Microscopic observation of the crystalline form of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-methoxyaniline) on a membrane electrode

We describe electrochemical and microscopic (SEM) studies on the electrochemical polymerization of poly(o-methoxyaniline). The crystalline form of the polymer was obtained. The poly(o-methoxyaniline) crystals are formed on a membrane electrode from an acidic solution of the monomer. It is suggested that the pores of the membrane work as nuclear crystallization points.Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Synthesis of polysiloxanes containing trifluoroethylene aryl ether groups: The effect of promoters

Polysiloxanes with high molecular weight (M_n > 100 000, M_w/M_n < 2.2) containing various quantity of trifluoroethylene aryl ether groups were prepared by anion ring opening polymerization (AROP) in the presence of promoters including N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). The structures of monomers and polymers were characterized by FTIR and NMR. It was found that the addition of promoter could significantly increase the polymerization rate, decrease the polymerization temperature, and increase the molecular weight of the polymer. When DMF as the promoter, the optimal conditions for polymerization were as follows: The polymerization temperature is 100°C, the amount of catalyst is 2.0%, and the molar ratio of promoter to catalyst is 160:1. The optimal conditions for polymerization using NMP as the promoter were as follows: The polymerization temperature is 75°C, the amount of catalyst is 2.0%, and the molar ratio of promoter to catalyst is 70:1, which indicated that NMP is more effective on AROP than DMF. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the polymer has good heat temperature resistance. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the introduction of NMP in bulk polymerization could improve the randomness of polymer structure, which leads to the disappearance of crystal peak and improve the low temperature resistance of polymer.     

Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> p</Emphasis>-hydroxycinnamic acid for synthesis of reactive microspheres

In this article, we report the experimental synthesis of reactive polymer microspheres of poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid). Enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid) using horseradish peroxidase as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant took place in a mixture solution of methanol and phosphate buffer solution; it was found that the fraction of methanol in the mixture solution strongly affected the yield of powdery polymer materials. The chemical structure of the polymers was characterized by ¹H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, and the molecular weight was measured by gel permeation chromatography. The ¹H-NMR chart of the obtained polymer was almost the same as that of the monomer; FT-IR spectra indicated the existence of carboxyl groups. The weight-average molecular weight of the soluble part in tetrahydrofuran was found to be 1,451. Dispersion polymerization of p-hydroxycinnamic acid was carried out in a mixture solution of methanol and phosphate buffer solution by adding a dispersion stabilizer. Of the several such polymers tested, poly(vinyl alcohol) was found to be the most effective in producing reactive poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid) microspheres.     

COMPARED PROPERTIES OF FLUORINATED HETEROCYCLIC COPOLYIMIDES

Various new fluorinated heterocyclic copolyimides have been synthesized by a polycondensation reaction of a diacid chloride containing imide, hexafluoroisopropylidene and methylene groups with aromatic or heteroaromatic diamines containing preformed phenylquinoxaline or 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings. Other fluorinated heterocyclic copolyimides have been prepared by a polycondensation reaction of the same diacid chloride with aromatic dihydrazides, bis(o-hydroxy-amine)s or a bis(o-carboxy-amine), resulting in intermediate polyhydrazides, poly(o-hydroxy-amide)s or poly(o-carboxy-amide), respectively, which were futher cyclodehydrated to the corresponding polyoxadia zole-imide, polybenzoxazole-imide or polybenzoxazinone-imide structure. These polymers showed good solubility in polar amidic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) and dimethylformamide (DMF), and even in less polar liquids, like tetrahydrofurane or pyridine, except for those compounds containing benzoxazole rings which were less soluble, only on heating in NMP or DMF. The weight average molecular weight measured for tetrahydrofurane-fully-soluble polymers are in the range of 12800–26700 and the polydispersity is in the range of 2–5. All these polymers exhibited good thermal stability, with decomposition temperature being above 350°C, although somewhat lower than that of related polymers prepared by using fully aromatic diacid chlorides instead of the present ones containing methylene units. The glass transition temperature is in the range of 200–300°C. The dielectric constant measured for polymer films is in the range of 3.3–3.7. Tensile strength is in the range of 35–70 MPa, elongation to break between 30–40% and tensile modulus in the range of 170–330 MPa. A study of the relation between conformational parameters and properties of some of these polymers has been carried out by using the Monte Carlo method with an allowance for hindered rotation, and the values were compared with the experimental data and discussed in relation with the rigidity of the chains. The present polymers are potential candidates for use as high performance materials.     

Cationic polymerization behavior of hydroxystyrenes

Solution polymerizations of o-, m- and p-hydroxystyrene with boron trifluoride etherate were investigated. The results of infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopic investigations of the polymers thus obtained indicate that p-hydroxystyrene polymer consisted mainly of the structure formed through the normal vinyl polymerization mechanism, whereas o- and m-hydroxystyrene polymers contained considerable portions of the structures due to the reaction of the vinyl group with the phenol nucleus. The rate of polymerization and the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer decreased in the order p-hydroxystyrene ? o-hydroxystyrene > m-hydroxystyrene. It was of interest that on the cationic polymerization only p-hydroxystyrene gave polymer of high molecular weight. Plausible polymerization mechanisms were considered. Solid-state polymerization of p-hydroxystyrene at solid carbon dioxide temperature with the use of boron trifluoride etherate was also investigated. Appreciable polymerization occurred only at fairly high catalyst concentrations.     

Synthesis and polymerization of o-hexylaniline: Characterization of the corresponding polyaniline

In the field of research on soluble conducting polymers, the poly(o-alkylanilines) are very interesting because we can expect them to give more soluble polymers and new properties. Like poly(o-propylaniline) (POP), which is more soluble than polyaniline (PANi), poly(o-hexylaniline) (POH) appears to be more soluble in organic solvents than POP because of the longer alkyl groups in the 2-position. The higher solubility confers better processability on this new polymer, and because of this solubility, an NMR study in solution became possible.The nitration of hexylbenzene and the reduction of the resulting product to o-hexylaniline were performed according to the literature. The chemical polymerization was easy and it is possible to produce this polymer in large quantities.The polymerization carried out in anhydrous NH₄F, 2.35 HF medium and in 5 M perchloric acid gave a polymer with almost quantitative yield. The electrochemical behaviour of POH displayed faster electron transfers than PANi in organic solvents, depending on the acido-basicity level of the aqueous solutions. Unlike PANi, fractal growth was not observed.     

ROMP of t-butyl-substituted ferrocenophanes affords soluble conjugated polymers that contain ferrocene moieties in the backbone

A substituted ferrocenophane, 1,1′-((1-tert-butyl)-1,3-butadienylene)ferrocene, was synthesized and polymerized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) to give soluble high molecular weight polymers with ferrocenylene units in the backbone. The monomer readily underwent polymerization upon exposure to a tungsten-based metathesis initiator, W(CHC₆H₄-o-OMe)(NPh)[OCMe(CF₃)₂]₂ (THF), to give high molecular weight polymers (M_w=ca. 300,000). The molecular weights could be varied systematically by adjusting the monomer-to-catalyst ratio. UV/vis spectra revealed a bathochromic shift for the polymer, consistent with enhanced conjugation compared to the monomer. The polymer exhibited thermal properties similar to oligomeric poly(ferrocenylene). Cyclic voltammetry of the polymer suggested that the iron centers are coupled electronically. Upon doping with I₂ vapor, the polymers displayed semiconducting properties (σ=10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹). Theoretical calculations were used to evaluate the nature of the bonding in these and related polymers.     

Polymerization of Acrylamide in Aqueous Solution of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) at Lower Critical Solution Temperature

Acrylamide (AAm) was found to polymerize in a solution of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) in water at around its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (32°C) without any initiators. This phenomenon was specifically observed in aqueous solutions of the polymers having LCST such as PNIPAAm and poly(methylvinylether) (PMVE). AAm polymerized only when PNIPAAm and AAm were dissolved in water below LCST of PNIPAAm and then the solution was warmed up to the polymerization temperature (40°C). On the other hand, the polymerization of AAm did not proceed when AAm was added into aqueous PNIPAAm solution during and after the phase separation above 32°C. Furthermore the polymerizability of AAm was remarkably affected by the concentration and molecular weight of the PNIPAAm additives. Under the condition of lower PNIPAAm concentration (0.30 mol/L), the increase in the molecular weight of PNIPAAm considerably increased the molecular weight of the resulting PAAm but decreased the yield of PAAm. Under the condition of higher PNIPAAm concentration (0.60 mol/L) the polymerizability was not so affected by the molecular weight of PNIPAAm, while the molecular weight of PAAm formed by using higher molecular weight PNIPAAm was higher than those of PAAm formed by using lower molecular weight PNIPAAm. Moreover, the molecular weight of PAAm formed by the PNIPAAm induced polymerization of AAm was much higher than that of the polymer obtained by the radical polymerization using AIBN in THF or VA‐ 061 in water.     

Anionic polymerization of N,N‐dialkyl‐2‐methylenebut‐3‐enamide: Effect of alkyl substituents on polymerization behavior

Anionic polymerizations of three 1,3‐butadiene derivatives containing different N,N‐dialkyl amide functions, N,N‐diisopropylamide (DiPA), piperidineamide (PiA), and cis‐2,6‐dimethylpiperidineamide (DMPA) were performed under various conditions, and their polymerization behavior was compared with that of N,N‐diethylamide analogue (DEA), which was previously reported. When polymerization of DiPA was performed at ?78 °C with potassium counter ion, only trace amounts of oligomers were formed, whereas polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained in moderate yield when DiPA was polymerized at 0 °C in the presence of LiCl. Decrease in molecular weight and broadening of molecular weight distribution were observed when polymerization was performed at a higher temperature of 20 °C, presumably because of the effect of ceiling temperature. In the case of DMPA, no polymer was formed at 0 °C and polymers with relatively broad molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.2) were obtained at 20 °C. The polymerization rate of PiA was much faster than that of the other monomers, and poly(PiA) was obtained in high yield even at ?78 °C in 24 h. The microstructure of the resulting polymers were exclusively 1,4‐ for poly(DMPA), whereas 20–30% of the 1,2‐structure was contained in poly(DiPA) and poly(PiA). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3714–3721, 2010     

Synthesis of heteroarm star polymers comprising poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) segment by living anionic polymerization

<正>A series of 3-arm ABC and AA'B and 4-arm ABCD,AA'BC and AA′A″B heteroarm star polymers comprising one poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) segment and other segments such as polystyrene,poly(α-methylstyrene), poly(4-methoxystyrene) and poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene) were synthesized by living anionic polymerization based on diphenylethylene(DPE) chemistry.The DPE-functionalized polymers were synthesized by iterative methodology,and the objective star polymers were prepared by two distinct methodologies based on anionic polymerization using DPE-functionalized polymers.The first methodology involves an addition reaction of living anionic polymer with excess DPE-functionalized polymer and a subsequent living anionic polymerization of 4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide(MePVSO) initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion with two or three polymer segments.The second methodology comprises an addition reaction of DPE-functionalized polymer with excess sec-BuLi and a following anionic polymerization of MePVSO initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion and 3-methyl-1,1-diphenylpentyl anion as well.Both approaches could afford the target heteroarm star polymers with predetermined molecular weight,narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n1.03) and desired composition,evidenced by SEC,~1H-NMR and SLS analyses.These polymers can be used as model polymers to investigate structure-property relationships in heteroarm star polymers.     

Direct synthesis and properties of polybenzodipyrrolediones from dibenzylidenebenzodifurandiones and various diamines

Aromatic and aliphatic polybenzodipyrrolediones have been synthesized directly by the solution cyclopolycondensation of two dibenzylidenebenzodifurandiones with four different diamines in refluxing m-cresol or o-phenylphenol in the presence of boric acid. The polymerizations proceeded smoothly in a homogeneous solution and afforded the heterocyclic polymers having inherent viscosities as high as 1.0 almost quantitatively. All the polymers were readily soluble in a wide range of solvents, including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), hot m-cresol, and hot pyridine. Tough, transparent, yellow films could be cast from NMP solutions of the polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis of the aromatic polybenzodipyrrolediones showed a 10% weight loss temperature of 460–500°C under nitrogen. The results also indicated that the aromatic polymers were somewhat less thermally stable than wholly aromatic polypyromellitimides.     

Preparation of polyamide-imides via the phosphorylation reaction. II. Synthesis of wholly aromatic polyamide-imides from N-[p-(or m-) carboxyphenyl]trimellitimides and various aromatic diamines

Wholly aromatic polyamide-imides with high molecular weight (η_inh up to 1.7 dL/g in DMAc–5% LiCl) were obtained by the direct polycondensation reaction of N-[p-( or m-) carboxyphenyl]trimellitimide [p-(or m-)CPTMI] and aromatic diamines by means of di- or triphenyl phosphite in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)-pyridine solution in the presence of lithium or calcium chloride. The factors affecting the phosphorylation reaction were investigated, in particular for the reaction of p-CPTMI and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA). Molecular weight of polymers varied with the amount of metal salts and showed maximum values at the concentration of 10-15 wt % in the reaction mixture. Monomer concentration of 0.2 mol/L produced polymer of the highest viscosity. Higher concentrations produced gelation and yielded polymers of low molecular weight. A reaction temperature of about 120°C gave the best results. Among the solvents tested, NMP was significantly the most effective for the reaction. The highest inherent viscosity values, η_inh = 1.35 and 1.58 dL/g, were obtained with triphenyl phosphite (TPP)/monomer and diphenyl phosphite (DPP)/monomer molar ratios of 2.0. Excessive addition of phosphites did not cause a serious deleterious effect on the molecular weight of polymer. Polycondensations of several combinations of p-or m-CPTMI and aromatic diamines were carried out with satisfactory results.     

Oxidation state and proton doping level in copolymers of 2-aminobenzoic acid and 2-methoxyaniline

UV-vis spectra of homopolymers and copolymers of 2-aminobenzoic acid (OAB) and 2-methoxyaniline (OMA) were analyzed in order to obtain information about the oxidation state and proton doping level of these polymers. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a solvent in which protonated forms of polyanilines are preserved and a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and triethylamine (0.5 %) as a solvent (NMP/TEA) in which polyanilines are assumed to be non-protonated. Polymers were prepared in the emeraldine salt form, externally doped with HCl. It was found that only external doping is eliminated in NMP/TEA while internal doping by carboxylate groups bound in OAB units remains operative. Since doped quinoid units do not contribute to the quinoid band (Q-band at 630 nm), the intensity ratio of the Q-band and benzenoid band (B-band at 320 nm) cannot be simply correlated with the oxidation state of poly(OMA-co-OAB) copolymers in contrast to poly(OMA) and polyaniline. Spectra of copolymers with less than 60 % of OMA units as well as those of poly(OAB) in DMSO and NMP/TEA are almost identical due to internal doping, which is proposed to lead to structures in which main-chain protons are coulombically bound with immobile carboxylate anions. In the spectra of copolymers with less than 60 % of OMA units, a well-resolved band occurs at 500 nm, which can be ascribed to alternating or close-to-alternating sequences of OMA and OAB units.     

Cyclopolycondensations. VI. Fully aromatic polybenzoxazinones from aromatic poly(amic acids)

New high temperature aromatic polybenzoxazinones of high molecular weight have been prepared by the cyclopolycondensation of 4,4′-diaminobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid (I) with aromatic dicarboxylic acid halides (II). The low temperature solution polymerization techniques afforded poly(amic acid) (III) of high molecular weight in the first step. An open-chain precursor subsequently underwent thermal cyclodehydration along the polymer chain at 200–350°C. in the second step, to give in quantitative yield a fully aromatic polybenzoxazinone (IV) of outstanding heat stability both in nitrogen and in air. The poly(amic acid) is soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and tough, transparent films can be cast from solution. Insoluble aromatic polybenzoxazinone films which possess excellent oxidative and thermal stability were obtained by the heat treatment of the polyamic acid. A detailed account of polymerization conditions in the low temperature solution polymerization of polybenzoxazinones is given, and the reaction mechanisms of cyclopolycondensation of poly(amic acids) and the formation of polybenzoxazinones are discussed.     

Polyimidines. VIII. Condensation of 3,5-dibenzylidenepyromellitide-1,7-dithione with m-xylylenediamine

A new pyromellitimidine-forming monomer, 3,5-dibenzylidenepyromellitide-1,7-dithione, was synthesized by thionation of 3,5-dibenzylidenepyromellitide using phosphorus pentasulfide in boiling chloro- or bromobenzene. Polymerization of this monomer with m-xylylenediamine (MXDA) in chlorobenezene at 95°C afforded poly(dihydroxydibenzylpyromellitimidinethione) with inherent viscosities of 0.23–0.51 dL/g in yields from 73 to 84%. Subsequent dehydration was accomplished by thermal methods or in a polar aprotic solvent such as dimethylformamide (DMF) using acid catalyst. Hydrated and dehydrated polymers were soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), m-cresol, and dioxane, and partially soluble in chloroform. Very brittle films could be cast from NMP solution. Thermogravimetric analysis of the dehydrated polymer showed a 10% weight loss in nitrogen atmosphere at 460°C     

Ab initio RAFT emulsion polymerization of butadiene using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid‐b‐styrene) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator

Ab initio reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of butadiene was investigated by using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid_n‐b‐styrene₅) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator. The neutralization on acrylic acid (AA) units played significant influence on the gelation. When half of the AA units were neutralized, the gelation occurred in the early stage of the polymerization so that the highest accessible molecular weight of polybutadiene was as low as 5 kg mol^?1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, the gelation was much retarded so that the highest accessible molecular weight was increased up to 23 kg mol^?1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, potassium persulfate could not initiate the polymerization. When azobisisobutyronitrile was used as initiator, the polymerization mediated by poly(acrylic acid₂₇‐b‐styrene₅) trithiocarbonate could proceed much faster than the solution polymerization did. The latex was stable. Before the gel point, molecular weight agreed well with the theoretical prediction while PDI was relatively high due to the branching reaction. The poly(butadiene‐b‐styrene) core/shell particles could obtained by extending polybutadiene. When the n value in poly (acrylic acid_n‐b‐styrene₅) trithiocarbonate was lower than 20, the coalescence would occur, leading to the formation of some coagulum. On the other hand, when n value was as high as 60, the molecular weight was out of control. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Effects of ortho-substituents on reactivities,tacticities, and ceiling temperatures of radical polymerizations of phenyl methacrylates

Radical polymerization and copolymerization of some o-alkylphenyl methacrylates were carried out and the effect of the ortho-substituents on the ability to homopolymerize, on the monomer reactivities, and on the ceiling temperatures of the monomers was studied. The effect of the substituent on tacticities and thermal stabilities of the polymers formed was also discussed. The ability to honiopolymerize and the monomer reactivity were considerably decreased by the introduction of the o-substituent. 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenyl methacrylate formed no methanol-insoluble polymer at 60°C. On the basis of the tacticity determined it was noted that the o-substituted phenyl methacrylates preferred syndiotactic addition in the propagation reaction less than did phenyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate. The polymers formed from the o-substituted monomers were thermally less stable than poly(phenyl methacrylate), and, consistent with this finding, ceiling temperatures of the o-substituted phenyl methacrylates seemed to be lower than that of phenyl methacrylate. The effects observed were characteristic of the o-substituents conformationally close to the carbon-carbon double bond of the monomer or the carbon carrying the unpaired electron of the polymer radical.     

Studies on the chemical syntheses and on the characteristics of polyaniline derivatives

Syntheses of parent polyaniline and methyl, methoxy, and ethoxy ortho-substituted polyanilines were performed using the conventional chemical methodology and monitored using the new open-circuit-potential (V_oc) profile technique. The intermediate pernigraniline oxidation state was identified and isolated at the V_oc maximum (A) during the conventional chemical synthesis of poly(o-methoxyaniline) in the emeraldine oxidation state. The introduction of the substituent on the aniline ring leads to longer polymerization times and lower V_oc values. Syntheses in the presence of two different monomers in solution were also investigated and showed preferential polymerization of the monomer with the lowest V_oc potential. All polymers produced were characterized by elemental analysis, gel permeation chromatography, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The influence of the substituent on the V_oc profile and on the polymer characteristics are rationalized in terms of steric and electronic effects. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of well‐defined AB20‐type star polymers with cyclodextrin‐core by combination of NMP and ATRP

The synthesis of an AB₂₀‐type heteroarm star polymer consisting of a polystyrene arm and 20‐arms of poly(methyl methacrylate) or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) was carried out using the combination of nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The NMP of styrene was carried out using mono‐6‐[4‐(1′‐(2″,2″,6″,6″‐tetramethyl‐1″‐piperidinyloxy)‐ethyl)benzamido]‐β‐cyclodextrin peracetate ( 1 ) to afford end‐functionalized polystyrene with an acetylated β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CyD) unit (prepolymer 2 ) with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of 11700 and a polydispersity (M_w/M_n) of 1.17. After deacetylation of prepolymer 2 , the resulting polymer was reacted with 2‐bromoisobutyric anhydride to give end‐functionalized polystyrene with 20(2‐bromoisobutyrol)s β‐CyD, macroinitiator 4 . The copper (I)‐mediated ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) was carried out using macroinitiator 4 . The resulting polymers were isolated by SEC fractionation to produce AB₂₀‐type star polymers with a β‐CyD‐core, 5 . The well‐defined structure of 5 with weight‐average molecular weight (M_w)s of 13,500–65,300 and M_w/M_n's of 1.26–1.28 was demonstrated by SEC and light scattering measurements. The arm polymers were separated from 5 by destruction with 28 wt % sodium methoxide in order to analyze the details of their characteristic structure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4271–4279, 2005     

Investigation of catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization for the synthesis of n‐type π‐conjugated polymer,poly(2‐dioxaalkylpyridine‐3,6‐diyl)

Kumada‐Tamao coupling polymerization of 6‐bromo‐3‐chloromagnesio‐2‐(3‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)propyl)pyridine 1 with a Ni catalyst and Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling polymerization of boronic ester monomer 2 , which has the same substituted pyridine structure, with ^tBu₃PPd(o‐tolyl)Br were investigated for the synthesis of a well‐defined n‐type π‐conjugated polymer. We first carried out a model reaction of 2,5‐dibromopyridine with 0.5 equivalent of phenylmagnesium chloride in the presence of Ni(dppp)Cl₂ and then observed exclusive formation of 2,5‐diphenylpyridine, indicating that successive coupling reaction took place via intramolecular transfer of Ni(0) catalyst on the pyridine ring. Then, we examined the Kumada‐Tamao polymerization of 1 and found that it proceeded homogeneously to afford soluble, regioregular head‐to‐tail poly(pyridine‐2,5‐diyl), poly(3‐(2‐(2‐(methoxyethoxy)propyl)pyridine) (PMEPPy). However, the molecular weight distribution of the polymers obtained with several Ni and Pd catalysts was very broad, and the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectra showed that the polymer had Br/Br and Br/H end groups, implying that the catalyst‐transfer polymerization is accompanied with disproportionation. Suzuki‐Miyaura polymerization of 2 with ^tBu₃PPd(o‐tolyl)Br also afforded PMEPPy with a broad molecular weight distribution, and the tolyl/tolyl‐ended polymer was a major product, again indicating the occurrence of disproportionation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012