Facile Synthesis of Linear and Cyclic Poly(diphenylacetylene)s by Molybdenum and Tungsten Catalysis

Improved methods for the synthesis of linear and cyclic poly(diphenylacetylene)s by polymerization of the corresponding diphenylacetylenes using MoCl₅- and WCl₄-based catalytic systems have been developed. MoCl₅ induces migratory insertion polymerization of diphenylacetylenes in the presence of arylation reagents such as Ph₄Sn and ArSnⁿBu₃ to produce cis-stereoregular linear poly(diphenylacetyelene)s with high molecular weights (number-average molar mass (M_n)=30,000–3,200,000) in good yields (up to 98 %). On the other hand, WCl₄ induces ring expansion polymerization of diphenylacetylenes in the presence of Ph₄Sn or reducing reagents to produce cis-stereoregular cyclic poly(diphenylacetylene)s with high molecular weights (M_n=20,000–250,000) in moderate to good yields (up to 90 %). Both catalytic systems are applicable to the polymerization of various diphenylacetylenes having polar functional groups such as esters that are not efficiently polymerized by conventional methods using WCl₆-Ph₄Sn and TaCl₅-ⁿBu₄Sn systems.     

Molecular Engineering To Enhance Reactivity and Selectivity in an Ultrafast Photoclick Reaction

Light-induced 9,10-phenanthrenequinone-electron-rich alkene ( PQ-ERA ) photocycloadditions are an attractive new type of photoclick reaction, featuring fast conversions and high biocompatibility. However, the tunability of the reaction was hardly investigated up to now. To this end, we explored the influence of substituents on both reaction partners and the reaction rate between the PQs and ERAs . We identified new handles for functionalization and discovered that using enamines as ERAs leads to drastically enhanced rates (>5400 times faster), high photoreaction quantum yields ( Φ_P , up to 65 %), and multicolor emission output as well as a high fluorescence quantum yield of the adducts ( Φ_F , up to 97 %). Further investigation of the photophysical and photochemical properties provided insights to design orthogonal reaction systems both in solution and on nanoparticle surfaces for ultrafast chemoselective functionalization by photoclick reactions.