) pm respectively. As expected, the Re‐N bond length to the terminal nitrido ligand on the central Re atom is much shorter at 161.2(9) pm than the triple bonds of the asymmetric bridges.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined ABC‐type triblock copolymers via atom transfer radical polymerization and stable free‐radical polymerization

An asymmetric difunctional initiator 2‐phenyl‐2‐[(2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidino)oxy] ethyl 2‐bromo propanoate ( 1 ) was used for the synthesis of ABC‐type methyl methacrylate (MMA)‐tert‐butylacrylate (tBA)‐styrene (St) triblock copolymers via a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and stable free‐radical polymerization (SFRP). The ATRP‐ATRP‐SFRP or SFRP‐ATRP‐ATRP route led to ABC‐type triblock copolymers with controlled molecular weight and moderate polydispersity (M_w/M_n < 1.35). The block copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. The retaining chain‐end functionality and the applying halide exchange afforded high blocking efficiency as well as maintained control over entire routes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2025–2032, 2002     

The synthesis of poly(phenylacetylene)s with bulky chiral silyl groups and the thermal stability of their helical conformation

The polymerization of (−)‐p‐[(tert‐butylmethylphenyl)silyl]phenylacetylene (t‐BuMePhSi*PA) and (+)‐p‐[{methyl(α‐naphthyl)phenyl}silyl]phenylacetylene (MeNpPhSi*PA) with the [(nbd)RhCl]₂ Et₃N catalyst yielded polymers with very high molecular weights over 2 × 10⁶ in high yields. The optical rotations of the formed poly(t‐BuMePhSi*PA) and poly(MeNpPhSi*PA) were as high as −356 and −150° (c = 0.11 g/dL in CHCl₃), respectively. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of poly(t‐BuMePhSi*PA) in CHCl₃ exhibited very large molar ellipticities ([θ]) in the UV region: [θ]_max = 9.2 × 10⁴ ° · cm² · dmol⁻¹ at 330 nm and −8.0 × 10⁴ ° · cm² · dmol⁻¹ at 370 nm. The [θ]_max values of poly(MeNpPhSi*PA) were also fairly large: [θ]_max = 7.1 × 10⁴ ° · cm² · dmol⁻¹ at 330 nm and −5.3 × 10⁴ ° · cm² · dmol⁻¹ at 370 nm. The optical rotations of poly(t‐BuMePhSi*PA) and poly(MeNpPhSi*PA), measured in tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and toluene solutions, were hardly dependent on temperature in the range 22–65 °C. The CD effects of these polymers hardly changed in the temperature range 28–80 °C, either. These results indicate that the helical structures of these polymers are thermally appreciably stable. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 71–77, 2001     

Iron‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of acrylates: Iodide‐based initiating systems and block and random copolymerizations

A half‐metallocene iron iodide complex [Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂] induced living radical polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) in conjunction with an iodide initiator [(CH₃)₂C(CO₂Et)I, 1 ] and Al(Oi‐Pr)₃ to give polymers of controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (M_w/M_n < 1.2). With the use of chloride and bromide initiators, the MWDs were broader, whereas the molecular weights were similarly controlled. Other acrylates such as n‐butyl acrylate (nBA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) can be polymerized with 1 /Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂ in the presence of Ti(Oi‐Pr)₄ and Al(Oi‐Pr)₃, respectively, to give living polymers. The 1 /Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂ initiating system is applicable for the synthesis of block and random copolymers of acrylates (MA, nBA, and tBA) and styrene of controlled molecular weights and narrow MWDs (M_w/M_n = 1.2–1.3). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2033–2043, 2002     

Polymerization of substituted acetylenes by various rhodium catalysts: Comparison of catalyst activity and effect of additives

This research deals with comparison of the activity of various Rh catalysts in the polymerization of monosubstituted acetylenes and the effect of various amines used in conjunction with [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ in the polymerization of phenylacetylene. A zwitterionic Rh complex, Rh⁺(nbd)[(η⁶‐C₆H₅)B^?(C₆H₅)₃] ( 3 ), was able to polymerize phenylacetylene ( 5a ), t‐butylacetylene ( 5b ), N‐propargylhexanamide ( 5c ) and n‐hexyl propiolate ( 5d ), and displayed higher activity than the other catalysts examined, that is [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ ( 1 ), [Rh(cod)(O‐o‐cresol)]₂ ( 2 ), and Rh‐vinyl complex ( 4 ). Monomers 5a and 5c polymerized virtually quantitatively or in fair yields with all these catalysts, while monomer 5b was polymerizable only with catalyts 3 and 4 . Monomer 5d did not polymerize in high yields with these Rh complexes. The catalytic activity tended to decrease in the order of 3 > 4 > 2 > 1 . Although polymerization of 5a did not proceed at all in toluene with [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ alone, it smoothly polymerized in the presence of various amines as cocatalysts. The polymerization rate as well as the molecular weight of polymer depended on the basicity and steric bulkiness of amines. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4530–4536, 2005     

Ultra‐high molecular weight poly(ε‐caprolactone) by means of diphenyl bismuth bromide

Diphenyl bismuth bromide (Ph₂BiBr) allows for polymerizations of ε‐caprolactone in bulk at temperatures as low as 40 °C. Time conversion curves indicate a lower reactivity than tin(II) 2‐ethyl hexanoate (SnOct₂) plus alcohol at 120 °C and also at 60 °C. Ph₂BiBr also proved to be less reactive than Ph₂BiOEt, but more reactive than BiBr₃ and Bi(III)n‐hexanoate. Small amounts (≤1 wt %) of cyclic oligoester were detectable by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry even at a polymerization temperature of 40 °C. The molar masses depend on the monomer–initiator ratio (M/I) but not in a simple parallel manner. With M/I = 600/1 number average molecular weights (M_ns, corrected values) around 500 kDa were obtained. Even at low M/Is high molar mass polylactones were found and CH₂Br endgroups were not detectable. However, upon addition of tetra(ethylene glycol) the coinitiator was completely incorporated yielding telechelic polylactones and the molar mass increased with the monomer–coinitiator ratio. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 851–859, 2008     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of optically active poly(ethynylcarbazole) derivatives: Substituent effect on the helix formation

Novel chiral acetylene monomers containing carbazole, 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutoxycarbonyl]carbazole ( 1 ), 3‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutoxycarbonyl]carbazole ( 2 ), 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutyl]carbazole ( 3 ), and 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐4‐methylhexyl]carbazole ( 4 ) were synthesized and polymerized with [(nbd)RhCl]₂? Et₃N. The corresponding polyacetylenes with number‐average molecular weights ranging from 68,700 to 310,000 were obtained in good yields. Poly( 1 ) exhibited a large specific rotation and an intense Cotton effect in toluene, indicating that it formed a helix with predominantly one‐handed screw sense, while the other three polymers showed no evidence for taking a helical structure. Poly( 1 ) largely decreased the CD intensity upon heating from ?10 to 60 °C. Poly( 1 ) showed a Cotton effect in film state in a manner similar to solution state. No chiral amplification was observed in the copolymerization of 1 with achiral 2‐ethynyl‐9‐tert‐butoxycarbonylcarbazole ( 5 ). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4450–4458, 2007     

Simultaneous control of the stereospecificity and molecular weight in the ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of methyl and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylates and sequential synthesis of stereoblock polymers

The stereospecific living radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were achieved with a combination of ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical and solvent‐mediated stereospecific radical polymerizations. Among a series of ruthenium complexes [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, Ru(Ind)Cl(PPh₃)₂, and RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂], Cp*–ruthenium afforded poly(methyl methacrylate) with highly controlled molecular weights [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) = 1.08] and high syndiotacticity (r = 88%) in a fluoroalcohol such as (CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH at 0 °C. On the other hand, a hydroxy‐functionalized monomer, HEMA, was polymerized with RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂ in N,N‐dimethylformamide and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) to give syndiotactic polymers (r = 87–88%) with controlled molecular weights (M_w/M_n = 1.12–1.16). This was the first example of the syndiospecific living radical polymerization of HEMA. A fluoroalcohol [(CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH], which induced the syndiospecific radical polymerization of MMA, reduced the syndiospecificity in the HEMA polymerization to result in more or less atactic polymers (mm/mr/rr = 7.2/40.9/51.9%) with controlled molecular weights in the presence of RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂ at 80 °C. A successive living radical polymerization of HEMA in two solvents, first DMA followed by (CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH, resulted in stereoblock poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with syndiotactic–atactic segments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3609–3615, 2006     

Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer group 3 complexes as efficient initiators for lactide polymerization

New Group 3 metal complexes of the type [LM(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n] supported by tridentate phosphido‐diphosphine ligands [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂) ₂ PH; L1‐H : R = iPr; L2‐H : R = Ph] have been synthesized by reaction of L1‐H and L2‐H with [M(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂)] (M = Y and Sc). All the new complexes [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂) ₂ PM(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n] [M = Y, R = iPr (1), R = Ph (2); M = Sc, R = iPr (3), R = Ph (4)] were studied as initiators for the ring opening polymerization of lactide. The yttrium complexes ( 1 and 2 ) exhibited high activity and good polymerization control, shown by the linear fits in the plot of number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) versus the percentage conversion and versus the monomer/initiator ratio and by the low polydispersity index values. Interestingly, very good molar‐mass control was observed even when L ‐Lactide was polymerized in the absence of solvent at 130 °C. A good molar‐mass control but lower activities were observed in the polymerization reaction of lactide promoted by the analogous scandium complexes 3 and 4 . © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1374–1382, 2010     

Reduction of Digallane [(dpp‐bian)Ga?Ga(dpp‐bian)] with Group 1 and 2 Metals

The reduction of digallane [(dpp‐bian)Ga? Ga(dpp‐bian)] ( 1 ) (dpp‐bian=1,2‐bis[(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) with lithium and sodium in diethyl ether, or with potassium in THF affords compounds featuring the direct alkali metal–gallium bonds, [(dpp‐bian)Ga? Li(Et₂O)₃] ( 2 ), [(dpp‐bian)Ga? Na(Et₂O)₃] ( 3 ), and [(dpp‐bian)Ga? K(thf)₅] ( 7 ), respectively. Crystallization of 3 from DME produces compound [(dpp‐bian)Ga? Na(dme)₂] ( 4 ). Dissolution of 3 in THF and subsequent crystallization from diethyl ether gives [(dpp‐bian)Ga? Na(thf)₃(Et₂O)] ( 5 ). Ionic [(dpp‐bian)Ga]^?[Na([18]crown‐6)(thf)₂]⁺ ( 6 a ) and [(dpp‐bian)Ga]^?[Na(Ph₃PO)₃(thf)]⁺ ( 6 b ) were obtained from THF after treatment of 3 with [18]crown‐6 and Ph₃PO, respectively. The reduction of 1 with Group 2 metals in THF affords [(dpp‐bian)Ga]₂M(thf)_n (M=Mg ( 8 ), n=3; M=Ca ( 9 ), Sr ( 10 ), n=4; M=Ba ( 11 ), n=5). The molecular structures of 4 – 7 and 11 have been determined by X‐ray crystallography. The Ga? Na bond lengths in 3 – 5 vary notably depending on the coordination environment of the sodium atom.     

Dicarbonyl pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl iron complex for living radical polymerization: Smooth generation of real active catalysts collaborating with phosphine ligand

We achieved metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization (LRP) through “unique” catalyst transformation of iron (Fe) complex in situ. A dicarbonyl iron complex bearing a pentaphenylcyclopentadiene [(Cp^Ph)Fe(CO)₂Br: Cp^Ph = η‐C₅Ph₅] is too stable itself to catalyze LRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in conjunction with a bromide initiator [H‐(MMA)₂‐Br]. However, an addition of catalytic amount of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) for the system led to a smooth consumption of MMA giving “controlled” polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (～90% conversion within 24 h; M_w/M_n = 1.2). FTIR and ³¹P NMR analyses of the complex in the model reaction with H‐(MMA)₂‐Br and PPh₃ demonstrated that the two carbonyl ligands were irreversibly eliminated and instead the added phosphine was ligated to give some phosphorous complexes. The ligand exchange was characteristic to the Cp^Ph complex: the exchange was much smoother than other cyclopentadiene‐based complexes [i.e., CpFe(CO)₂Br: Cp = C₅H₅; Cp*Fe(CO)₂Br, Cp* = C₅Me₅]. The smooth transformation via the ligand exchange would certainly contribute to the controllability at the earlier stage in the polymerization as well as at the latter. The catalytic activity was enough high, as demonstrated by the successful monomer addition experiment and precise control even for higher molecular weight polymer (M_w/M_n < 1.2 under 1000‐mer condition). Such an in situ transformation from a stable complex would be advantageous to practical applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Effect of isomeric pyridine moieties in ethynylstyrene derivatives on their anionic polymerization

The anionic polymerization behaviors of ethynylstyrene derivatives containing isomeric pyridine moieties, 2‐(2‐(4‐vinylphenyl)ethynyl)pyridine ( A ), 3‐(2‐(4‐vinylphenyl)ethynyl)pyridine ( B ), and 4‐(2‐(4‐vinylphenyl)ethynyl)pyridine ( C ), were investigated in the identical conditions. The anionic polymerization of A – C was performed with (diphenylmethyl)potassium (Ph₂CHK) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?78 °C. The polymerization of A proceeded quantitatively at –78 °C for 4 h, and the resulting poly( A ) possessed predictable molecular weights (M_n = 3300–68,500) and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (M_w/M_n = 1.04–1.11). In contrast, the anionic polymerization of B was not performed at –78 °C for 4 h due to the occurrence of side reactions. The monomer B was quantitatively recovered after the reaction. In the polymerization of C performed at –78 °C for 6 h, observed M_n values of the resulting poly( C ) were in good agreement with calculated molecular weights based on monomer to initiator ratios, but the MWDs were somewhat broad (M_w/M_n = 1.23–1.31). To estimate the reactivity of A and to characterize its living nature, the block copolymerization of A with 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was performed. The well‐defined block copolymers, poly(2VP)‐b‐poly( A ) and poly( A )‐b‐poly(MMA), were successfully synthesized without any additives. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of end‐functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s with well‐characterized palladium catalysts

End‐functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s were synthesized by the polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) using the well‐defined palladium catalysts represented as [(dppf)PdBr(R)] {dppf = 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene}. The Pd catalysts having a series of R groups such as o‐tolyl, mesityl, C(Ph)?CPh₂, C₆H₄‐o‐CH₂OH, C₆H₄‐p‐CN, and C₆H₄‐p‐NO₂ in conjunction with silver triflate polymerized PA to give end‐functionalized poly(PA)s bearing the corresponding R groups in high yields. The results of IR and NMR spectroscopies and MALDI‐TOF mass analyses proved the introduction of these R groups at one end of each polymer chain. The poly(PA) bearing a hydroxy end group was applied as a macroinitiator to the synthesis of a block copolymer composed of poly(PA) and poly(β‐propiolactone) moieties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010