Abstract: | Poly[tris(diorganophosphinato)alanes], [Al(OPRR′O)3]n, were synthesized in which the organic moieties (R,R′) contained from one to eighteen carbon atoms. Polymeric properties depended upon the organic moieties; polymers were fusible, tractable, and flexible when the organic moieties contained six or more carbon atoms. Soluble polymers were prepared by using mixtures of symmetrical and unsymmetrical phosphinates. One polymer, poly{bis[n-butyl(benzyl)phosphinato]di-n-octylphosphinatoalane}, exhibited a degree of polymerization greater than 1000 and an exceptionally high intrinsic viscosity of 37 dl/g. The properties of the different polymers are discussed, and feasible structures are proposed. |